The new iPod touch and hints of an 'iPhone 6c'

[Commodus]

After a couple of years, there's a new iPod touch.

The big shock is that it jumped straight to the A8, not the A7 -- this is about as fast as a flagship iPhone, with the health sensors to boot. About the only big sacrifices are the display and lack of Touch ID. The dedicated media player market might be dying, but Apple's determined to rule it until the very end. Can't imagine anything else in the category touching it.

That raises the obvious question: if Apple can make a $199 contract-free device with an A8 in it, does this mean that the "iPhone 6c" will basically amount to a small iPhone 6? If it also has 16GB of storage, it could suddenly turn into a killer entry-level (by Apple's standards) smartphone. Fast enough to be futureproof, but skips the frills that the "I just need a phone" crowd doesn't care much about..

My guess is that the 6c will be a big part of how Apple continues its Chinese conquest, assuming that everything lines up. If Apple is leading such a cost-conscious market despite high prices, what happens when its most affordable iPhone is suddenly a pretty good deal?

 

[sm625]

It just goes to show how cheap that chip is, and how much they are gouging the everloving heck out of every iphone and ipad purchaser. $500 more for a $20 modem, a $10 bigger battery, and maybe $20 in other parts?! Good deal!!

 

[mcveigh]

There's a reason apple has most of the profits in the cell phone industry despite a much smaller percentage of sales.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'm not holding my breath that the iPhone 6C will get an A8 and 16GB as the entry level option.

Apple will still sell the iPhone 6 at $99 on contract after the new iPhone "6S" comes out. The 6C will be their $0 entry phone. But it wouldn't make sense for the 6C to have the same SOC as the more expensive 6 still being sold.

 

[Nebor]

I don't think Apple is concerned with the entry level market.

 

[Commodus]

It just goes to show how cheap that chip is, and how much they are gouging the everloving heck out of every iphone and ipad purchaser. $500 more for a $20 modem, a $10 bigger battery, and maybe $20 in other parts?! Good deal!!

A bigger and sharper display, better cameras, Touch ID, cellular patents... it's definitely not just a few dozen bucks' difference, although Apple is undoubtedly making a hefty profit. Also, here's the important part: you also had to wait 10 months to get this. When the iPhone is almost certainly going to get an A9 chip in a couple of months, the current state of affairs probably isn't going to last long.

 

[Commodus]

I don't think Apple is concerned with the entry level market.

That's why I couched it as a relative term. This iPhone is probably going to cost the same $450 off-contract as the 5c. That's not cheap (it's really "upper mid range"), but it's a lot more affordable for some people than the $650 iPhone 6. In China, that difference can represent one or two weeks' wages.

You're right that Apple isn't concerned with the entry-level market. However, it does have a strong interest in getting the most out of its lineup in cost-conscious places. That's especially true in countries like China and India. Apple is already seen as an aspirational brand in China, and it's leading sales despite a big price gap between high-end phones. What happens when the lowest-end iPhone is nice enough to attract people who didn't want to pay more than $450?

 

[Mopetar]

After a couple of years, there's a new iPod touch.

The big shock is that it jumped straight to the A8, not the A7

I think it's probably because the A7 is on the way out and they're not going to be making any more devices that use it soon, and the iPod probably doesn't sell enough for them not to just use the A8.

Even though the A8 is made on a newer process, it also has a smaller die area, which could translate to a lower cost as well, especially if they're buying these in bulk in order to put them in other devices.

I don't know if they'll keep making new versions of the iPod Touch in the future, but if it's going to be a while before they refresh again, this gives the device they release now the longest support possible, although the A7 was also 64-bit it's not as though there's a hard line between the two in that sense.

 

[Commodus]

I think it's probably because the A7 is on the way out and they're not going to be making any more devices that use it soon, and the iPod probably doesn't sell enough for them not to just use the A8.

Even though the A8 is made on a newer process, it also has a smaller die area, which could translate to a lower cost as well, especially if they're buying these in bulk in order to put them in other devices.

I don't know if they'll keep making new versions of the iPod Touch in the future, but if it's going to be a while before they refresh again, this gives the device they release now the longest support possible, although the A7 was also 64-bit it's not as though there's a hard line between the two in that sense.

Wouldn't be surprised at all if longevity played into it. With that said, a lot of people didn't expect the A5 to hang around as long as it did. Apple clearly decided that it was better to soak up some costs (however small) than use even a slightly older chip.

There's talk of the next Apple TV going with an A8, too, so your theory has some support on that front. Either that or Apple has some specific goals in mind, and wants all its hardware on the same page as quickly as possible.

 

[Eug]

Either way (A7 or A8), these are the first nails in the coffin of 32-bit iOS.

The A5 had a good run, but now it's discontinued (except in Apple TV). It seems maybe Apple is consolidating around A8 (and up) for the next big run.

Again, this makes me think the iPad mini 3 as shipped wasn't originally intended. I'm thinking it was supposed to be an A8 machine, but they just couldn't do it for manufacturing reasons like chip yields or something.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if longevity played into it. With that said, a lot of people didn't expect the A5 to hang around as long as it did. Apple clearly decided that it was better to soak up some costs (however small) than use even a slightly older chip.

There's talk of the next Apple TV going with an A8, too, so your theory has some support on that front. Either that or Apple has some specific goals in mind, and wants all its hardware on the same page as quickly as possible.

That Metal api would be a very good reason. Apple would probably prefer all games going forward to use Metal, especially if battery life benefits are there as well (run the gpu at lower clocks than going better visuals).

 

[Eug]

Hmmm... I didn't realize it, but Metal already excludes all Apple 32-bit SoCs.

 

[Artdeco]

They won't be updating the Touch gen 6 for a while, LOL.

Using a number of apps, with WiFi, they function as phones pretty well, and they'll run a nice Face Time experience too.

I have a current gen Touch, and will be upgrading, still pondering storage options...

 

[Zodiark1593]

Closer to $200, absolutely,yes, get it. Approaching 3 bills, I'm kinda iffy.

edit: Wrong thread fml

 

[RossMAN]

MKBHD review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orPHNS-0CZI

 

[Deeko]

I actually might buy one. I've been meaning to get an iOS device for development testing, I have an old (3rd gen? 4th gen? non-retina iOS 6) iPod touch that doesn't really help me anymore. Plus, I'm a weirdo and actually use my ZuneHD every day, but sooner or later it's going to kick the bucket and I'd like a replacement media player.