The device will actually be a midrange product, and not one that will compete in the lower end of the space.
Apple's iPhone 4S isn't going anywhere anytime soon, according to one analyst.
(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)
Apple's iPhone 5C might not be a "low end" product after all.
If the long-rumored device launches later this year, as expected, the
iPhone 5C will actually be considered a midrange product and replace
the
iPhone 5, KGI Securities analyst and longtime Apple follower Ming-Chi Kuo wrote to investors on Monday, according to AppleInsider, which obtained a copy of the report. The
iPhone 4S, which many believed would be killed off by the iPhone 5C, will live on, Kuo claims.
Apple's iPhone 5C has been rumored to be in the works for months. The
device was initially believed to be a low-end product that would
compete with cheaper handsets. The handset is expected to ship with a
4-inch display and come with a plastic casing in several different colors.
If Kuo is correct, however, the plan wouldn't address one issue that
would have been solved by replacing the iPhone 4S: Apple's need to build
and provide legacy connectors. The iPhone 4S works with the old 30-pin
connector. If the iPhone 5C were to replace the iPhone 4S, Apple would
finally be able to ditch the 30-pin option and bring its Lightning port
to all of its current smartphones.
Kuo, who has been one of the more reliable Apple handicappers in the
past, isn't convinced by that line of thinking. He believes that Apple
sees more upside in delivering the
iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, and iPhone 4S alongside each other.
So, how will all of those products fare? According to AppleInsider,
Kuo said in his note that he expects Apple to ship 8.4 million iPhone
5C units this fiscal quarter. However, Kuo said that some issues with
building the iPhone 5S will mean that handset will be limited to 5.2
million unit shipments.
Looking ahead, Kuo argues that the iPhone
5S will eventually outsell the iPhone 5C, adding that Apple could ship
as many as 28 million iPhone 5S units during the last quarter of the
year.
Apple, of course, hasn't confirmed anything Kuo has said,
and likely won't until next month. The company is expected to hold a
special event unveiling its new iPhone line on September 10.
Source: Cnet
Apple Iphone 5 4s 5c
