A new research report by RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani cites his supply chain checks when predicting a June or July launch for both the iPhone 5S and a lower-cost iPhone. He also says the low-cost iPhone will not have a Retina display.
From the report, via MacRumors:
Our supply-chain checks indicate that AAPL is working to launch multiple new phones in the June/July time-frame this year. Specifically, AAPL will launch the iPhone5s and a more affordable but lower-end iPhone at the same time, in either late CYQ2 or early Q3. The low-end iPhone will have the same 4″ form factor as the iPhone5 but will have plastic casing and no retina display. With a lower price-point, AAPL will be able to target a growing and important part of the Smartphone market (sub-$400 price-band).
The no Retina display call on the lower-cost device conflicts with reports from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The usually reliable Kuo has stated several times that the cheaper iPhone’s 4-inch display will have the same 326 pixels per inch resolution as all Retina iPhone displays released to date.
