Another Apple iPhone rumor is brewing from the usual suspects – that is, the ones who are notoriously wrong about this sort of thing. This time, Shaw Wu of Kaufman Bros. is saying that Apple is currently working on two versions of the new iPhone: one will have a larger screen than the current iPhone 4, and another with a smaller screen. The latter is presumed to be a low-end, or entry-level iPhone.
Reality check: these rumors aren’t anything new and have been going on for years. Word of a low-end, entry-level iPhone started in 2008 and it never materialized until much later. Except it wasn’t a new or different iPhone; the entry-level model was the iPhone 3G 8GB model which sold for $99 at AT&T. Today, the equivalent is the 8GB iPhone 3GS.
The trend these days seems to be toward bigger screens as smartphones like the HTC EVO 4G and Motorola Droid X are pushing the limits over four inches.
According to Wu’s supply chain sources, two different models are being built and are ready to be released soon. And although Apple has a history of making its smartphone release an annual thing, Electronista reports:
While noting that Apple traditionally ships new iPhone models on an annual cycle, Wu speculates that the models under development could ship much sooner.
Historically inaccurate, I wouldn’t put too much stock in a new model iPhone coming out before June or July of next year. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility, but it also doesn’t seem too likely at this point.
Apple’s golden smartphone has done incredibly well with the annual cycle of release and it keeps things consistent. Releasing several models with different screen sizes might cause fragmentation issues – something Android has been struggling with and only recently smoothing out.
If there were any new model iPhones coming out, I’d put more stock in an LTE model for Verizon than a version with a smaller screen.
[Via: Electronista]