The iPhone 5, Apple’s latest iPhone, requires different models for separate carriers with unique LTE frequencies but the latest rumours suggest that the much rumoured “iPhone 5S” is expected to be a world phone that will add compatibility with new carriers, including China Mobile which is the world’s biggest telecom network. Apple is also expected to sell a cheaper version of iPhone for $330 (contract-free) made of polycarbonate shell like the older version of macbook and flagship smartphones from rivals like Nokia. Both the variants of iPhone are rumoured to be launched in August 2013.
The latest reports from a Chinese website suggest that Apple is planning manufacturing the low cost iPhone from its usual partner Foxconn as well as Pegatron but iPhone 5S will still be exclusively manufactured by Foxconn only.
The ability for iPhone 5S to support various LTE networks might happen because of Qualcomm’s latest LTE chipset, the RF360, which supports 40 different global LTE networks that includes China Telecom. Currently the iPhone 5 is being manufactured as per the operators LTE frequency in various countries. The report also claims that unlike the rumoured iPhone 5S the low cost iPhone will not be a world phone.