That will take away from the halo of the iPhone6 name.
I expect it to be called iPhone Color.
So what is your proposal then? I thought you said you wanted the 5C to be $350? I showed you thats impossible if Apple wants to keep its current margins.
Will you please stop saying what they will or won't do. Everything you and everyone else here writes is nothing more than guesses. You don't know what Apple will or won't do anymore than anyone else here. I never stated that I wanted the 5c to be $350, go back and read my post. I was replying to someone else that said that if an iPhone 5c was suddenly priced at $350 it would magically be junk. Again, Apple knows their costs, their margins, and their customers far better than you or I so they will sell the products at the prices that will bring them the best ROI. Once you thought the follow up to the 5c would essentially be the same but lack Touch ID you lost all credibility in my eyes since that is a major feature along with 64-bit that Apple wants to push out on all iOS devices introduced in 2014.
If Apple releases a 6c for $549 as I predict that is essentially the 5s in plastic I hope you will eat your words and offer some apologies.
because there is a clear gap between the top end 5S and the mid end 5C
That gap was not present with the 5 vs the 4S. Both were metal and both looked and felt premium
As said before, I am going to explain why Apple got it wrong with the 5C when targetting it to "emerging markets" and the like. I am Brazilian and am well aware of the extremely high prices for imported gadgets over there, which are not only due to taxes, but also because people are WILLING to pay more for them, even if on instalments. So here is an example from Apple Brazil:
5C 32GB - 12 x 200 BRL
5S 16GB - 12 x 233 BRL
5S 32GB - 12 x 266 BRL
Now tell me: why would anyone be IIvx-ed when they can have a 5S for a little more per month? Mind you, the outrageous prices above are WITHOUT a carrier plan; heavy discounts apply when choosing longer plans just like anywhere else in the world.
Your perspective is laughable at best. 5.5+" phones sure, this comment would be applicable. Note3's are insanely large... However 4.8" is the bare minimum in this juncture of the industry. I'm tired (as many other I know) of looking at a teeny tiny screen, squinting just to make out text on some things or feeling like I'm watching a video on a small childs toy. A larger screen = a better viewing experience for all content and consumption. And no, I'm not carrying around an iPad mini as some have suggested just t have a larger viewing experience. Why carry around 2 devices when 1 will do (if the 1 device is done right)?
I'll bet you're one of the guys that used to whine that the iPhone screen was too big, back in 2008-2010, one of those sad Nokia fans who, displaced by the events of the time clutched at the life raft thrown by Samsung.
There really isn't that much difference between what you can see on an iPhone 5 sized screen and it's unwieldy Android competitors.
Personally I think the 5s design is out the door. It has proven to be too costly and difficult to produce and I'm thinking they can't wait to stop production of it and move to a design that's much more efficient to assemble (although, it could be that most kinks have been worked out, they could keep it around as the "low-end" model next year). As far as a model with a larger display, sure, but NOT over 5". If anything gets a screen larger than 5" it will be a new model of the iPod touch, not the iPhone. The iPhone will max out at 4.7" or 4.8" simply because it could still allow for one handed use if the display was nearly edge-to-edge. I also tend think Apple could actually hit a lower level of the mobile market simply by adding a wifi+cellular model to the iPod touch as they do with the iPad. This could explain the "discontinuation" of the 5c model; they're simply retooling the design for the iPod touch.
I'll bet you're one of the guys that used to whine that the iPhone screen was too big, back in 2008-2010, one of those sad Nokia fans who, displaced by the events of the time clutched at the life raft thrown by Samsung.
There really isn't that much difference between what you can see on an iPhone 5 sized screen and it's unwieldy Android competitors.
You could say the same about an iPhone 4 or 4s screen as well. Open up an app like Modern War, Kingdom Age, Clash of Clans, Netflix, Youtube, and dozens more of the most popular apps and you will see exactly the same thing on a 3.5", 4", or 5" display. But which is easier to read the small texts that often appear or touch the often tiny small icons on the display? A larger display gives a far better experience. Bigger displays are coming and feel free to stick with your tiny 4" screen if you prefer but after 4 years of waiting for something larger I will be a very happy iPhone customer with a larger display.
Personally I think the 5s design is out the door. It has proven to be too costly and difficult to produce and I'm thinking they can't wait to stop production of it and move to a design that's much more efficient to assemble (although, it could be that most kinks have been worked out, they could keep it around as the "low-end" model next year). As far as a model with a larger display, sure, but NOT over 5". If anything gets a screen larger than 5" it will be a new model of the iPod touch, not the iPhone. The iPhone will max out at 4.7" or 4.8" simply because it could still allow for one handed use if the display was nearly edge-to-edge. I also tend think Apple could actually hit a lower level of the mobile market simply by adding a wifi+cellular model to the iPod touch as they do with the iPad. This could explain the "discontinuation" of the 5c model; they're simply retooling the design for the iPod touch.
Apple will keep the 4" version around for people that give a flying frack about one handed use. But guess what, there is a whole lot of people that don't care about one handed use and want all the goodness that comes with a larger display. Choice is a good thing. Do you use your iPhone with one hand while you use all the apps that are landscape mode only? There are a lot of them. I can type texts with one hand but I can type twice as fast with two hands in landscape mode. Why do people keep talking about one handed use as if this the one feature all iPhone users demand when I see so many already using the current iPhone with 2 hands.
And your price predictions were also way off. Apple will keep the same prices as they have now. There is no way they would sell an unlocked iPhone 6 for $550 when the equivalent 5s now sells for $649. The 6 will start at $649 just like the 5s.
I am afraid you are the clueless one. Apple wants to optimize their product line, since producing a device takes a lot of resources (including mindshare of the management), and if they think that their line would improve if they scrap the 5c and introduce a larger handset, then they will.
As for the Wall Street "clowns", the Wall Street Journal is probably the most respected newspaper in the world, so they would not say this unless their sources were quite reliable. In any case, just because the Wall Street people make more money than you do, does not mean that they are worse human beings, or less smart than you -- most likely the opposite.
Well actually all analyst work on their own beliefs and agenda. Im a broker and I never claim to know what the market will do, anyone who does is an idiot. Last year the analyst said the market would maybe gain 5% and it gained 30%.
Besides that, how many times has the WSJ been right about Apple? They never forecast anything this far in advanced, the only copy info they hear cause it sells papers..
I'm making a prediction that the next iPhone will not only include wireless AC, but will also include NFC. Why? Because all the big radio chip manufactured have new low power blue tooth, wi-fi, NFC, FM combo chips. So, at least the radio chip they will use from Broadcom or other manufacturer will have it. Of course, like FM, that doesn't mean that iOS will activate it.
I'm really surprised to see this coming from the WSJ. Normally their sources are officially or clandestinely approved by Apple to leak accurate information to build hype. Following all the Android OEMs into a world where the only good phone is an enormous one is very strange. The market has spoken very loudly that the most popular phone size in the world is the current iPhone. Some even claim that's too big for a phone.
I think Apple would be unlikely to move from one small phone to two large ones because they like to have clearly delineated target markets. Psychologically a 5" phone appears 25% larger than a 4" phone. It actually offers 56.2% more screen real estate. The psychological difference between 4.5" and 5.5" isn't nearly as big and the actual screen size difference isn't either. Offering 4.8" and 5.6" would be even worse from a product differentiation standpoint. At some point you start inviting comparisons with the 7.9" iPad mini. If you've got a 6" phone do you really need a small tablet too? I think a lot of customers would say no.
Apple currently has a difficult design problem. Their wonderful touch enabled home button and its bezel take up a lot more space than most Android phones devote to top/bottom bezels. As a result Android devices have a much better screen size to overall size ratios. Unless Apple is both willing to forego the home button and able to authenticate fingerprints via an on-screen sensor they are going to be stuck making bulkier phones than the competition at any given screen size.
As said before, I am going to explain why Apple got it wrong with the 5C when targetting it to "emerging markets" and the like. I am Brazilian and am well aware of the extremely high prices for imported gadgets over there, which are not only due to taxes, but also because people are WILLING to pay more for them, even if on instalments. So here is an example from Apple Brazil:
5C 32GB - 12 x 200 BRL
5S 16GB - 12 x 233 BRL
5S 32GB - 12 x 266 BRL
Now tell me: why would anyone be IIvx-ed when they can have a 5S for a little more per month? Mind you, the outrageous prices above are WITHOUT a carrier plan; heavy discounts apply when choosing longer plans just like anywhere else in the world.
Color, don't need the latest and greatest, cost, don't need to whine on tech blogs. I've listed four reasons.
I'm making a prediction that the next iPhone will not only include wireless AC, but will also include NFC. Why? Because all the big radio chip manufactured have new low power blue tooth, wi-fi, NFC, FM combo chips. So, at least the radio chip they will use from Broadcom or other manufacturer will have it. Of course, like FM, that doesn't mean that iOS will activate it.
NFC isn't going to be there. Apple has moved on to other tech.
Apple will keep the 4" version around for people that give a flying frack about one handed use. But guess what, there is a whole lot of people that don't care about one handed use and want all the goodness that comes with a larger display. Choice is a good thing. Do you use your iPhone with one hand while you use all the apps that are landscape mode only? There are a lot of them. I can type texts with one hand but I can type twice as fast with two hands in landscape mode. Why do people keep talking about one handed use as if this the one feature all iPhone users demand when I see so many already using the current iPhone with 2 hands.
And your price predictions were also way off. Apple will keep the same prices as they have now. There is no way they would sell an unlocked iPhone 6 for $550 when the equivalent 5s now sells for $649. The 6 will start at $649 just like the 5s.
First of all.... of course it's easier to use almost any of these devices with two hands. But - now get this, cause I'm only going to clarify this a dozen more times - it's a PERSONAL PREFERENCE to be able to use the phone with one hand while my other hand is occupied. Furthermore, Apple gives a "flying frack", they've gone on record many times stating that you should be able to use the device with only one hand for MOST of the basic functions. So my OPINION above was based off of that. The only apps I have that are landscape mode only, are games. And I'm pretty sure I'm not going to play Angry Birds while walking home from the grocery store.
By the way, thanks for clarifying the prices, I don't have access to internal Apple documents and was just guessing what they might be based on the product line-up I predicted. I'm probably wrong, but so what? Anyway, thanks for enlightening me with your inside knowledge and infinite wisdom.
It really was interesting (some would say strange) what apple did to the iPhone line last year. They didn't just release one *new* iPhone, the 5s, they released two (as in apple considers the 5c a completely new product even thought internally it isn't).
Releasing two new iPhones a year has set a precedent for apple. I don't think they would go back to releasing just one ever year.
First of all.... of course it's easier to use almost any of these devices with two hands. But - now get this, cause I'm only going to clarify this a dozen more times - it's a PERSONAL PREFERENCE to be able to use the phone with one hand while my other hand is occupied.
I hope you're using the other hand to hold on to dear life when using mass transit.
I doubt apple jumping more than 1/2 an inch in screen size, and unless Apple gets a new device at $0 I think 5C will stay they may however come out with a 3.5 inch screen $0 device a 4.2-3 inch device running a lbit better than 5S hardware and a 5 inch with advantageous as 32-128 gb and A_X proccesor.
In a product line that has multiple skus, the goal of the business is to be able to sell to different demographics. Different skus don't exist to compete with each other (thus being able to call one a flop over the other).
That's like saying the ford explorer is a flop because everyone is buying a fiesta. Or that coke zero is a flop because everyone still buys regular coke.
Comments
Oh.. so the 5c doesn't look or feel premium?
This just gets better and better.
You reckon it is premium?
Yes it is getting better.
They wont call the new plastic phone the 6C.
That will take away from the halo of the iPhone6 name.
I expect it to be called iPhone Color.
So what is your proposal then? I thought you said you wanted the 5C to be $350? I showed you thats impossible if Apple wants to keep its current margins.
Will you please stop saying what they will or won't do. Everything you and everyone else here writes is nothing more than guesses. You don't know what Apple will or won't do anymore than anyone else here. I never stated that I wanted the 5c to be $350, go back and read my post. I was replying to someone else that said that if an iPhone 5c was suddenly priced at $350 it would magically be junk. Again, Apple knows their costs, their margins, and their customers far better than you or I so they will sell the products at the prices that will bring them the best ROI. Once you thought the follow up to the 5c would essentially be the same but lack Touch ID you lost all credibility in my eyes since that is a major feature along with 64-bit that Apple wants to push out on all iOS devices introduced in 2014.
If Apple releases a 6c for $549 as I predict that is essentially the 5s in plastic I hope you will eat your words and offer some apologies.
You reckon it is premium?
Yes it is getting better.
You haven't been around that long, have you...
(unless I have mistaken what it is that you are saying)
because there is a clear gap between the top end 5S and the mid end 5C
That gap was not present with the 5 vs the 4S. Both were metal and both looked and felt premium
As said before, I am going to explain why Apple got it wrong with the 5C when targetting it to "emerging markets" and the like. I am Brazilian and am well aware of the extremely high prices for imported gadgets over there, which are not only due to taxes, but also because people are WILLING to pay more for them, even if on instalments. So here is an example from Apple Brazil:
5C 32GB - 12 x 200 BRL
5S 16GB - 12 x 233 BRL
5S 32GB - 12 x 266 BRL
Now tell me: why would anyone be IIvx-ed when they can have a 5S for a little more per month? Mind you, the outrageous prices above are WITHOUT a carrier plan; heavy discounts apply when choosing longer plans just like anywhere else in the world.
Your perspective is laughable at best. 5.5+" phones sure, this comment would be applicable. Note3's are insanely large... However 4.8" is the bare minimum in this juncture of the industry. I'm tired (as many other I know) of looking at a teeny tiny screen, squinting just to make out text on some things or feeling like I'm watching a video on a small childs toy. A larger screen = a better viewing experience for all content and consumption. And no, I'm not carrying around an iPad mini as some have suggested just t have a larger viewing experience. Why carry around 2 devices when 1 will do (if the 1 device is done right)?
I'll bet you're one of the guys that used to whine that the iPhone screen was too big, back in 2008-2010, one of those sad Nokia fans who, displaced by the events of the time clutched at the life raft thrown by Samsung.
There really isn't that much difference between what you can see on an iPhone 5 sized screen and it's unwieldy Android competitors.
Personally I think the 5s design is out the door. It has proven to be too costly and difficult to produce and I'm thinking they can't wait to stop production of it and move to a design that's much more efficient to assemble (although, it could be that most kinks have been worked out, they could keep it around as the "low-end" model next year). As far as a model with a larger display, sure, but NOT over 5". If anything gets a screen larger than 5" it will be a new model of the iPod touch, not the iPhone. The iPhone will max out at 4.7" or 4.8" simply because it could still allow for one handed use if the display was nearly edge-to-edge. I also tend think Apple could actually hit a lower level of the mobile market simply by adding a wifi+cellular model to the iPod touch as they do with the iPad. This could explain the "discontinuation" of the 5c model; they're simply retooling the design for the iPod touch.
So, my guess for this year's iOS line-up...
iPhone 5s, 4", $450
iPhone 6, 4", $550
iPhone 6x, 4.8", $650
iPad mini $399 WiFi / $529 WiFi+Cellular
iPad Air, $499 WiFi / $629 WiFi+Cellular
iPad Pro, $699 WiFi / $829 WiFi+Cellular
iPod touch, 4", $199 WiFi / $329 WiFi+Cellular
iPod touch XL, 5.x", $299 WiFi / $429 WiFi+Cellular
I'll bet you're one of the guys that used to whine that the iPhone screen was too big, back in 2008-2010, one of those sad Nokia fans who, displaced by the events of the time clutched at the life raft thrown by Samsung.
There really isn't that much difference between what you can see on an iPhone 5 sized screen and it's unwieldy Android competitors.
You could say the same about an iPhone 4 or 4s screen as well. Open up an app like Modern War, Kingdom Age, Clash of Clans, Netflix, Youtube, and dozens more of the most popular apps and you will see exactly the same thing on a 3.5", 4", or 5" display. But which is easier to read the small texts that often appear or touch the often tiny small icons on the display? A larger display gives a far better experience. Bigger displays are coming and feel free to stick with your tiny 4" screen if you prefer but after 4 years of waiting for something larger I will be a very happy iPhone customer with a larger display.
Personally I think the 5s design is out the door. It has proven to be too costly and difficult to produce and I'm thinking they can't wait to stop production of it and move to a design that's much more efficient to assemble (although, it could be that most kinks have been worked out, they could keep it around as the "low-end" model next year). As far as a model with a larger display, sure, but NOT over 5". If anything gets a screen larger than 5" it will be a new model of the iPod touch, not the iPhone. The iPhone will max out at 4.7" or 4.8" simply because it could still allow for one handed use if the display was nearly edge-to-edge. I also tend think Apple could actually hit a lower level of the mobile market simply by adding a wifi+cellular model to the iPod touch as they do with the iPad. This could explain the "discontinuation" of the 5c model; they're simply retooling the design for the iPod touch.
Apple will keep the 4" version around for people that give a flying frack about one handed use. But guess what, there is a whole lot of people that don't care about one handed use and want all the goodness that comes with a larger display. Choice is a good thing. Do you use your iPhone with one hand while you use all the apps that are landscape mode only? There are a lot of them. I can type texts with one hand but I can type twice as fast with two hands in landscape mode. Why do people keep talking about one handed use as if this the one feature all iPhone users demand when I see so many already using the current iPhone with 2 hands.
And your price predictions were also way off. Apple will keep the same prices as they have now. There is no way they would sell an unlocked iPhone 6 for $550 when the equivalent 5s now sells for $649. The 6 will start at $649 just like the 5s.
That was then. It's under new ownership now. The rules changed.
I am afraid you are the clueless one. Apple wants to optimize their product line, since producing a device takes a lot of resources (including mindshare of the management), and if they think that their line would improve if they scrap the 5c and introduce a larger handset, then they will.
As for the Wall Street "clowns", the Wall Street Journal is probably the most respected newspaper in the world, so they would not say this unless their sources were quite reliable. In any case, just because the Wall Street people make more money than you do, does not mean that they are worse human beings, or less smart than you -- most likely the opposite.
I think the 5C is great. I much prefer the solid plastic over the "metal" feeling of the 5S. The look and feel of the 5C is spot on in my view.
That's exactly the thing it offers a choice: losing the formality that has followed since the 4 (which I do love btw).
And choice is good.
I think Apple would be unlikely to move from one small phone to two large ones because they like to have clearly delineated target markets. Psychologically a 5" phone appears 25% larger than a 4" phone. It actually offers 56.2% more screen real estate. The psychological difference between 4.5" and 5.5" isn't nearly as big and the actual screen size difference isn't either. Offering 4.8" and 5.6" would be even worse from a product differentiation standpoint. At some point you start inviting comparisons with the 7.9" iPad mini. If you've got a 6" phone do you really need a small tablet too? I think a lot of customers would say no.
Apple currently has a difficult design problem. Their wonderful touch enabled home button and its bezel take up a lot more space than most Android phones devote to top/bottom bezels. As a result Android devices have a much better screen size to overall size ratios. Unless Apple is both willing to forego the home button and able to authenticate fingerprints via an on-screen sensor they are going to be stuck making bulkier phones than the competition at any given screen size.
Color, don't need the latest and greatest, cost, don't need to whine on tech blogs. I've listed four reasons.
NFC isn't going to be there. Apple has moved on to other tech.
Apple will keep the 4" version around for people that give a flying frack about one handed use. But guess what, there is a whole lot of people that don't care about one handed use and want all the goodness that comes with a larger display. Choice is a good thing. Do you use your iPhone with one hand while you use all the apps that are landscape mode only? There are a lot of them. I can type texts with one hand but I can type twice as fast with two hands in landscape mode. Why do people keep talking about one handed use as if this the one feature all iPhone users demand when I see so many already using the current iPhone with 2 hands.
And your price predictions were also way off. Apple will keep the same prices as they have now. There is no way they would sell an unlocked iPhone 6 for $550 when the equivalent 5s now sells for $649. The 6 will start at $649 just like the 5s.
First of all.... of course it's easier to use almost any of these devices with two hands. But - now get this, cause I'm only going to clarify this a dozen more times - it's a PERSONAL PREFERENCE to be able to use the phone with one hand while my other hand is occupied. Furthermore, Apple gives a "flying frack", they've gone on record many times stating that you should be able to use the device with only one hand for MOST of the basic functions. So my OPINION above was based off of that. The only apps I have that are landscape mode only, are games. And I'm pretty sure I'm not going to play Angry Birds while walking home from the grocery store.
By the way, thanks for clarifying the prices, I don't have access to internal Apple documents and was just guessing what they might be based on the product line-up I predicted. I'm probably wrong, but so what? Anyway, thanks for enlightening me with your inside knowledge and infinite wisdom.
Releasing two new iPhones a year has set a precedent for apple. I don't think they would go back to releasing just one ever year.
The iPhone 5C was the second or third best selling handset on all four major US carriers last September without being available for the entire month.
I disagree with your assessment that it is a flop.
That's like saying the ford explorer is a flop because everyone is buying a fiesta. Or that coke zero is a flop because everyone still buys regular coke.