Despite nothing resembling an acknowledgment from Apple that the company is indeed planning to unveil a low-end iPhone, the rumor just won’t go away. Now, we have our first look at what may in fact be the shell of the budget iPhone.
The stock market too has shown a lack of confidence in the iPhone maker and the company’s stock has been sliding since September 2012. All of this has fuelled a rumour that the Cupertino-based device and media giant is making a cheaper iPhone targeted specifically at emerging markets like China and India.
The stock market too has shown a lack of confidence in the iPhone maker and the company’s stock has been sliding since September 2012. All of this has fuelled a rumour that the Cupertino-based device and media giant is making a cheaper iPhone targeted specifically at emerging markets like China and India.
Spotted by case manufacturer Tactus apparently during a factory tour of a plant that provides parts to Foxconn, the shell shown is a polycarbonate build, finished in white, and not dissimilar to the back casings of the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
Where it differs is in its flatness – the 3GS and 3G had curved designs – which could effectively cut manufacturing costs due to the simplicity to produce such shapes, as well as setting the style apart from the older models in what would be set to become Apple’s premium range. The people at Tactus also say that this shell is a bit taller, wider and thicker than the iPhone 4, but shorter than the iPhone 5.
Now, about the hardware; Tactus claims that the phone will sport an A5 chip like the iPad Mini and will have a 3.5-inch screen instead of a 4-inch screen like the latest iteration of the iPhone or many of the other budget phones currently in the market. The camera is said to be a 5 MP shooter and there is no word on the front camera or whether 1080p recording would be possible. If the phone does indeed have the A5 chip like the iPad Mini then 1080p recording could be a possibility.
The source of this leak is also claiming it’ll come with an A5 chip, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and come in five color options: black, white, blue, red and yellow. Its release date is being expected to be on October 15 and priced at only $300, which is certainly a much lower price than the current iPhone 5.
Last week Tactus leaked a purported iPad 5 mold case.
We’re still treating budget iPhone rumours with a pinch of salt, but at least this time there’s a physical object to go with the rumours, regardless of whether its been faked or not!
So what do you guys think? Would you be disappointed if Apple released an iPhone looking like that?
[Tactus]
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