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, significantly the

iPhone
. The corporate does not typically elaborate on what meaning — however in observe, it appears to contain concentrating on middle- and upper-class consumers with high-quality specs and supplies. Nobody wants an A18 processor to verify 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 — had 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 “price range” cellphone, and the corporate rapidly modified methods, as an alternative selecting to place out merchandise just like the iPhone SE and the

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

1

iPhone costs are spiraling out of attain

They usually’re in all probability about to soar greater

It is no secret that purchasing a brand new iPhone will 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 choose up an iPhone 16 Professional, you are spending upwards of $1,000, probably as a lot as you’d on a MacBook Professional if you happen to 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 shocked on the variety of individuals on the health club I see with Professional iPhones — however nonetheless, 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 state of affairs might worsen this fall, with the distinct risk of value hikes for the

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

A plastic iPhone can be cheaper to supply and promote whereas conserving consumers up-to-date on specs. I would not anticipate Apple to make use of plastic on Professional items, and even vanilla ones, however the materials might 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 attraction to aluminum and titanium, however it’s additionally inherently more durable to churn out metallic frames in vibrant colours. We have now seen exceptions — I actually favored my yellow iPhone XR, for instance, and the uncommon cases 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 attorneys and accountants needs to be allowed to show just a little aptitude from time to time.

Plastic shells would make it simpler to churn out thrilling appears to be like. Apple ought to in all probability skip the neon inexperienced possibility it supplied for the iPhone 5c, however I believe lots of people would immediately gravitate in the direction of telephones in deep blue or pink, or possibly forest inexperienced. I might definitely purchase a burnt orange iPhone — as would lots of Longhorns followers in Texas, or individuals who like autumnal tones.

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Physics to the rescue

Apple / Pocket-lint

Metallic does present extra structural rigidity, however that is not all the time the most suitable choice for safeguarding costly electronics. When a cellphone hits one thing, or vice versa, that kinetic vitality has to go someplace. Metallic does not distribute vitality very nicely, so tougher impacts can create dents, probably even damaging inner elements if a dent goes deep sufficient. Metallic 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 motive many pre-iPhone gadgets used plastic past value. Plastic is versatile. If it is thick sufficient, it even bounces. It could nonetheless scratch, however that is a small tradeoff for worrying much less about your cellphone once 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 getting 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 really known as. The gist, although, is that it ought to use a mixture of recent battery tech and potential characteristic sacrifices to attain an extremely skinny body, like Samsung’s

Galaxy S25 Edge
. I am undecided who’s crying out for that, however it needs to be a formidable piece of engineering nonetheless, making iPhones much more moveable. The Air is liable to be the template for iPhones to come back, very like the iPhone X set the stage for each mannequin we’ve got now.

You understand what’s additionally mild, although? Plastic. Weight is a smaller motive 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, value hikes, or elevated probabilities of bending. I am not a fan of most ultra-thin gadgets anyway, since I want a specific amount 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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