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Rumors of a low-cost version of Apple’s mobile devices have been in the pipeline for sometime now. There have been mockups, concept photos, supposed leaked images, and even a concept video of what a low-cost iPhone might look like. Until now, these rumors and speculations have been just that. Apple’s recent quarterly earnings call even suggested that the low-cost iPhone has already been on the market in the form of the iPhone 4 and 4S.
However, a recent report from the China Labor Watch shows that, at least one of Apple’s suppliers is working hard on a plastic backed mobile device.
Blog site 9to5Mac noted that a full report from an undercover CLW member describes a day in the life of a worker at Pegatron, one of Apple’s biggest manufacturing supply partners.
In addition to calling out a large amount of labor violations, the report noted a couple of things that point to evidence of the purported low-cost iPhone.
The statement from the CLW notes that Pegatron is currently assembling products for Apple, “Including iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and low-priced plastic iPhones.”
In addition, one of the journal entries from the CLW member states, “Today’s work is to paste protective film on the iPhone’s plastic back cover to prevent it from being scratched on assembly lines.”
Based on the information in the report, dated early July of 2013, the plastic backs for the low-cost iPhone are not yet in mass production at Pegatron. If other factories are on the same pace, it is likely that the cheaper model will not launch this fall, but is one of Apple’s many products that will launch “throughout 2014.”
While none of these rumors have pointed to a low-cost iPad, it is likely that Apple is working on a cheaper tablet as well. Currently, the company holds less than half the market share of tablets. One way to gain traction would be to produce a tablet that could compete better with the likes of Amazon’s Kindle Fire. A $250 iPad would be a big hit with consumers that are just entering the tablet market. Plus, I know I would love to have a blue-backed iPad. It would be so cute.
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