New A9-Based 4-Inch iPhone to Replace iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

[MacRumors]

Apple's next-generation 4-inch iPhone is more likely to include variants of the A9 and M9 motion coprocessor chips, allowing for always-on Hey Siri, according to 9to5Mac.

The report claims the so-called "iPhone 5se" will likely replace the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in Apple's fall 2016 smartphone lineup, while the iPhone 5s will then be discontinued.

Because the iPhone 7 will include a faster chip potentially known as the A10 processor, Apple likely does not want its new 4-inch iPhone to fall two processor generations behind in just six months.

9to5Mac and other sources originally expected the new 4-inch iPhone to have an A8 chip with M8 motion coprocessor, but Chinese website MyDrivers last week said the device will have an A9 chip instead. Apple has allegedly tested multiple prototypes with both A8 and A9 chipsets, likely fueling the conflicting reports.

Today's report also claims the new 4-inch iPhone will have 16GB and 64GB storage models available, which again corroborates Chinese website MyDrivers. Other possible specs reported elsewhere include a 1,624 mAh battery, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.2, Apple Pay, VoLTE and 802.11ac WiFi, but 3D Touch appears unlikely.

The next-generation 4-inch iPhone reportedly entered mass production last week, ahead of a rumored March event announcement, alongside the iPad Air 3 and Apple Watch updates including new bands and possibly other minor improvements. The smartphone is expected to ship in late March or early April.

Article Link: New A9-Based 4-Inch iPhone to Replace iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

 

[maplingstorie]

1GB of ram? are you serious?

 

[Deuce on the Clock]

Fix the software bugs and glitches before adding more new hardware

 

[mattopotamus]

My wallet is ready. Those specs are ok with me. I will say I did not realize how much I actually use 3D touch until I started using my ipad side by side with the 6s. I keep wanting to 3D touch to multitask and edit text!

 

[ParanoidDroid]

1GB RAM? Please don't do that again... otherwise Safari won't get snappier.

And what's the point of 16 GB storage. That's like 3-5 Apps and your phone is full.

 

[Q-Dog]

My 5s is still going great. The only thing I wish it had is ApplePay

 

[vertsix]

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were a pathetic upgrade from the iPhone 5s (basically same chip and camera with really minor improvements), so it makes total sense.

But there's absolutely no justification for Apple giving that phone 1GB RAM. That's just being blatantly greedy for what? 3 cent savings?

"Yeah, let's cripple the user experience because we save ourselves $0.03 in production. Margins, people! Margins!"

 

[benz240]

But will it be thinner?!??!

 

[Dilster3k]

The iPhone 5s' design was flawless, their peak aesthetically thus far.

 

[djcerla]

There's absolutely no justification for Apple giving that phone 1GB RAM. That's just being blatantly greedy for what? 2 cent savings?

"Yeah, let's cripple the user experience because we save ourselves $0.03 in production. Margins, people! Margins!"

Oh God, not again. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_segmentation

 

[nicho]

Um, I don't think this will be the reason iPhone 6 and 6 plus will be discontinued in the fall. iPhone 7 will be that reason.

 

[djcerla]

The iPhone 5s' design was flawless, their peak aesthetically thus far.

Once the iPhone 7 comes, the 6 will become "their peak aesthetically thus far". Always been, always will be.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Perhaps they can make is even less ram.

 

[Deuce on the Clock]

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were a pathetic upgrade from the iPhone 5s (basically same chip and camera with really minor improvements), so it makes total sense.

But there's absolutely no justification for Apple giving that phone 1GB RAM. That's just being blatantly greedy for what? 2 cent savings?

"Yeah, let's cripple the user experience because we save ourselves $0.03 in production. Margins, people! Margins!"

Its a greedy money making machine that the masses haven't figured out they don't care about the consumer. Hypocrites running the company now playing the masses for fools. Good for them for getting away with it for so long, but all bubbles burst when they get too high.

 

[TC03]

Mark Gurman's sources suck if they tell him a completely different story within one week.

 

[Rogifan]

I don't see anywhere in the 9to5Mac story where it mentions RAM. Am I missing something?

 

[1applerules1]

1GB RAM? Please don't do that again... otherwise Safari won't get snappier.

And what's the point of 16 GB storage. That's like 3-5 Apps and your phone is full.

Don't forget this is the entry iPhone, not a flagship. If you don't like it, then it's not for you. Stop whining.

 

[Jsameds]

What memory issues were people having with 1GB on 4" devices?

 

[vertsix]

Its a greedy money making machine that the masses haven't figured out they don't care about the consumer. Hypocrites running the company now playing the masses for fools. Good for them for getting away with it for so long, but all bubbles burst when they get too high.

Sad but completely true.

 

[Adithya007]

Plot twist: There's no 4inch iPhone at all.

 

[Oblivious.Robot]

A9 processor makes it worthwhile for a 5S - 4" successor.

Also, I don't think people should complain on 1Gb ram, I mean that phone will literally be faster than my current 1Gb ram/A8 iPhone 6 now will it not?

 

[DTphonehome]

I went from a 5s to 6s and I'm not crazy about the bigger screen. A lot of times I find myself fumbling to reach a screen element with my thumb (yes, I know about Reachability). I use 3d touch intermittently, but not enough that I can't live without it. I would actually consider "downgrading" to this phone if the specs are decent.

 

[Rogifan]

Oh God, not again. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_segmentation

But it's Apple that chooses to allow these devices to get multiple OS upgrades. Those upgrades don't work nearly as well on devices with only 1GB RAM. Besides it sounds like this phone won't have everything the 6S has so I don't see why they have to skimp on the ram to further segment it.

 

[Adithya007]

Will Safari be snappier? *rolleyes*

 

[TC03]

What memory issues were people having with 1GB on 4" devices?

Sorry but why should 1 GB be better on a 4" device than on a 4.7" device? Screen size has nothing to do with it.

It's just that it's pretty nice to be able to open apps and Safari tabs without constant refreshing.