Images of a rumoured low-cost iPhone featuring a polycarbonate shell have leaked on the Internet today.
With increased competition from cheaper smartphones such as Google"s Nexus 4, which retails for just $299 (£239 in the UK), Apple is said to be cooking up its own budget offering priced around the $300 mark, AppleInsider reports.
A budget iPhone is rumoured to contain a smaller 3.5-inch Retina screen and an A5 processor like the iPad mini. With shares in the company slipping below $400, Apple are likely trying to drive sales through a less premium device focusing on a low price point. A device that is designed for low cost purposes is something of an oddity for a company whose products have always remained famously high-priced.
The report does, however, note some pixelation around the "iPhone" lettering and Apple logo, hinting that the images may not be legitimate.
Despite questions of its legitimacy, the pictured part does correlate with iLounge"s description of the device back in January. Descriptions of a budget iPhone have ranged from a curved back to a more square design, with some reports even claiming the device will come in a range of colours like previous iPods.
Source: AppleInsider | Image via Tactus