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Pegatron Chairman Says Lower-Cost iPhone Will Not Be Cheap
Last month, J.P. Morgan analysts made their case for why Apple will position its rumored lower-cost iPhone as a "mid-end" device priced in the range of $350-$400 without subsidies, addressing a relatively sparse segment of the market while still maintaining the ability to offer a quality user experience.
Mac Otakara now points to a pair of reports from the China Times including claims from Pegatron chairman T.H. Tung supporting that notion. Pegatron has been said to be the primary assembler for the lower-cost iPhone, with Foxconn focused on the iPhone 5S.
Rendering of lower-cost iPhone in colors from iPhone 4 bumpers (Source: Mac Otakara)
According to the first report [Google translation] from the China Times, Tung addressed the iPhone at a meeting of the company's shareholders, expressing his displeasure with reports referring to the lower-cost iPhone as "cheap" and noting that the "price is still high". Tung apparently believes that attaching the "cheap" description to the lower-cost iPhone gives the impression of a low-value feature phone rather than the full-featured smartphone it will actually be.
A second report [Google translation] quotes Tung as saying that Pegatron's factories remain busy with nonstop production. The company has been reported to be undertaking a significant expansion of its workforce for the second half of this year, presumably to support production of the lower-cost iPhone. China Times indicates that Pegatron is ramping up for shipments of 13-15 million units of the device during the third quarter.
Apple's lower-cost iPhone is expected to launch around the same time as the iPhone 5S, with September being the most commonly cited timeframe. The lower-cost iPhone is said to be very similar to the iPhone 5/5S but with a slightly thicker plastic shell that will be available in a number of colors.
Mac Otakara now points to a pair of reports from the China Times including claims from Pegatron chairman T.H. Tung supporting that notion. Pegatron has been said to be the primary assembler for the lower-cost iPhone, with Foxconn focused on the iPhone 5S.
According to the first report [Google translation] from the China Times, Tung addressed the iPhone at a meeting of the company's shareholders, expressing his displeasure with reports referring to the lower-cost iPhone as "cheap" and noting that the "price is still high". Tung apparently believes that attaching the "cheap" description to the lower-cost iPhone gives the impression of a low-value feature phone rather than the full-featured smartphone it will actually be.
A second report [Google translation] quotes Tung as saying that Pegatron's factories remain busy with nonstop production. The company has been reported to be undertaking a significant expansion of its workforce for the second half of this year, presumably to support production of the lower-cost iPhone. China Times indicates that Pegatron is ramping up for shipments of 13-15 million units of the device during the third quarter.
Apple's lower-cost iPhone is expected to launch around the same time as the iPhone 5S, with September being the most commonly cited timeframe. The lower-cost iPhone is said to be very similar to the iPhone 5/5S but with a slightly thicker plastic shell that will be available in a number of colors.
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75 months ago
Simply because Apple need to compete in the low to mid cost Android market for iOS to remain competitive.
selling a phone for $500 is not competing with low cost android phones no matter how you spin it.
Another $150 gets me the real thing, and if someone can afford $500 they can likely afford $650
75 months ago
I still think it'll be in the $200 - $300 rage if Apple want to actually be competitive; they'd be able to go places where the current iPhone pricing scheme can't.
75 months ago
Simply because Apple need to compete in the low to mid cost Android market for iOS to remain competitive.
Logic fail.
75 months ago
Lower cost was never going to be cheap. But good value doesn't have to mean cheap.
75 months ago
Yeah baby. Plastic for everyone. Pigs are flying and the new Cheap. Sorry, Plastic iPhone will be an innovative magical marvel for the industry.
Tim Cook is brilliant.
you do realize youre responding to a RUMOR, right? they dont all come true.
and Cook is an amazing CEO of the most biggest, most profitable tech company. i dont think he's sweating the analysis of Some Dude on the interwebs.
75 months ago
I still don't understand the need for this. We already have this as the iPhone 4 and 4S, and soon the iPhone 5 will be in this category once the 5S is released. Why waste resources designing an entirely new product when they already have older iPhones they sell for less with no additional costs to build.
75 months ago
I'm really looking forward to this "low cost" iPhone model.
Finally, a proper successor to the iPhone 3GS - which was arguably the best iPhone made to date in terms of industrial design.
While I do love my iPhone 5 (admittedly superior in terms of thinness, lightness, and durability), its sharp edges are just not as comfortable or elegant as the smooth rounded edges of the 3GS.
Finally, a proper successor to the iPhone 3GS - which was arguably the best iPhone made to date in terms of industrial design.
While I do love my iPhone 5 (admittedly superior in terms of thinness, lightness, and durability), its sharp edges are just not as comfortable or elegant as the smooth rounded edges of the 3GS.
75 months ago
I still don't understand the need for this. We already have this as the iPhone 4 and 4S, and soon the iPhone 5 will be in this category once the 5S is released. Why waste resources designing an entirely new product when they already have older iPhones they sell for less with no additional costs to build.
well as far as general customer goes, iPhone 4/4s are considered old.
Why pay $500 for an old iPhone, when you can pay $500 for a new "low cost" one.
75 months ago
I still don't understand the need for this. We already have this as the iPhone 4 and 4S, and soon the iPhone 5 will be in this category once the 5S is released. Why waste resources designing an entirely new product when they already have older iPhones they sell for less with no additional costs to build.
Because human nature prefers newer shiny object than handy me downs like the iPhone 4/4S.
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