Apple reportedly plans to launch an 8 GB iPhone 5s model in December, to replace the newly discontinued iPhone 5c as the base iPhone model.
Before the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s flagships made their official debut, the rumor mill suggested that Apple would discontinue its older iPhone 5s. Instead, Apple decided to keep the iPhone 5s around and sell it alongside the latest iPhone 6s models, but it discontinued the plastic iPhone 5c.
This leaves the iPhone 5s as Apple's entry-level smartphone, available with either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage capacity. The 16 GB model is available for $0 down on-contract, $15 per month with AT&T Next, or $450 with a T-Mobile SIM or SIM-free. The 32 GB version, meanwhile, costs $49 on-contract, $16.64 with AT&T Next, or $499 SIM-free or with a T-Mobile SIM.
A new report, however, now claims to have exclusive information regarding Apple's plans to launch an 8 GB variant of its iPhone 6s, aiming to "please mass buyers in the global markets."
Citing a source in the supply chain, TechOne3 reveals that Apple plans to launch this 8 GB iPhone 5s this year to fill the empty space it left when it discontinued the iPhone 5c.
The publication further notes that the new 8 GB variant of the iPhone 5s will target emerging markets such as India and China and will make its debut by the end of this year, "as early as December."
Apple never really showed much interest in pushing its iPhones in emerging markets, where platforms such as Android and Windows Phone dominate the scene mainly due to their affordability — but it apparently plans to start now.
With this new 8 GB iPhone 5s, Apple reportedly aims to cater to the mid-range segment of the smartphone market, something it already tried – albeit not with resounding success – with the iPhone 5c.
The source did not detail the exact price of the 8 GB iPhone 5s, but said it will cost slightly more than the 16 GB iPhone 6c did. Other than the different storage capacity, the upcoming iPhone 5s version will feature no changes in design or specifications.
Apple has yet to confirm such plans to launch an 8 GB iPhone 5s, however, so it's best to take this report with a grain of salt for now.
