iPhone 5 & iPhone 4S Coming in September?
Two new and distinctly different iPhones may be released this September, according to a new analyst report. Yes two iPhones, both an iPhone 5 and a lower cost iPhone 4S, are now expected to be launched this fall, presumably alongside iOS 5.
If this is true, the two new iPhone models might spec out something like this:
iPhone 4S: lower end model aimed at prepaid and emerging markets
- Priced around $349 or lower (past reports suggest as low as $200)
- Unlocked
- No-contract required
- Pre-paid voice and data plans
- Hardware based on existing iPhone 4
iPhone 5: upper end model with contract subsidy, powerful CPU, and the latest features
- Dual-core A5 CPU borrowed from iPad 2
- Potentially larger 4″ screen
- 8MP camera
The dual-iPhone report comes from Deutsche Bank by way of Fortune & CNN, with a substantial caveat being the analyst “does not cite any sources or claim any inside knowledge for his two-iPhone theory.” Sources or not, Apple’s own COO Tim Cook has publicly stated they are interested in the prepaid market, and many other news agencies have long reported on a cheaper iPhone going into production.
If this is true, it may go a long way to explain the dual set of rumors that have long floated around which have confused just about everyone, one centered around the all-new iPhone 5 which is said to be full of a bunch of new features, and another focused on the iPhone 4S which is said to be a marginal upgrade based on the existing iPhone 4.
This news comes not long after Bloomberg seemed to clarify that an iPhone 5 was scheduled for September. Where there’s smoke there’s fire, a new iPhone (or two) is definitely coming.
Note: the attached picture is an artists rendering of the iPhone 5 based on rumors.
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When they say the next iPhone 4s will be ‘universal built’, does that mean it will work on (almost) any carrier, like US Cellular? AT&T is a little too expensive for my dad to afford.
The iOS5 page specifically states that iPhone 3GS is supported, although I doubt it’ll go any further. The 3GS is nearly obsolete, but it’ll still go for a while yet, especially in the emerging markets.
3GS is approaching EOL. Apple support phones for two years of updates; it is extremely unlikely that Apple can support the two year old 3GS with the iOS updates of 2012 and 2013. The A4 processor has had its day, it’s time to move on with the A5.
This could be a good thing, especially if they keep the 3GS in the lineup. Android users always throw the lack of choices in handsets in our face.
-Chris
friendsofmac.net
You can already use a prepaid iPhone with any unlocked phone (or locked to AT&T) by using the GoPhone SIMs, but an official and cheaper method would be very very popular.
Me? I want the iPhone 5!