iPhone Lite: Apple To Take on Samsung with $349 Smartphone This September

Apple's low-cost iPhone could easily dethrone Samsung dominance in India, if the Cupertino-based giant price its phone on an affordable side. The tech media have been hearing about the iPhone Lite for the past few months. Whether it is coming soon or not, is yet another question.

But after seeing alleged images of rear back shells of so- called low cost iPhone, one can easily predict that Apple is surely something in side R&D labs. Since past week, multiple reports suggest that the Cupertino-based could announce budget iPhone in September.

Earlier it was speculated that the low cost iPhone would come at an affordable price because it is primarily targeted at cost conscious Indians. Later Pegatron CEO T.H. Tung told shareholders that "iPhone Lite" won't sell for cheap. It is expected to be mid range device. For millions of Indian pricing remains a big issue.

Indian customers are charged more for Apple products, here an iPhone 4 costs consumer Rs.26,500. The top rated iPhone 5 is even more expensive at Rs. 45,500. Yes, Apple devices are bit more expensive in India due to taxes and low penetration of high end phones. The other vendors like Samsung are ruling Indian market because of mid range handsets.That said, Apple clearly needs to bring an affordable iPhone under Rs. 20,000 to make its position affirm in India.

Now Sonny Dickson, behind many Apple leaks, has claimed that affordable iPhone would start from $349 (Rs.21,058) for 16GB version and goes up to $549 ( Rs. 33,110) for 64GB version. These prices are not confirmed rather they are based on Mr. Dickson's estimate.

In the meanwhile, weiPhone is reporting that Foxconn has already started producing low cost iPhone. This means, one could see "iPhone Lite" to be rolled out in September.

As of now, there is no information about the internal specifications to be added in the low cost iPhone. What is known till now is that the device will be offered in multiple colors. To reduce the cost, Apple went for polycarbonate plastic body instead of aluminum shells. Now the tech vendor has already announced iOS 7. So we assume that low cost iPhone will arrive this September with iOS 7. Stay tuned to GizBot.