The iPhone 5
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co has been asked by Apple to begin shipping both a new high-end iPhone and a low-end iPhone in September.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is going after the medium end of the smartphone market currently dominated by devices running Google’s Android operating system and manufactured by players like Samsung, LG and Sony.
Apple suppliers in Asia have been manufacturing parts for both a standard next-generation iPhone with metal casing and a lower-cost plastic version.
Apple is expected to unveil the next generation of iPhones at a major media event on 10 September.
Rumours emerged in recent days that Apple is planning an iPhone 5S device with gold rather than silver colouring. The high-end device is also rumoured to come with a biometric fingerprint scanner.
Meanwhile, a lower-cost iPhone 5C range will potentially come in a range of coloured casings.
