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Deutsche Bank: Unibody aluminum iPhone 5 and low-cost iPhone 4S due in coming weeks

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 7:30PM EST
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Apple will unveil two new iPhone models next month, an all new iPhone 5 and a revamped iPhone 4 that will address the entry-level smartphone market. Deutsche Bank Securities analyst Chris Whitmore on Monday rehashed a research note he distributed this past June, which suggested Apple would unveil an iPhone 5 and an “iPhone 4S” in September. The iPhone 5 would be Apple’s brand new flagship smartphone, and the 4S would be a low-cost version of the current iPhone 4 model priced around $349 unlocked. The analyst’s new note mirrors those sentiments, though Whitmore now offers a few additional details. Read on for more.

Whitmore now sees the iPhone 5 as featuring a completely revamped design highlighted by a unibody aluminum case. The analyst’s description of an aluminum case could align with renders BGR published exclusively earlier this month. Regarding the iPhone 4S, Whitmore says it will be a tweaked version of Apple’s iPhone 4 that will cost between $300 and $350 without a contract. The new low pricing could allow Apple to address the prepaid market with its new low-cost handset, or it could allow carriers to offer the device for free with a postpaid contract.

The analyst’s note also mentions that the iPhone 5 will feature a better camera and a slightly bigger display, as has been rumored numerous times to date. The combination of a high-end redesigned iPhone 5 and an entry-level iPhone 4S is expected to expand Apple’s addressable market dramatically, and Whitmore notes that a low-cost 4S could make Apple’s smartphone an option for more than 1 billion prepaid customers.

Apple is expected to unveil one or more new iPhone models at a press conference on October 4th.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.