Apple can say anything it wants about using some special plastic, but the bottom line is everyone in the entire smartphone industry believes plastic is just plastic and they've already determined Apple to have jumped the shark with the iPhone 5C. Apple is sitting on close to $150 billion in reserve cash which no other tech company on the planet comes close to and this is what Apple's solution is. I don't think it makes much of a difference as long as the guts inside are of high-quality, but this whole plastic thing makes Apple look like a fraud and Apple loyalists look like fools for laughing at Samsung and the rest of the plastic Android smartphone makers.
I'm beginning to understand why Wall Street hates Apple with a passion. The company is just cutting far too many corners for its vast amount of wealth and is allowing companies with far less wealth to build products that are just as good in quality and probably better in specs. Apple should be building the finest smartphones on the planet without question. Apple is rapidly becoming the laughingstock of Wall Street and the smartphone industry. That's why the stock is so poorly valued and shareholders are being totally screwed.
With technology nowadays a phone the thinness of the Touch is not impossible. Apple is probably waiting till the 6 to launch a phone that thin though.
Anyway I'm still not seeing the benefit of using plastic other than saving Apple manufacturing cost.
In reality they could have still had healthy margins with a colorful anodized aluminum phone similar to the Touch. At most an iPod Touch based iPhone should only cost $450. Seeing as Apple had planned on charging $550 I don't see why they instead didnt take the Aluminum Touch route.
Here we go again.
Aluminum is cold, hard, brittle and sharp. This has appeal when you want to convey or experience "precision."
Plastic is warm, soft, resiliant and curvaceous. This has appeal when you want to go for fun and lovability.
Maybe easier for you: plastic is sexier. If you're still having trouble, I can go into more detail.
By the way, the plastic-plus-metal reinforcement/antenna architecture has a long and flexible future, and will get much less expensive once they have their production chops down.
With technology nowadays a phone the thinness of the Touch is not impossible. Apple is probably waiting till the 6 to launch a phone that thin though.
Anyway I'm still not seeing the benefit of using plastic other than saving Apple manufacturing cost.
In reality they could have still had healthy margins with a colorful anodized aluminum phone similar to the Touch. At most an iPod Touch based iPhone should only cost $450. Seeing as Apple had planned on charging $550 I don't see why they instead didnt take the Aluminum Touch route.
1. Using plastic cuts the cost significantly without losing features.
2. Using plastic allows for colorful phones that teenagers will love.
3. A family of six is much more likely to buy 6 iPhones when they can save $600 and have the Find my iPhone feature to find their kids.
I see that [B]Constabe Odo[/B] is still confusing Apple's architectural statement in plastic and metal with Samsung's lazy use of plastic that reaembles an insect's carapace. Couldn't be more different.
The 5c is going to sell and sell and sell. It's so gorgeous looking, I was thinking about getting one myself; until I saw how fantastic the 5s is.
I kinda wish you could get the 5s in the same colours/shell/case as the 5c, but I think regular folk are gonna just be all over the 5c as it stands.
On a related note, in the past few weeks I've noticed a lot of people who have moved from another platform to iOS getting an iPhone5 as their first iPhone, I'm guessing people coming to end of contracts trading up. I can only see this trend increasing going forward.
well i think the reason why they couldn't launch this as a 4s replacement is because of the physical limitations of the 4s. (A5, no LTE, etc).
Next year though, the iPhone line will be very interesting. They might discontinue the 5s for the 6? But I think they're more likely to keep 2 Gens in each category, so you'll have iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 for the high end, and the 5C and 5CS ??? for the mid end, at the prices of the current 4s.
It may be stronger than normal, but it is the most plastic looking plastic case I have seen for a long time. Looks really tacky.
The one good thing Apple did do was not make this device as cheap as people expected. Apple has worked hard to forge a reputation for having premium products. They cost a bit more but you can rely on them for performance and durability. Producing a "for the same price as" phone to compete with cheap offering from other makers would have been a bad move IMO.
Lol, it's just plastic! " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" /> By the way look at AAPL price! $445!!! I guess the markets doesn't like too much this "extraordinaire plastic"!
Aside from that, remember the 5C is the same price the 5 would have been for consumers this year anyway. The only one the 5C is cheaper for is Apple presumably.
Of course you can equally say, 'gosh the amazing iPhone 5S isn't even twice the price of a the humble 5C' 8-)
These articles crack me up. They're almost apologetic without actually being so, after years of attacking other "plastic" phones. Oh but now it's ok, because Apple is doing it. Yeesh.
And from what I can tell, they don't look any more "premium" or "substantial" than the Lumia line, who's colors are a far cry more attractive I daresay. What is with Apple designers and this washed out pastel nonsense? My blue iPod Mini was gorgeous, but these things? They look like Easter through the eyes of a Valium addict.
All those years!!!. Apple manufacturing process of injection molding and finishing in 40 years old and done but just anyone in this business.. No innovation there. Using "edge" gate method of delivering molten plastic to the cavity is the cheapest and lowest end of part gating. No innovation there either. So my question is: what is the big deal???. It is still cheap plastic manufactured by cheap methods. BFD
well i think the reason why they couldn't launch this as a 4s replacement is because of the physical limitations of the 4s. (A5, no LTE, etc).
Next year though, the iPhone line will be very interesting. They might discontinue the 5s for the 6? But I think they're more likely to keep 2 Gens in each category, so you'll have iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 for the high end, and the 5C and 5CS ??? for the mid end, at the prices of the current 4s.
I'm getting too old ... the years past so fast these days these things come by seemingly monthly to me ... I always get my wife's cast off iPhones and I get her the latest for Christmas (which come around every six months it seems). I had a senior moment last night trying to remember what phone I had, and what I needed to download from the developer site for my phone's iOS 7 GM ... I really had no idea what I was currently using there for while! :no:
Just so long as they keep it few and simple ... We don't want to return to the Sculley days of Apple product diarrhea and nomenclature complexity ... leave that to Scamsung.
To emerging markets and large families, it's a better iPhone 5 at half the price.
It will sell like crazy and with a healthy margin for Apple.
It's a beautiful phone that people will love for the colors and the new user interface.
If you think about it, the 5C is actually better overall than any competing smartphone out there at any price except the 5S.
The 5C will be flying off of store shelves.
How is it better? The iPhone 5 would've been the same exact price regardless.
Hey Samsung has something to copy now that Apple shows them how to do plastic right.
As I said, the same 40 years old manufacturing methods used by everyone. Since Samsung and others made plastic phones before Apple did, then Apple is copying everyone.
With all the effort they put into it and the price they decided on, I'm surprised they didn't simply use iPod Touch grade anodized aluminum for the shell.
I see no benefit to the use of plastic considering Apple likely intended all along to price the device at $550.
Because an iPhone in an iPod touch like casing would have some potential 5S buyers get the $100 cheaper 5 instead.
All these people hating on plastic I guess forgot the 3G and 3GS were plastic. By all accounts the 5C has better build quality than either of those phones.
It was $445 when I looked 30 minutes ago. Now it's $482.
It's pre market, will probably come back a bit before the market opens. It's obviously down because the Gene Munster's of the world got it wrong when they thought Apple would do a super cheap phone.
Comments
I'm beginning to understand why Wall Street hates Apple with a passion. The company is just cutting far too many corners for its vast amount of wealth and is allowing companies with far less wealth to build products that are just as good in quality and probably better in specs. Apple should be building the finest smartphones on the planet without question. Apple is rapidly becoming the laughingstock of Wall Street and the smartphone industry. That's why the stock is so poorly valued and shareholders are being totally screwed.
Here we go again.
Aluminum is cold, hard, brittle and sharp. This has appeal when you want to convey or experience "precision."
Plastic is warm, soft, resiliant and curvaceous. This has appeal when you want to go for fun and lovability.
Maybe easier for you: plastic is sexier. If you're still having trouble, I can go into more detail.
By the way, the plastic-plus-metal reinforcement/antenna architecture has a long and flexible future, and will get much less expensive once they have their production chops down.
With technology nowadays a phone the thinness of the Touch is not impossible. Apple is probably waiting till the 6 to launch a phone that thin though.
Anyway I'm still not seeing the benefit of using plastic other than saving Apple manufacturing cost.
In reality they could have still had healthy margins with a colorful anodized aluminum phone similar to the Touch. At most an iPod Touch based iPhone should only cost $450. Seeing as Apple had planned on charging $550 I don't see why they instead didnt take the Aluminum Touch route.
1. Using plastic cuts the cost significantly without losing features.
2. Using plastic allows for colorful phones that teenagers will love.
3. A family of six is much more likely to buy 6 iPhones when they can save $600 and have the Find my iPhone feature to find their kids.
The 5c is going to sell and sell and sell. It's so gorgeous looking, I was thinking about getting one myself; until I saw how fantastic the 5s is.
I kinda wish you could get the 5s in the same colours/shell/case as the 5c, but I think regular folk are gonna just be all over the 5c as it stands.
On a related note, in the past few weeks I've noticed a lot of people who have moved from another platform to iOS getting an iPhone5 as their first iPhone, I'm guessing people coming to end of contracts trading up. I can only see this trend increasing going forward.
Because iPhone 5c needs to be $450/free for 2yr contract next year.
I'll take an iPhone 5 on clearance/sale any day over the week over the 5C. Not impressed with that cheap-looking thing at all. The 5S nice, though.
well i think the reason why they couldn't launch this as a 4s replacement is because of the physical limitations of the 4s. (A5, no LTE, etc).
Next year though, the iPhone line will be very interesting. They might discontinue the 5s for the 6? But I think they're more likely to keep 2 Gens in each category, so you'll have iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 for the high end, and the 5C and 5CS ??? for the mid end, at the prices of the current 4s.
It may be stronger than normal, but it is the most plastic looking plastic case I have seen for a long time. Looks really tacky.
The one good thing Apple did do was not make this device as cheap as people expected. Apple has worked hard to forge a reputation for having premium products. They cost a bit more but you can rely on them for performance and durability. Producing a "for the same price as" phone to compete with cheap offering from other makers would have been a bad move IMO.
Lol, it's just plastic!
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" /> By the way look at AAPL price! $445!!! I guess the markets doesn't like too much this "extraordinaire plastic"!
Of course you can equally say, 'gosh the amazing iPhone 5S isn't even twice the price of a the humble 5C' 8-)
These articles crack me up. They're almost apologetic without actually being so, after years of attacking other "plastic" phones. Oh but now it's ok, because Apple is doing it. Yeesh.
And from what I can tell, they don't look any more "premium" or "substantial" than the Lumia line, who's colors are a far cry more attractive I daresay. What is with Apple designers and this washed out pastel nonsense? My blue iPod Mini was gorgeous, but these things? They look like Easter through the eyes of a Valium addict.
All those years!!!. Apple manufacturing process of injection molding and finishing in 40 years old and done but just anyone in this business.. No innovation there. Using "edge" gate method of delivering molten plastic to the cavity is the cheapest and lowest end of part gating. No innovation there either. So my question is: what is the big deal???. It is still cheap plastic manufactured by cheap methods. BFD
I'm getting too old ... the years past so fast these days these things come by seemingly monthly to me ... I always get my wife's cast off iPhones and I get her the latest for Christmas (which come around every six months it seems). I had a senior moment last night trying to remember what phone I had, and what I needed to download from the developer site for my phone's iOS 7 GM ... I really had no idea what I was currently using there for while! :no:
Just so long as they keep it few and simple ... We don't want to return to the Sculley days of Apple product diarrhea and nomenclature complexity ... leave that to Scamsung.
How is it better? The iPhone 5 would've been the same exact price regardless.
Hey Samsung has something to copy now that Apple shows them how to do plastic right.
As I said, the same 40 years old manufacturing methods used by everyone. Since Samsung and others made plastic phones before Apple did, then Apple is copying everyone.
All these people hating on plastic I guess forgot the 3G and 3GS were plastic. By all accounts the 5C has better build quality than either of those phones.
$445? Where?
It was $445 when I looked 30 minutes ago. Now it's $482.