With September fast approaching and the iPhone 5 likely to arrive with it, rumors persist that Apple is working on a smaller, cheaper version of a previous model in an effort to make the price affordable for everyone. Judging from some photos leaked out of Vietnam, it may just be a cheaper version of the current iPhone 4.
TechCrunch is reporting that a “lite” version of the iPhone 4 has popped up in a trio of photos posted to the Vietnamese website Tinhte. While TechCrunch is rightfully quick to dismiss the photos at first blush, Tinhte has a pretty decent track record thus far with Apple leaks, so “it’s at least worth a quick look.”
“What we’re seeing is an iPhone 4 without front and back glass panels,” the report explains. “Instead, there are two translucent plastic sheets and metal banding around the edge. This would make the iPhone considerably cheaper to build.”
Tinhte claims that this may be the fabled “iPhone 4S” that keeps popping up in rumors, meaning that a true iPhone 5 is also likely to debut alongside iOS 5 this fall. Apple has gone on record as trying to make the iPhone affordable for everyone, with recent reports claiming that the iPhone 3GS may continue to fill those shoes for the company, but this approach seems more likely.
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(Images courtesy of TechCrunch and Tinhte)
karkooshy
July 28, 2011 at 11:05pm
Why is everyone expecting an iPhone 4 lite? What Apple has been doing for the past 3 years was creating a new iPhone, and selling the former model for cheaper. That's what they're doing with the 3GS and the 4 right now.
I can't see why Apple wouldn't simply produce the iPhone 5/4S, and sell the current 4 for cheaper?
Why get into all of these complications by creating a whole new lineup?
Just my opinion.
