Apple Launching 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 After 4.7-Inch Version to Avoid Competition Between Two Models?

So what does this mean for me (and probably most people)? We'll just wait unti we can hold both phones before we buy one of them. Apple is just delaying sales of both by delaying introduction of either.
 
Robert.Walter said:
So what does this mean for me (and probably most people)? We'll just wait unti we can hold both phones before we buy one of them. Apple is just delaying sales of both by delaying introduction of either.
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For me it basically means that I will wait until the next announcement and THEN take it from there!

Unless people do have a fully functional Crystal Ball, that's the only thing you can really do...
 
Macist said:
This will just slow sales in general. Lots of people probably wanted to compare both in their hand and then choose.
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Ah, but how can you compare an existing 4.7" to a phantom 5.5"? Remember Apple doesn't pre-announce products so IF the 5.5" is real and won't ship until early next year, Apple isn't going to announce it this year. If they announced it that WOULD slow sales similar to the "Osborne Effect." Apple knows better which is why they don't pre-announce.

So the choices consumers will have is:

Upgrade to whatever Apple announces in Sept. -- a real product, likely with some new bells and whistles to lure people in

or

Keep what they have, not knowing IF a 5.5" will actually happen.

Basic consumer theory says the typical consumer will buy the known rather than wait for the unknown because of the need for immediate gratification. (And also the holiday gift season because that pauses for no one).

And, of course, we've seen this before with, say the original iPad coming ahead of the iPad 3G. Those two products were announced together and still people bought the iPad WiFi even thought they really wanted the 3G. When the 3G shipped they then sold or returned the iPad WiFi so they could get the 3G. There was no consumer patience to just wait for the 3G.
 
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captain kaos said:
Apple still believes the 5c problem was releasing it the same time as the 5s??!
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Apple's main issue with the 5c was their previous expectation that the existing 5 would just get cheaper. As the chassis of the 5 is probably more expensive to mill out, they decided to REPLACE the 5 with the 5C and the holdouts used to just getting the demoted one felt sad... That or some weird thing that the 5c cheated 5s owners from owning EVERY SINGLE MODEL....

Samsung has a half dozen different SKUs with different specs of "Galaxy S" number 5 depending on when and where you buy it.. I never understood the hate on 5C other than being the iPhone hipsters couldn't own because they were forced to buy the same- looking 5S last year.
 
Naw.

First, it's a myth that the 5c was a flop. It wasn't. It was never intended as a "new" iPhone to compete against the 5s. It was simply an updated version of the 5 offered as a low-cost alternative to those who didn't need or could afford the extra features of the 5s. It was marketed to a different, smaller audience.

Second, September is the optimum time to roll out new products. Is Apple really going to risk missing holiday sales simply because they're worried about having two new phones compete against each other. Hardly. There are those who want a 4.7 incher and those who want a bigger 5.5 phablet. Two separate audiences. If I want a new iPhone I know what size I want, so I'd be pissed if Apple held back simply to avoid competing with itself. And I'd wait (or not) regardless.

Third, if there is a delay it's production-related, not a marketing decision. The more credible rumor is the 5.5 is tougher to build so that might mean a delay. Even so, unless the problems are really serious, I can't imagine a "several month" delay.
 
Typical, and the 4.7 will come with a better camera than the 5.5 or something, so you cant just have one superior device to do it all :)
 
I can't imagine that a 5.5" model with better specs coming out a few months after millions of people have bought the 4.7" model would go over well with the public.
I would think that they are both announced at the same time with close to, if not the same release day, the 5.5" model doesn't come out until the 6s comes out, or the 5.5" isn't real.
 
teme said:
"To avoid competition between two models"... how, exactly? I don't see the point.
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I read... double-dipping.
You can bet that plenty of people will camp in front of an Apple Store to get 4.7" only to realize later on that they really want to 5.5" and another camping trip to the Apple Store :D
 
IF the 5.5 wasn't real, APPLE would have spread some info to "insiders" that it wasn't happening ... like that famous "NOPE" by Jim D.

NOW everyone expects the 5.5 and some people (like me) will only accept the 5.5 as their new iphone

SO better get that 5.5 iphone ready, APPLE! Those who want the 5.5 won't settle with the 4.7 in the meantime ... delaying is just wasting time and money
 
Remember Apple had it's chance to look good NOW, as it's going to be releasing new phones that will be put up alongside other Android models released for sale 6 months earlier.

If they delay the 5.5" 6 months, then THAT phone will come out around the same time that the top Android models will be coming out, so could look out of date almost as soon as it launches.

They launch this year, they could have a whole 6 months of saying we are showing the best phone off before next years Flagship Android models launch.
 
There's no problem releasing both at the same time. I'm going to buy a 5c for my daughter and my wife will get a new 4.7" iPhone (upgrading from her ancient iPhone 4). I think Apple might have misjudged the demand for the 5S and 5C and made uneven amounts of them. As for the 4.7 and 5.5 iPhone, there's no difference at this point other than screen size. So maybe they put out the 4.7" first because the yield might be better and a couple of months later they do the 5.5" model. Can't see why the yields of screens would be an issue, Samsung et all don't seem to have problems with making enough big screens...
 
The major problem with the 5C was it's cost, it really was not a major reduction on the 5 or the 5S, so what's the point.
 
Like others have said... The problem between the 5c and 5s wasn't the launch date, so this makes no sense? The problem with the 5c was it is a ****** plastic handset that painfully resembles cheap android nonsense, but costs near enough it doesn't matter to a 5s. People don't buy Apple devices to get that, they they wanted a loudly colored plastic handset made to appeal to children, they'd go buy an android phone and save actual money.

This rumor really seems to just be nonsense for the sake of spreading nonsense. I am sure Apple realizes the 5c failure wasn't launch date, and launching the two new versions of iPhone this fall at different times won't solve anything either. If someone wants the large screen, they'll wait for the large screen whether it launches the same day or next June. If there is any delay between the two models, I'd much more lean towards production issues previously posted than Apple being so stupid as to think a delayed launch would help sales of either phone. If anything it would seriously harm them, because people don't like to wait.
 
dumastudetto said:
Believe it or not there are phone fanatics who buy multiple handsets every year. And if Apple can be seen to be launching new iPhones every six months, that breathes new life into the product twice a year versus the current launch cycle of offering new phones once every 12 months. That's some positive justification I can see for separate launches.
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0.00001% of buyers?
 
postponed launch

This really stinks. The only NEW device Apple will have released this year so far would be the unique 5.5 inch screen iPhone and now they are considering delaying it. The person(s) responsible for this decision should be taken out back and shot.:confused:
 
What's the point of so much speculation?! Seeing the same mock ups on different lame backgrounds everyday is getting old, I know there's a few of us out here that would rather see these devices presented in true Apple fashion; on a stage, during a keynote.

Be patient people
 
The Note 4 is sure to be a show stopper, so if Apple is looking to release a 5.5" iPhone to pull people away from the large Android handsets, delaying it several months after a September iPhone launch is not a good idea.

Why not just announce both phones and say the 5.5" will be available in a few months. Then people can either buy the 4.7" or wait for the 5.5". Problem solved.
 
All the people who bought the iPhone 5 at launch will have their 2 year contracts up in time for this phone. That means if you wait 6 months or more for the 5.5", not only will you be going 6+ months without taking advantage of the 2 year renewal discount, your next renewal won't be up for 2.5 years which means you'll again have to wait 6 months after the 2016 model comes out to upgrade again. I think most people would just upgrade to the 4.7" or switch to another brand if they want a larger screen rather than wait for apple to produce one.
 
People do know all the $ gos to Apple regardless so what do they care which phone they buy
 
My take is that Apple will keep the 5s in circulation at the SAME price point and release the new 4.7 one for a $100 bucks more. Keeping a teared pricing structure. No need to devaluate the 5s this year with a more expensive one when first adopters will not bat an eye at paying more for the latest greatest.

Hopefully the 5.5 has returned to the drawing board and scrapped until a proper design can be re-imagined instead of the freakish thing that has been mocked up in recent days. I would love a 5.5 but a scaled up 4.7 looks ridiculously freakish.
 
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