Apple Launching Larger, Low-Cost iPhone for Emerging Markets Late This Year? - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Launching Larger, Low-Cost iPhone for Emerging Markets Late This Year?

Digitimes reports that Apple is planning to launch a new low-cost iPhone during the second half of this year, targeting emerging markets such as China with a new design and larger display.

Apple will roll out a low-cost version of the iPhone for China and other emerging markets in the second half of 2013, according to supply-chain sources.

Some sources claimed that they have seen the sample of the low-cost iPhone, which will come with a larger display, meeting the prevailing trend for the adoption of 5-inch displays for high-end models. They added that the low-priced iPhone will also have a brand new exterior design.

galaxy note ii iphone 5
5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note II vs. iPhone 5 (Source: phoneArena.com)

Rumors of a low-cost iPhone for such markets have circulated for years, although they have generally focused on a smaller "iPhone nano".

Just last week, analyst Brian White claimed that Apple could be looking to launch multiple sizes of the next iPhone to address different markets. We did, however, note some of the obstacles to further increasing the iPhone's display size given that Apple has just gone through such a transition with the iPhone 5.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Apple Preparing 'Most Significant Overhaul in the iPhone's History'

Sunday March 29, 2026 8:18 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has high expectations for Apple's first foldable iPhone. In his Power On newsletter today, he said the foldable iPhone will be "the most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history." "iPhone 4, iPhone 6 and iPhone X were clearly a big deal, but this is a whole new design," he said. Like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, the foldable iPhone will reportedly open up like ...
Apple Event Logo

Apple to Launch These 15+ New Products Later This Year

Friday March 27, 2026 2:03 pm PDT by
March has been an incredibly busy month for Apple, with the company unveiling more than 10 new products and accessories. We said hello to the MacBook Neo at the start of the month, and we bid farewell to the Mac Pro at the end of it. Nevertheless, there is still a lot more to come this year. Beyond the usual annual updates to iPhones and Apple Watches, Apple's all-new smart home hub is...
Apple Apps Grid

Apple Releasing Two New iPhone Apps This Year

Saturday March 28, 2026 8:00 am PDT by
Apple is expected to release two new iPhone apps this year, including an Apple Business app and a Siri app with chatbot-like functionality. With the Apple Business app, employees at businesses using the new Apple Business platform will be able to install apps for work, view contact information for colleagues, and request support. Apple Business is launching on April 14, and it replaces Apple ...

Top Rated Comments

173 months ago
Make cheap phone with a huge display, to appeal to lower class people. Sounds like Android in USA!
Score: 65 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMacFarlane Avatar
173 months ago
Hmmmm . . .

Lower cost components?
-Non retina
-Big display
-Older processor
-Minimal storage

Hey! It's the iPad Mini!!!
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheHateMachine Avatar
173 months ago
Make cheap phone with a huge display, to appeal to lower class people. Sounds like Android in USA!

Dripping with elitism. Do you cuddle with your Apple products at night and while you kiss them murmur... "People will like me, they must love me. I buy Apple!"
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
173 months ago
Apple going to cover cheap markets? Please not.

Leave it to Samsung to create those cheap and ridiculous tablet sized phones.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nick_elt Avatar
173 months ago
larger iphone yes please. But not a low cost one. keep that crap for android.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CBJammin103 Avatar
173 months ago
Is this a joke? :confused:

In other news Apple is releasing a plastic, portable Mac Pro for sale only in Sub-Sarahan Africa. Equally probable.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)