This Is Not a Repeat From 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 ⇥ 9to5mac.com

Two smart points from Élyse Betters of 9to5Mac regarding the rumours of a cheaper iPhone to be launched this year. Her first point:

The report, which cited “people briefed on the matter,” asserted that Apple has explored such a device for years, and even the Wall Street Journal has made very similar claims over the years, but the plan has apparently now advanced.

While the Journal has a good track record with regards to rumours, they’ve been running this cheaper iPhone bit on a perennial basis, and it still hasn’t materialized.

The second thing in Betters’ story that caught my eye is her inclusion of this tweet from iLounge editor Jeremy Horwitz:

What we heard (still early) re: new budget iPhone model – not a “larger” 5″ screen, but rather unified 4″ screens for 5S/5/new budget model.

I wrote something similar:

I’d wager that this is an iPhone 5 with a polycarbonate (read: plastic) body and an A5 processor, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it take the place of the iPhone 4S when the iPhone 5′s successor is announced.

Consider that if this product were not announced, Apple’s iPhone lineup would be 4S, 5, and 5S (presumably). The 4S would be the only model with a 3.5″ display, and the only one with a 30-pin connector.