Last week we started hearing rumors that the iPhone 5S would be offered in a gold color. We also saw supposedly leaked photos of what were said to be of the gold casing for the device. Now MG Siegler of TechCrunch says multiple sources have confirmed that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is indeed planning to release a gold iPhone 5S.
Why a gold iPhone 5S?
He said he was unconvinced at first that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would break the tradition of offering just black and white casings for its iPhone. He also said that gold seems somewhat “gaudy” or even “tacky.” As a result, he did some checking with some of his own sources and was able to determine that the iPhone 5S will indeed be offered in a gold version.
He noted that Rene Ritchie of iMore also checked with his own sources and confirmed that it does appear to be real. Ritchie’s colleague Ally Kazmucha said that gold would be an easier color to anodize onto an iPhone casing than most other colors. In fact, it would be even easier than black.
After market adjustments for the iPhone 5S
Of course Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was never one for doing things because they are easy, although the ease of offering gold may have played a factor in the decision. Siegler notes that a gold casing is one of the most popular adjustments made to the iPhone after market. In addition, the color appears to be coming into style after years of being considered too gaudy or tacky.
According to Siegler’s sources Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s gold iPhone 5S won’t be “totally blinged-out gold.” Instead, his sources indicated that the actual gold iPhone will have a color that’s more subtle and possibly similar to the gold iPod Mini, which wasn’t offered for very long because it wasn’t as popular as the other models. Also the gold color of the iPhone 5S will apparently shift depending on how the light hits it.
It’s also worth noting that gold is a popular color in key emerging markets like China and India, so offering an iPhone 5S in gold could also be aimed toward those markets.
