Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Sketchy Rumor Claims Apple Planning New 4-Inch iPhone for 2015
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It'd be great if Apple released a bit of its margins, and now that larger sizes exist, use size for price differentiations (alongside specs only larger and more expensive size will have, as OIS on the 6+ this year, or arbitrary limitations on flash storage as it do now too). And then stop to sell 2 years old (or more) iDevices as their cheapest models; it made much more sense when there was only one size, but now they likely could be moving to a different approach.
To maximize profits, made on their most expensive models, they have to be top notch, while their lower-end = smallest size could have a different schedule with delay on adoption of last techs to ensure attractivity of high-end models.
Lots of people in the market for high-end models aren't upgrading during the summer before the fall release, and sales plummet in that period.
One could imagine Apple suppressing both the 5c and 5s and replacing them with a new 4" model based on A8, with Touch ID and NFC (and Apple Pay for everyone), in june for example at the WWDC, then boosting sales in the low-end before the high-end customers run in fall '15 for the upgrade of the 4.7" and 5.5" models.
And repeat every year, in june the 4" model gets the guts of previous fall's more lucrative models.
And same with the currently messy iPad mini line, release in june an A8 model and remove the original mini and the mini 3, with only the mini 2 as the lowest-end.
To maximize profits, made on their most expensive models, they have to be top notch, while their lower-end = smallest size could have a different schedule with delay on adoption of last techs to ensure attractivity of high-end models.
Lots of people in the market for high-end models aren't upgrading during the summer before the fall release, and sales plummet in that period.
One could imagine Apple suppressing both the 5c and 5s and replacing them with a new 4" model based on A8, with Touch ID and NFC (and Apple Pay for everyone), in june for example at the WWDC, then boosting sales in the low-end before the high-end customers run in fall '15 for the upgrade of the 4.7" and 5.5" models.
And repeat every year, in june the 4" model gets the guts of previous fall's more lucrative models.
And same with the currently messy iPad mini line, release in june an A8 model and remove the original mini and the mini 3, with only the mini 2 as the lowest-end.
IMO there should be a 4 inch and the 5.5 inch. The 4 inch is the perfect size for an easy-to-hold phone. The 6 plus offers a lot of utility for which you give up the comfort. The 6 is just an uncomfortable tweener. The extra size only hurts. An extra row of app icons, in exchange for limited one handed operation. No thanks.
A permanent 4 inch option in the line up only makes sense. They already have a gillion screen sizes now, no point getting rid of an extremely useful one.
I agree that Apple should offer the iPhone in 3 sizes... but I don't think they should push the 4.7" to 5"
4.7" is the halfway point between 4" and 5.5"
I don't think that was by accident
People have adopted larger displays not because of sheer size but because they can provide more information. If Apple somehow manage to change the way information appears, I think size will not matter much. I believe 4inch is the best size ergonomically.
I'm on the same boat as you. I can't believe how small the iPhones before the 6 and 6 plus are. Seems almost unreal when I grab one now. I personally can't go back to a small screen either. Even the 6 seems kinda small to me now, too used to my 6 Plus at this point.
If this is true, I'll actually upgrade from my iPhone 5. I can't stand these stupidly huge phones.
That's what they said last year about the 5.5" iPhone
Yes... but the 5.5" is considered (natural) "progression". re-releasing something that has been discontinued when there is clearly no reason to do so (as the iPhone 6, 4.7" is selling very well) would be a "regression".
I'm not saying that I don't like the smaller form factor or that I think they should not do it. I think they SHOULD do it. Heck, they should come out with one for every quarter-inch increment between 3.5" and 6" for all I'm concerned... more choices for the consumer..... but I still don't think it's going to happen.
My guess would be that if it ever did, it would be something like the 5c, targeted at the growing markets in economies where the 6 and 6 plus are inaccessible due to either supply or cost. It wouldn't be lumped in with the "flagship" devices that are the 6 and 6 plus.
Then again, what do I know... I'm no analyst.
I would buy this if the specs and resolution matched the mid-sized model. I like the 6 but even with my fairly big hands it's still unwieldy compared to the 5. I would love to have a smaller phone again.
That's because nothing else was available other than 4"
Funny enough, the article mentions it's main target is females, whoever, I see more females using the 6+ or Samsung Galaxy with 5" displays.
Hope this is legit
I love the size of my 5S and actually purchased (and then returned) a 6 because it's too big. Hard to hold/pick up, doesn't fit in my pocket and most importantly not easy to use. I love the actual edges of the 5S as it gives the phone some tactility.
Apple's insistence on slim devices is a little crazy to me. Yes, they look cool, but picking up/holding/using a 6/6+ or even an ipad air doesn't feel right to me- I need something to hold onto.
I love the size of my 5S and actually purchased (and then returned) a 6 because it's too big. Hard to hold/pick up, doesn't fit in my pocket and most importantly not easy to use. I love the actual edges of the 5S as it gives the phone some tactility.
Apple's insistence on slim devices is a little crazy to me. Yes, they look cool, but picking up/holding/using a 6/6+ or even an ipad air doesn't feel right to me- I need something to hold onto.
The 6 isn't much bigger.
I can't stand posters like you who won't give the phone a chance. Playing with it in store for 5 minutes doesn't count. Give yourself a week
Exactly! I've been hanging onto my iPhone 4 far longer than I wanted too because I don't want to carry a brick around in my pocket. Especially considering I have my phone with me during waking hours.
Beyond that I'm a guy, it makes no sense at all to target this phone at one sex. Instead it should be seen as a reasonably sized device that is easy to carry.
Can you tell me how do you reach the "M" or Delete key in say iMessage while you hold it with left hand in portrait mode?
I would think that there is one of the following two scenarios at play:
1. Apple has yet to engineer all of the goodies we want in our devices that can fit in the smaller form-factor. Keep in mind that "smaller" (read also: Thinner) means it's harder to cram all the stuff in there. That's why we have protruding cameras and similar battery life in the 6 or 6 plus. or...
2. If Apple *can* make it happen (fit all the good stuff and keep same battery life in a smaller form factor) and they have the technology, they obviously don't see a market for it at this time.
In reading this thread, it sounds like a majority of people here would love the smaller form-factor. I was very reluctant to upgrade to a larger phone, myself. But with that said, I still have my iPhone 5 and while it still gets the job done, I've grown accustomed to the larger screen size and would not want to go back to something smaller.
What I *would* like to see would be the same screen size but reduction of the top and bottom bezels on the iPhone 6 design.
1. Apple has yet to engineer all of the goodies we want in our devices that can fit in the smaller form-factor. Keep in mind that "smaller" (read also: Thinner) means it's harder to cram all the stuff in there. That's why we have protruding cameras and similar battery life in the 6 or 6 plus. or...
2. If Apple *can* make it happen (fit all the good stuff and keep same battery life in a smaller form factor) and they have the technology, they obviously don't see a market for it at this time.
In reading this thread, it sounds like a majority of people here would love the smaller form-factor. I was very reluctant to upgrade to a larger phone, myself. But with that said, I still have my iPhone 5 and while it still gets the job done, I've grown accustomed to the larger screen size and would not want to go back to something smaller.
What I *would* like to see would be the same screen size but reduction of the top and bottom bezels on the iPhone 6 design.
I love the smaller form factor. But I'm also someone that has a MBPr and stand alone work station that I use when I'm home, or sitting at a desk. For people who make these devises their only work space, they're obviously going to want a massive screen.