According to an insider source, Apple is working on a cheaper, lower-end version of the iPhone—that will probably resemble the current iPhone, but be made of less expensive case parts.
The development of such a budget-friendly phone has been in the works since 2009 and it could be launched as soon as early this year.
To lower the production cost of the iPhone, Apple may decide to replace its present aluminum and glass housing to a cheaper polycarbonate plastic shell—other parts could remain the same or be recycled from older iPhone models.
This move move in corporate strategy comes after Apple saw its smartphone market share eroded by lower cost alternatives by rivals Samsung and Google.
It is speculated that this budget iPhone will retail for US$99 to US$149—would you like to see a cheaper iPhone on the market or do you prefer the original high-quality version?
[via The Wall Street Journal]