iPhone 5 and Budget iPhone 4 to Launch in China in October?

Thursday August 4, 2011 7:04 am PDT by Arnold Kim

AllThingsD summarizes a Chinese language report that originally appeared at Sohu.com.

The original report claimed that China Telecom had reached a preliminary agreement with Apple to begin selling two new versions of the iPhone before the end of October.
“According to Sohu.com, China Telecom will offer two types of iPhone that include the iPhone 5 and a ‘simplified iPhone 4,’” says White. “Essentially, this potential ‘simplified iPhone 4′ would be a more economical version of iPhone to target a broader customer base in developing countries such as China, allowing for an expanded market opportunity.”
The report claims there will be two new iPhones: the iPhone 5 and a "simplified" iPhone 4. The simplified iPhone 4 is expected to be a cheaper version of the current iPhone to target the low-end market. While there have been multiple reports that China Telecom will be selling the iPhone later this year, this is the first that specifies the types of models that the carrier will be selling.

This isn't the first time we've heard suggestion that Apple will be launching a lower cost iPhone 4. Previous claims have included a move to cheaper components to reduce the cost of the device. Meanwhile, other claims have suggested that Apple might keep the iPhone 3GS around as a free with contract option. It's important to note that the Chinese market is quite unique from the rest of the iPhone market, and it may get its own distinct models. Apple originally sold Wi-Fi disabled iPhones in China.

[ 53 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
BBCWatcher
112 months ago
Budget iPhone 4

The "budget" iPhone 4 could simply be an iPhone 4 with 8GB of flash, which is what Apple has done with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G before. Maybe (maybe) Apple would also put the iPod touch non-IPS screen into the 8GB iPhone 4. But I wouldn't expect any more redesign than those two changes.

And you know what? An 8GB IPS-less iPhone 4 would be a damn fine smartphone.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
baryon
112 months ago
The 3GS is already a budget iPhone 4, isn't it? I mean, it's slower, has less RAM, less sensors and less cameras and no flash. How much more budget should it be?
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
xFenixKnightx
112 months ago

Was wondering when the next iPhone 5 rumor was coming. :p


This one is old though. We really need a drunk Apple employee at a bar right about now because I just wanna see the damn thing already. Will it really be larger in size like rumored? Will it have a larger screen? Will it have a glass back? Will it have LTE 4G since it is larger? Most importantly, will it blend? I want answers!!!
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
kyjaotkb
112 months ago
Available at your local Apple Stoer ?

IFone 4 Lite for everyone !
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
sionharris
112 months ago

The 3GS is already a budget iPhone 4, isn't it? I mean, it's slower, has less RAM, less sensors and less cameras and no flash. How much more budget should it be?


less RAM, fewer sensors, fewer cameras
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
HeedJSU
112 months ago


It's important to note that the Chinese market is quite unique from the rest of the iPhone market, and it may its own distinct models.


Alright. Got the first one fixed, but this sentence still doesn't make sense?

:D:D
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
nebo1ss
112 months ago
Keeping the 3GS around as a free with contract phone is a joke. The iphone 4 is already free with contract in many parts of Europe.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
KnightWRX
112 months ago

The 3GS is already a budget iPhone 4, isn't it? I mean, it's slower, has less RAM, less sensors and less cameras and no flash. How much more budget should it be?


Everyyear, the "budget" model gets an upgrade. This year should be no different. If anything, this is what we'll see going on the last 2 iPhone refreshes :

iPhone 4 8 GB
iPhone 5 16 GB
iPhone 5 32 GB

If we're lucky, we'll get a storage upgrade to 16, 32 and 64 for the models respectively. In all likely hood, the 3GS is going away this year, just like the 3G went away last year in June.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
troop231
112 months ago

This one is old though. We really need a drunk Apple employee at a bar right about now because I just wanna see the damn thing already. Will it really be larger in size like rumored? Will it have a larger screen? Will it have a glass back? Will it have LTE 4G since it is larger? Most importantly, will it blend? I want answers!!!


Yeah I want to see it too, but it could mean we go all of August without seeing/knowing anything about the iPhone 5 so I'm not getting my hopes up. September should have plenty of info though. 27 more days of August to get through. :(
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
troop231
112 months ago
Was wondering when the next iPhone 5 rumor was coming. :p
Rating: 2 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]