iPhone 4 seems pretty expensive to make (all glass design)and now in smaller volumes, there are smaller economies of scale. As a stop gap it's OK if they are not serious about a low-end iPhone that might dilute sales of high-end phones elsewhere.
Who knows.
The logical reason for the iphone 4 is that the parts are still available. If Apple was still producing the A4, then replacing the radio chip with a current version or even replacing the memory or NAND storage with whatever is currently available is much less of a big deal. Remember that the only substantial difference between an iPod touch and an iPhone is the lack of the 3G/4G/LTE radio. Apple still makes the iPod Touch, but it's on the A5 chip at the low end (229$ USD) It seems more likely that they would resume the 4S (450$ USD) production which is still on their website and is used by the iPhone 4S and iPod Touch.
The idea is that iPhone 5C will eventually replace all the cheap model. Why bring the 4? Apple has always maintained somewhat unofficial life expectancy of an iPhone devices to be 3 years. And the 4 isn't any cheaper to produce then the 5C.
The BOM Cost of iPhone 5C will drop over the years. 32nm, or 28nm will be the cheapest Node in the coming years according to Industry expert. With Gorilla Glass price dropping as well. The iPhone 5C will likely be the lowest BOM cost iPhone Apple has made since the introduction of iPhone. And will likely stay at as the Cheapest iPhone option available over the years with spec upgrade only just like the iPod touch.
Poor move by apple! I recently sold my iphone 4 as ios7 was making it useless! I tell my Indian friends not to buy iph 4 - instead pay a bit more and get 4s. Both have the same great look and feel but 4s would last longer with OS lifecycle upgrades. Or if you can afford go for 5s - amazing phone.
Here in India, people really took up the various EMI offers offered for the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 earlier. Those triggered a good increase in sales last year.
Apple could have brought prices down to prices of unlocked phones in the US or atleast close to it. But due to reasons unfathomable, it still chooses to keep the prices $110 - $200 more in India. Who the **** in their right minds will pay that exorbitant premium even in so-called non-poor countries?
Here's the prices so you can check. These are official Apple prices so I am not considering any discounts given in either country by retailers:
*taking $1 = ?63
iPhone 5S 16GB unlocked
US: $649
India: ?53,500 = $849
So, Extra price in India = $200
iPhone 5c 16GB unlocked
US: $549
India: ?41,900 = $665
So, Extra price in India = $116
I guess all those people feeling sorry for India's poor can shut up now. Most Indians are smart enough to not fall for such shit.
(Edit: corrected the Apple India price for 5c from ?41,500 to ?41,900)
4S has 1080p video, 4 has 720p. When you've only got 8GB to begin with, 720 is more reasonable
4S has Siri, is expected to have Siri, and maybe they can't support it so well in these areas yet.
4S production is already maxed in producing the third-tier phone. They now want a fourth tier.
One way this all makes sense is if it were a contingency plan all along, if the market and economic conditions blew a certain way. Otherwise, why would they hang on to parts and tooling?
Here in India, people really took up the various EMI offers offered for the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 earlier. Those triggered a good increase in sales last year.
Apple could have brought prices down to prices of unlocked phones in the US or atleast close to it. But due to reasons unfathomable, it still chooses to keep the prices $110 - $200 more in India. Who the **** in their right minds will pay that exorbitant premium even in so-called non-poor countries?
Here's the prices so you can check. These are official Apple prices so I am not considering any discounts given in either country by retailers: *taking $1 = ?63
iPhone 5S 16GB unlocked
US: $649
India: ?53,500 = $849
So, Extra price in India = $200
iPhone 5c 16GB unlocked
US: $549
India: ?41,500 = $659
So, Extra price in India = $110
I guess all those people feeling sorry for India's poor can shut up now. Most Indians are smart enough to not fall for such shit.
Seems more reasonable that you're looking at tariffs, taxes, and/or several layers of markup by middlemen. I can't imagine that Apple would just be engaged in price gouging in India out of common greed.
Knee jerk reaction. The most current OS slows the 4 down to a brick and will hardly exhume Apple's status of high quality. Unless they upgrade the chip, which they won't, I can't see this as helping Apple's status there long term.
Can't agree with you there. I have a iPhone 4 on iOS 7 and my wife has one running iOS 6. I run Geekbench 2 on both and the results were almost the same, with my phone coming out on top every time by a single point.
This makes sense now. I remember reading Apple was sending lots of refurbished iPhone 4 models to India. They must have been a success - so much so that Apple decided it was the right phone for the low-data-speed environment and low average income level of the market. This is a good move, as mentioned before, to get people into the ecosystem.
I can see this making sense if it addresses a market segment that otherwise will not (or cannot) purchase a 4s or greater and does not cannibalize the existing 4s and above sales.
Practically, I would think putting iOS 6 on it makes sense. While that obviously dilutes their largely consistent iOS experience they offer across the iPhone portfolio, my iPhone 4 is so incredibly sluggish on iOS 7. In hindsight I would've stuck with iOS 6.
what we really need is actually an iphone store 'legit one'. we have to buy to another country near us (singapore) just to have one of apple product. whats left in our country is just a second hand or refurbish one. wonder why....
Comments
Who knows.
The logical reason for the iphone 4 is that the parts are still available. If Apple was still producing the A4, then replacing the radio chip with a current version or even replacing the memory or NAND storage with whatever is currently available is much less of a big deal. Remember that the only substantial difference between an iPod touch and an iPhone is the lack of the 3G/4G/LTE radio. Apple still makes the iPod Touch, but it's on the A5 chip at the low end (229$ USD) It seems more likely that they would resume the 4S (450$ USD) production which is still on their website and is used by the iPhone 4S and iPod Touch.
That was my first thought!
The idea is that iPhone 5C will eventually replace all the cheap model. Why bring the 4? Apple has always maintained somewhat unofficial life expectancy of an iPhone devices to be 3 years. And the 4 isn't any cheaper to produce then the 5C.
The BOM Cost of iPhone 5C will drop over the years. 32nm, or 28nm will be the cheapest Node in the coming years according to Industry expert. With Gorilla Glass price dropping as well. The iPhone 5C will likely be the lowest BOM cost iPhone Apple has made since the introduction of iPhone. And will likely stay at as the Cheapest iPhone option available over the years with spec upgrade only just like the iPod touch.
What about OS fragmentation?
What about it? Android seems to be doing pretty well with plenty of OS fragmentation.
I recently sold my iphone 4 as ios7 was making it useless! I tell my Indian friends not to buy iph 4 - instead pay a bit more and get 4s. Both have the same great look and feel but 4s would last longer with OS lifecycle upgrades. Or if you can afford go for 5s - amazing phone.
Here in India, people really took up the various EMI offers offered for the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 earlier. Those triggered a good increase in sales last year.
Apple could have brought prices down to prices of unlocked phones in the US or atleast close to it. But due to reasons unfathomable, it still chooses to keep the prices $110 - $200 more in India. Who the **** in their right minds will pay that exorbitant premium even in so-called non-poor countries?
Here's the prices so you can check. These are official Apple prices so I am not considering any discounts given in either country by retailers:
*taking $1 = ?63
iPhone 5S 16GB unlocked
US: $649
India: ?53,500 = $849
So, Extra price in India = $200
iPhone 5c 16GB unlocked
US: $549
India: ?41,900 = $665
So, Extra price in India = $116
I guess all those people feeling sorry for India's poor can shut up now. Most Indians are smart enough to not fall for such shit.
(Edit: corrected the Apple India price for 5c from ?41,500 to ?41,900)
4S has 1080p video, 4 has 720p. When you've only got 8GB to begin with, 720 is more reasonable
4S has Siri, is expected to have Siri, and maybe they can't support it so well in these areas yet.
4S production is already maxed in producing the third-tier phone. They now want a fourth tier.
One way this all makes sense is if it were a contingency plan all along, if the market and economic conditions blew a certain way. Otherwise, why would they hang on to parts and tooling?
Seems more reasonable that you're looking at tariffs, taxes, and/or several layers of markup by middlemen. I can't imagine that Apple would just be engaged in price gouging in India out of common greed.
Can't agree with you there. I have a iPhone 4 on iOS 7 and my wife has one running iOS 6. I run Geekbench 2 on both and the results were almost the same, with my phone coming out on top every time by a single point.
Even the 4s has a semblance of working fine. Demand in the west for the iPhone 4 is negligible at best
I can see this making sense if it addresses a market segment that otherwise will not (or cannot) purchase a 4s or greater and does not cannibalize the existing 4s and above sales.
Practically, I would think putting iOS 6 on it makes sense. While that obviously dilutes their largely consistent iOS experience they offer across the iPhone portfolio, my iPhone 4 is so incredibly sluggish on iOS 7. In hindsight I would've stuck with iOS 6.
Or how about 5c?
If it's good enough for the Biebs...
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/02/05/bieber-buys-iphones-for-young-fans
Apple will resume iPhone 4 production for developing markets
Same rumour just with other wording...
I can't believe this thread has gone on for so long without input from Apple ][.