It’s been said that the mark of a good craftsman is being able to make their work appear effortless. With this metric in mind, I’d like to make the following statement: DigiTimes makes their job look incredibly difficult.
Earlier this month, DigiTimes claimed that Apple would release a larger, 5-inch iPhone this year made of cheaper parts and aimed towards emerging markets. More 5-inch iPhone rumors came in from the East yesterday, claiming that Apple could release as many as 3 new phones this year.
Today, DigiTimes is backing out of their previous cheap, 5-inch iPhone claims, backing a more common rumor issued by the Wall Street Journal.
Now, DigiTimes is still claiming Apple will release 2 new iPhones, but said they’ll both be 4-inches instead of 5.
“Previously it was said that Apple would release a lower-cost version of its iPhone with a bigger screen in 2013. But the sources claimed that Apple is indeed developing an iPhone with a bigger screen, but that will not be among the models to be launched this year,” writes DigiTimes in their report today.
According to 9 to 5 Mac, it’s likely DigiTimes simply saw HTC’s latest unreleased smartphone, assumed it was an iPhone, and began reporting that Apple would release a 5-inch iPhone sometime this year.
Today’s DigiTimes report also claims that one of these 2 new iPhones will “target the midrange market,” a notable difference from all these “cheap” iPhone rumors which are flying around like mad.
According to DigiTimes, each of these 2 new iPhones will feature Apple’s new in-cell display technology, the very same technology which has been rumored to cause a logjam in iPhone 5 production.
“However, the sources noted it is still yet to be determined if Apple will have adequate supply of in-cell touch panels in 2013 for a lower-cost version of the iPhone due to mass production issues from the technology in 2012. The iPhone 5 took a hit in sales during 2012 as a result of poor yields for in-cell technology, but the sources are now saying those yields are improving,” reads the DigiTimes report.
Though this report does come from DigiTimes, which has a storied knack for getting things wrong, it is refreshing that this rumor makes no mention of the “iPhone Math” or some other cheap, plastic iPhone aimed towards emerging markets.
On Sunday, Chinese sources claimed that Apple would release a 4.8-inch device called the “iPhone Math.” These rumors were quickly dismissed for several reasons. First, these rumors made no mention of the resolution of the screen, an important piece of data which would accompany a valid rumor. Secondly, this rumor cited components suppliers.
As far as the “iPhone Math” moniker is concerned, these suppliers would have no idea what Apple plans to call their unreleased iPhone. Finally, the notion of Apple releasing 3 new phones in one year, the last of which merely features a better camera, is very difficult to believe.
Today’s report from DigiTimes should still be taken with that proverbial grain of salt; but it seems like they’re finally getting closer to reality, which is nice.
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