Apple to Launch Next-Generation iPhone in Late August, Offer Unsubsidized 3GS for $350?

BGR reports that it has received information from an "incredibly solid source" claiming that Apple will be introducing its next-generation iPhone "by end of the Summer, late August-ish" and taking advantage of the opportunity to expand its iPhone line to three models by selling the new handset alongside the existing iPhone 4 and potentially continuing to offer the iPhone 3GS as a low-cost device available for $349 without a contract.

iphone 4s 4 3gs
The source reports that the next-generation iPhone isn't likely to sport a major redesign compared to the iPhone 4, suggesting that case manufacturers should have already leaked the new design if it was in fact different from the iPhone 4. With other sources adamantly reporting in recent weeks that the next-generation iPhone will receive an external redesign, the "will it/won't it" debate remains unsettled.

If this turns out to be true, it will mean there would be an iPhone 4S in addition to the prepaid iPhone 3GS available within the next month to two. Let's do one better, though. In addition to that news, we are told that Apple will continue to sell the current iPhone 4 as well, finally giving the company a full range of devices in the lower, mid, and high-end price segments.

Rumors of Apple releasing a low-cost iPhone carrying an unsubsidized price in the range of $350 have been circulating in recent weeks, with one analyst claiming that Apple will in fact be using the iPhone 3GS to fill that role, slashing its price to free on-contract and $399 without contract. The 8 GB iPhone 3GS currently retails for $449 unsubsidized.

Tag: BGR
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

mazz0 Avatar
179 months ago
But the 3GS is more than two years old, even people interested in the low price will want something newer than that.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Airforcekid Avatar
179 months ago
3Gs will have to support iOS 6 if they keep selling it or make a lot of uninformed customers mad then again they may never know iOS 6 came out.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Popeye206 Avatar
179 months ago
Iphone 4S? Epic fail on Apple's part (and yes, I know they will sell millions). 15 months to put a new CPU in an iphone. Not impressed.

LOL! I love it when people say "epic fail" on Apple. Heard it with every update of every product and yet they still sell like hot cakes.

I'm just curious as to why keep the 3Gs? They should just go iPhone4 and 4s. I'm guessing the 4s will be much more than just a processor update.

Epic Fail... funny! :rolleyes:
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WannaGoMac Avatar
179 months ago
3GS actually is possible

I think the 3GS rumor is likely correct as Apple made a point of iOS 5 working on the 3GS

However, given how much a mixed bag iOS 4 is on the 3GS I wonder how well iOS 5 will run?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surf2snow1 Avatar
179 months ago
But the 3GS is more than two years old, even people interested in the low price will want something newer than that.

Even at two years old, many customers will still choose the 3GS over most droids. It is def not a bad baseline model.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BillyBobBongo Avatar
179 months ago
The price gap has to increase

Currently in Europe you can buy a 8GB 3Gs for € 499,00 or a 16GB iPhone 4 for € 599,00, it's a no brainer which one you'd buy. If the gap increased to being more in the region of € 200 then I could see more people buying up older models.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)