Rumors of Apple launching a low-cost version of the iPhone have been around for quite some time now, but  they’ve always focused on the device being smaller than its original counterpart — an iPhone nano, if you will. Digitimes, however, is reporting that we might see the exact opposite of that: a low-cost version of the iPhone but with a larger screen.

Apple will roll out a low-cost version of the iPhone for China and other emerging markets in the second half of 2013, according to supply-chain sources.

Some sources claimed that they have seen the sample of the low-cost iPhone, which will come with a larger display, meeting the prevailing trend for the adoption of 5-inch displays for high-end models. They added that the low-priced iPhone will also have a brand new exterior design.

With all the rumors we have of the next from Apple so far, it looks like we might be seeing multiple screen sizes being offered this time around. But with Apple having just transitioned from the 3.5-inch display of the iPhone 4/4S to the 4-inch screen of the iPhone 5, are they really going to fragment their phone ecosystem again so soon? Only time will tell.

Oh, and if you are wondering how low is “low-cost”, get this. Bloomberg estimates the price of the “cheap iPhone” to be between $99 and $149 USD. $99. Without contract. What in the world? Only when pigs fly. …Right?

[via MacRumors, Digitimes, Bloomberg]