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 would not usually elaborate on what meaning — however in observe, it appears to contain focusing 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, on condition 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 up to now, 2013’s iPhone 5c. It was Apple’s first try at a “finances” 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 loads of potential for plastic, and here is why.

1

iPhone costs are spiraling out of attain

And so they’re in all probability 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. If you happen to decide up an iPhone 16 Professional, you are spending upwards of $1,000, doubtlessly as a lot as you’d on a MacBook Professional for those who get a fully-equipped 16 Professional Max. In the meantime, the corporate has formally dropped the iPhone SE, which had a extra cheap $429 pricetag.

I am stunned on the variety of folks on the health club I see with Professional iPhones — however nonetheless, Apple could also be pushing increasingly folks 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 worth hikes for the

iPhone 17
lineup if the Trump administration would not again down on world 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 could be cheaper to provide and promote whereas retaining consumers up-to-date on specs. I would not anticipate Apple to make use of plastic on Professional models, 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 colour choices

Midnight is not a colour, Apple

Apple / Pocket-lint

There is a shiny enchantment to aluminum and titanium, but it surely’s additionally inherently more durable to churn out steel frames in vibrant colours. Now we have seen exceptions — I actually appreciated 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 a bit 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 choice it provided for the iPhone 5c, however I feel lots of people would immediately gravitate in the direction of telephones in deep blue or pink, or possibly forest inexperienced. I would actually purchase a burnt orange iPhone — as would loads 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 all the time the most suitable choice for shielding costly electronics. When a cellphone hits one thing, or vice versa, that kinetic vitality has to go someplace. Steel would not distribute vitality very nicely, so more durable impacts can create dents, doubtlessly even damaging inner elements 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 scale 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 worth. Plastic is versatile. If it is thick sufficient, it even bounces. It could actually nonetheless scratch, however that is a small tradeoff for worrying much less about your cellphone if you drop it on tile or concrete. And even that is not a lot of a risk as of late, on condition that most individuals are going to slap their iPhone in a case regardless. These circumstances 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 yr, a very powerful is more likely 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 doable function sacrifices to realize an extremely skinny body, like Samsung’s

Galaxy S25 Edge
. I am undecided who’s crying out for that, but it surely needs to be a formidable piece of engineering nonetheless, making iPhones much more transportable. The Air is liable to be the template for iPhones to come back, 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 motive to change supplies, on condition that few folks complain about how heavy iPhones are, however I would gladly take plastic if it meant a lighter product with none function 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 suits comfortably in my pockets, thanks very a lot. I do not need thinness only for the sake of being impressed.

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