4 causes Apple ought to make a brand new plastic iPhone just like the iPhone 5c

Famously or infamously, Apple prefers to focus on a “premium” market with most of its merchandise, notably the

iPhone
. The corporate does not typically elaborate on what meaning — however in follow, it appears to contain concentrating on middle- and upper-class consumers with high-quality specs and supplies. Nobody wants an A18 processor to examine their e mail, browse Instagram, or play

Balatro
. Likewise, nobody wants titanium or airplane-grade aluminum, provided that a few of the most sturdy telephones ever constructed — like the unique Nokia 3310 — have been primarily made out of plastic.

There’s solely been one plastic iPhone thus far, 2013’s iPhone 5c. It was Apple’s first try at a “finances” telephone, and the corporate shortly modified methods, as a substitute selecting to place out merchandise just like the iPhone SE and the

iPhone 16e
. However I really feel like there’s nonetheless quite a lot of potential for plastic, and here is why.

1

iPhone costs are spiraling out of attain

And so they’re most likely about to soar larger

It is no secret that purchasing a brand new iPhone could be prohibitively costly. Even the iPhone 16e begins at $599, and that is earlier than equipment like a case, a charger, or earbuds. When you decide up an iPhone 16 Professional, you are spending upwards of $1,000, probably as a lot as you’d on a MacBook Professional when you get a fully-equipped 16 Professional Max. In the meantime, the corporate has formally dropped the iPhone SE, which had a extra affordable $429 pricetag.

I am stunned on the variety of individuals on the fitness center I see with Professional iPhones — however however, Apple could also be pushing increasingly more individuals in the direction of older or refurbished fashions, which generate much less cash and shut off entry to the most recent options. The scenario may worsen this fall, with the distinct risk of worth hikes for the

iPhone 17
lineup if the Trump administration does not again down on international tariffs. Certainly, there could possibly be hikes anyway, since Apple prefers excessive revenue margins and has saved costs static for years.

A plastic iPhone could be cheaper to supply and promote whereas conserving consumers up-to-date on specs. I would not count on Apple to make use of plastic on Professional items, and even vanilla ones, however the materials may make a 17e or 18e extra financially tempting than discovering a used iPhone 15 Professional on websites like eBay or Fb.

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2

Individuals need higher shade choices

Midnight is not a shade, Apple

Apple / Pocket-lint

There is a shiny enchantment to aluminum and titanium, however it’s additionally inherently harder to churn out steel frames in vibrant colours. We now have seen exceptions — I actually preferred my yellow iPhone XR, for instance, and the uncommon situations of Product RED iPhones — however for a very long time now, Apple’s palette has consisted principally of pastels and offset shades of black, white, and gold. The aesthetic is wise {and professional}, however not very thrilling. Even legal professionals and accountants ought to be allowed to show a little bit aptitude from time to time.

Plastic shells would make it simpler to churn out thrilling seems. Apple ought to most likely skip the neon inexperienced choice it provided for the iPhone 5c, however I believe lots of people would immediately gravitate in the direction of telephones in deep blue or crimson, or possibly forest inexperienced. I might definitely purchase a burnt orange iPhone — as would quite a lot of Longhorns followers in Texas, or individuals who like autumnal tones.

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Physics to the rescue

Apple / Pocket-lint

Steel does present extra structural rigidity, however that is not at all times the best choice for shielding costly electronics. When a telephone hits one thing, or vice versa, that kinetic power has to go someplace. Steel does not distribute power very effectively, so more durable impacts can create dents, probably even damaging inside parts if a dent goes deep sufficient. Steel additionally has the potential of bending completely, as some iPhone 6 Plus and iPad Professional consumers are all too conscious. Glass backs can cut back a few of these threats — however with the brand new problems with scratching and cracking.

There is a purpose many pre-iPhone gadgets used plastic past worth. Plastic is versatile. If it is thick sufficient, it even bounces. It will possibly nonetheless scratch, however that is a small tradeoff for worrying much less about your telephone if you drop it on tile or concrete. And even that is not a lot of a menace today, provided that most individuals are going to slap their iPhone in a case regardless. These instances are sometimes made out of plastic too, I ought to level out.

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4

Lighter telephones are higher telephones

With out sacrificing options or grip, that’s

Whereas Apple is making ready a number of new iPhone fashions this 12 months, a very powerful is prone to be the

iPhone 17 Air
or Slim — we’ll have to attend and see what it is truly referred to as. The gist, although, is that it ought to use a mixture of recent battery tech and attainable characteristic sacrifices to realize an extremely skinny body, like Samsung’s

Galaxy S25 Edge
. I am undecided who’s crying out for that, however it ought to be a powerful piece of engineering however, making iPhones much more moveable. The Air is liable to be the template for iPhones to return, very similar to the iPhone X set the stage for each mannequin we have now now.

You already know what’s additionally gentle, although? Plastic. Weight is a smaller purpose to modify supplies, provided that few individuals complain about how heavy iPhones are, however I might gladly take plastic if it meant a lighter product with none characteristic sacrifices, worth hikes, or elevated probabilities of bending. I am not a fan of most ultra-thin gadgets anyway, since I want a certain quantity of actual property for a safe hand grip. And my iPhone 16 Professional already matches comfortably in my pockets, thanks very a lot. I do not need thinness only for the sake of being impressed.

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