Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities furnished more details and features of low cost iPhone rumoured to be launched alongside the premium version, iPhone 5S to AppleInsider. Kuo said that the low cost iPhone will also sport a 4″ LCD display just like the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S unlike what previous rumours that suggested a 4.5″ or 5″ display for the low cost iPhone as the recent trend is moving towards it. It seems that Apple has been planning for the 4″ iPhone right since 2011 and Kuo sees no grounds for Apple to abruptly change its plan just because of a temporary shift in market dynamics.
The low cost iPhone will be made out of super thing rugged plastic (may be polycarbonate) that will be almost 20% to 40% thinner than the typical plastic housings seen on smartphones. Apple is also extending its success from the recent iPod Touch line up and adding a multitude of color options apart from the typical black and white options and will bring in various design aspects as well from iPod Touch and the legacy iPod’s flat plastic back.
Keen on expanding its manufacturers base Apple is rumoured to scatter its plastic casing manufacturing between Hon Hai (Foxconn) and Jab Li but manufacturing will be handled by Pegatron and Hon Hai for low cost iPhone and Hon Hai only for the premium iPhone 5. Apple needs to differentiate quite a bit to push both models of iPhone and yet maintaing niche attractive features in both iPhones if it has to successfully establish iPhone in premium and economy markets.