Budget iPhone

Video shows off the iPhone 5C’s scratch resistance

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

Apple's rumored mid-tier handset called the iPhone 5C is said to feature a plastic body much like the iPhone 3GS, only sturdier. Using polycarbonate plastic in place of the iPhone 5's sensitive two-tone aluminum + glass combo should yield some much-needed advancements in the scratch resistance department, as shown in a video posted by Taiwan's Apple Daily.

The clip also gives us the exact measurements of the iPhone 5C's rear shell which, despite rocking the same four-inch screen as the current iPhone 5, appears to be just slightly taller and thicker than its high-end counterpart...

Hands-on clip of alleged yellow iPhone 5C shell

Cody Lee ∙ August 14, 2013

At this point, we've seen so many photos of purported budget iPhone shells that it's hard to imagine Apple not launching the handset this fall. But just in case you are still skeptical, we're adding more evidence to the pile this morning.

A new hi-res hands-on video of a yellow iPhone shell, believed to belong to Apple's low-end handset, hit the web late last night. And it gives us an extremely close up view of both the outside, and inside of the so-called iPhone 5C's casing...

Bloomberg weighs in on upcoming iPads and iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2013

With less than a month until Apple's September 10 iPhone event, Bloomberg has scanned the blogs and talked to its unnamed sources in an effort to dig up some previously unknown "facts" about Apple's upcoming iPhone and iPad refreshes.

Now, stop me if you've heard this before, but much of Bloomberg's reporting centers around a thinner and lighter iPad 5 with iPad mini style design.

Where it gets interesting, however, is a claim that Apple also plans to introduce a Retina iPad mini this year rather than in 2014...

Photos of alleged ‘iPhone 5C’ volume buttons hit the web

Cody Lee ∙ August 12, 2013

Though we're fairly confident that Apple will be holding an event on Tuesday, September 10 to unveil a new iPhone, we're still not exactly sure what it will present. Safe money is on a new iPhone model, the iPhone 5S, but what else?

It's starting to seem more and more likely that the 5S will share the stage with a lower cost, plastic handset next month. We've seen dozens of leaked parts corroborating the theory over the summer, and today, we're adding a few more...

New report reiterates ‘5C’ name for budget iPhone, calls for a gold 5S colorway

Cody Lee ∙ August 11, 2013

It's been a big weekend for iPhone rumors. And now that we've all circled September 10 on our calendars as the likely date for Apple's big smartphone event, it's time to start trying to figure out just what exactly it'll unveil.

A new report out of Japan today corroborates previous chatter, claiming that we'll be seeing two iPhones on stage that Tuesday: a low-budget model that is indeed called the 'iPhone 5C,' and an iPhone 5S with a gold colorway...

Apple to unveil new iPhone at September 10th event

Cody Lee ∙ August 12, 2013

Apple will take the wraps off of its next generation iPhone, believed to be the iPhone 5S, on September 10, according to a new report from The WSJ-owned AllThingsD. The blog says that sources have confirmed the company is planning a media event for the date.

While we haven't seen near the amount of "leaked" parts for the new iPhone as we have for the rumored budget model or the iPad 5, we still think we have a pretty good idea what to expect: a familiar-looking device with internal upgrades and an improved camera...

New videos of alleged iPad 5 and low-cost ‘iPhone 5C’ surface

Cody Lee ∙ August 3, 2013

During Apple's quarterly earnings call last month, Tim Cook said that the company had some "amazing new hardware" coming this fall. It's something he's mention several times over the past few months, and we've seen plenty of evidence to back it up.

Over the past 6 months, we've seen a number of purported part leaks for different rumored and anticipated Apple products. And today, we're adding to the pile. This morning, two new videos hit the web of an alleged iPad 5 and the low-cost 'iPhone 5C'...

Pegatron investigation seemingly confirms plastic iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2013

The Wall Street Journal yesterday shared a report by New York-based China Labor Watch which had counted 86 labor rights violations in three manufacturing facilities operated by Pegatron, Apple's contract manufacturer which assembles older iPhone 4 and 4S models.

It hasn't escaped the attention of eagle-eyed bloggers that the working conditions report also mentions an alleged less-pricey iPhone through the mouth of one of the interviewed workers tasked with assembling Apple’s rumored device at Pegatron's Shanghai plant.

As you know, the rumor-mill, pundits and big media alike are widely expecting the budget iPhone to feature a less-pricey polycarbonate body...

Sketchy photos claim to show budget ‘iPhone 5C’ packaging

Cody Lee ∙ July 28, 2013

A new set of photos hit the web this morning, showing a number of boxes with the label 'iPhone 5C' on the side. Our first instinct is, of course, that these boxes belong to one of the many iPhone clones circulating about Asia. But on the off chance that there's more to it than that, we've posted them.

The images come courtesy of Nowhereelse.fr, who has posted accurate photos of leaked parts in the past, and their theory on them is actually quite interesting. The site suggests that it's possible that these plastic boxes are the packaging for Apple's rumored budget iPhone, expected to debut this fall...

Suspicious plastic iPhone backplate with certification markings surfaces

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 3, 2017

Here's a nice little nugget naysayers should chew on. A photograph that surfaced on a Chinese website earlier today appears to seemingly depict a plastic chassis, presumably belonging to Apple's rumored less-pricey iPhone model.

Now, we've seen these things previously shown off extensively in a high-resolution video, hires close ups and a bunch of previously published photographs. What distinguishes this particular "leak" from others are the certification markings on the back - and that's an unexpected treat in my book...

Rumor: Apple to discontinue iPhone 5 alongside budget, 5S launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated September 4, 2013

A new report out of Korea today claims that Apple is going to be discontinuing production of the iPhone 5 this fall, transferring all of its efforts to its next generation flagship handset, the iPhone 5S, and the long-rumored 'budget iPhone.'

Citing 'industry partners' with knowledge of the situation, ETNews is reporting this afternoon that Apple has asked its supply chain partners to wind down iPhone 5 production. And, according to the report, it plans to halt it altogether this fall...

Plastic iPhone shell compared to 3GS, iPod touch in new hi-res video

Cody Lee ∙ July 24, 2013

Most of the reports we've seen over the past 6 months have suggested that Apple is going to be releasing a new, low-cost iPhone alongside its iPhone 5S this fall. And the theory has been corroborated by a mound of evidence, including a barrage of plastic iPhone shells.

Adding to the evidence today is Michael Kukielka, also known as the DetroitBorg, who has posted a high quality video of what appears to be a white plastic iPhone shell. Kukielka gives us a clear view of the case and compares it to the iPod touch and other iPhone models...