New Report Claims Cheaper iPhone to Lack Retina Display

[Phillip Swanson]

Apple's cheaper iPhone could revert to a plastic casing like the iPhone 3G and 3GS of yesteryear.

Apple’s much rumored lower-cost iPhone could lack a Retina Display as one of the cost-cutting measures according to a new report by RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani.

Daryanani’s report comes in direct contrast to reports from the traditionally reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has claimed numerous times the new cheaper iPhone will retain the same 326ppi resolution as other Retina Displays.

Daryanani’s supply chain checks further place the release of such a device in June or July alongside the rumored iPhone 5S.

"Our supply-chain checks indicate that AAPL is working to launch multiple new phones in the June/July time-frame this year. Specifically, AAPL will launch the iPhone 5s and a more affordable but lower-end iPhone at the same time, in either late CYQ2 or early Q3. The low-end iPhone will have the same 4" form factor as the iPhone 5 but will have plastic casing and no retina display. With a lower price-point, AAPL will be able to target a growing and important part of the Smartphone market (sub-$400 price-band)." -- Amit Daryanani

The inclination that Apple would release a cheaper, possibly plastic-cased, version of their iPhone is not far-fetched. However, the idea that they would release an iPhone with a lower resolution display after announcing to developers that all apps submitted to the App store must support both Retina Displays on the iPhone 4, and larger iPhone 5 as of May first seems counter-intuitive.

A lower-cost iPhone is likely on the way, but when and in what form is still up in the air. And for those pointing to iPhone 4s available for free with a two-year contract should understand Apple is gearing the cheaper iPhone toward markets where carrier subsidies are uncommon or non-existent.

Sources: Macrumors

[thazsar]

"New Report claims cheaper iPhone to lack: Retina Display, a Screen, any Hardware, and a Body"!!!

[Alexthesniper21]

It's fake, apple just released a policy of apps to be updates for I5 devices to support its retina display. I highly doubt apple wants to screw over their customers

[Carvensno]

Why would someone buy a cheaper iPhone with a plastic case and non retina display when you can get last years model cheap with better features and retina. I just don't get all of these rumors of a cheap iPhone when every year they do there price adjustment. So the 5S will come out this yr, so the 5 will be at a discounted price with limit memory models. And the 4S will move to the Freebee phone or .99 lol

[chiraagnt]

It's fake, apple just released a policy of apps to be updates for I5 devices to support its retina display. I highly doubt apple wants to screw over their customers

Damn good point lol!! True true. You sir are a genius!

[bigboyz]

Hmmm..All of the droids come with plastic bodies and they are fetching $400+ for them. What they don't sacrifice is the screen in most cases. Wonder how the "inferior" iPhone IMO will fare? Guess we'll have to wait and see :]

[jery911]

It's fake, apple just released a policy of apps to be updates for I5 devices to support its retina display. I highly doubt apple wants to screw over their customers

Yep, exactly. Not happening

[Albut]

They need somehow to cut the price otherwise they will loose out to better phones like the Samsun.

[avatar20]

Hmmm if there is a low cost iphone coming out, I wonder if there will even be a market here in the US.

[indyracer05]

If you believe this, you're retarded. It's basically an iPhone 3GS!!!! Why would happen have a whole event just for old technology? Doing this makes absolutely no sense.

[tridley68]

"New Report claims cheaper iPhone to lack: Retina Display, a Screen, any Hardware, and a Body"!!!

"!!![/QUOTE] we already have a cheaper i phone it is the 4s and soon to be the i phone 5!

[Simon]

Highly doubtful. Way more likely is a iPhone 5S with specs bump and no second iPhone.

[feidhlim1986]

New report claims a new report about a cheaper iPhone has happened about every 6 months since 2007. Another new report shows that every consecutive year there already has been a cheaper iPhone released called last years model.

Sometimes I'm surprised that when I type modmyi.com in my browser that it doesn't redirect to TMZ.com...

[vinaygoel2000]

Some of the posters here don't realize that the iPhone 4 is not $0.99. It's $0.99 with a 2 year contract. What Apple might be working on is a $100 phone with no contract. I, however, am not interested in that.

[ThatOneProfile]

This sounds a lot like....oh apple's marketing strategy.

[MgNate]

Apple already had a cheaper iphone. It's called the iPhone 4 and it's free!

[King_O_Hill]

It's fake, apple just released a policy of apps to be updates for I5 devices to support its retina display. I highly doubt apple wants to screw over their customers

Bingo!

[hogcia]

The upcoming cheaper iPhone will be the iPhone 5 when the 5s is released.

[katheikia]

APPLE DOESN'T MAKE ANY FREE IPHONE MODELS!!! What is wrong with everybody????????

[cpotoso]

\open{rant}
I am surprised (well, not really) how much people are completely clueless. There is no (and never will be) a $0.99 iPhone. You are paying for it by paying a lot more with your 2 year contract. Get it? Get it? Get it? Hello? Anybody in there (knocking on someone's skull to see if there is a brain inside). A $100 priced (real price, not fake for dumb) iphone would sell well. As for retina: probably > 75% of the people can't tell the difference (I can't at normal distance, my eyesight at 45 is not as good as at 20).
\close{rant}