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

This is like saying they'll release different sized MacBooks at different times to eliminate competition.

Are they inferring people would buy a 4.7 then "upgrade" to a 5.5 some time later?
 
phoenix78 said:
The 5c failed because it was an appalling product and rubbish value for money compared to the 5s. Nothing to do with timing of release lol.
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People hate on the 5c so much. It wasn't a rubbish value. It cost $173 to make vs $199 to make the 5s. They should have just used a better color palate. But a few of the phones looked ok, and they are definitely more durable than a 5s and didn't need a case. It looks better to walk around with that, than having a 5s in an otterbox.

What I hope Apple doesn't release this year is a line of cases to accompany their phones. Both the cases for the 5s and 5c made me gag. :p
 
Just looking at those mock ups in the article, the 4.7'" looks like the perfect size anyway. Having previously owned the Note 3, it's just way to big of a phone and almost impossible to use one handed.

The only thing that would completely anger me is if the 5.5" ended up packing better specs. That would seriously piss me off.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
The "competition" rationale is 100% speculation. IF Apple does end up releasing the 5.5" next spring it will NOT be to decrease competition. It will either be a) production issues or b) to avoid the big up and down swings in iPhone sales quarter to quarter. I think option B makes a lot of sense.
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Agreed, I think big issue will probably be related to production and wanting to double up on using certain fabrication facilities. I disagree on the swings in iPhone sales. That chart looks so consistent, I'm sure Apple doesn't want to spook analysts too much to avoid them going after leaderships' throats if the numbers don't look perfect.
 
I don't think Apple would want to delay the 5.5 because it would give reason to wait until both are available to decide.

Can we not keep thinking the 5c was a failure. It sold relatively more than the 4s when the 5 was the flagship, and it had lower manufacturing costs. It did exactly what it was meant to.
 
mjschabow said:
Just looking at those mock ups in the article, the 4.7'" looks like the perfect size anyway.
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Hey wait a minute....wasn't everyone screaming that the original size was the 'perfect size' not too log ago?

I guess 'perfection' is a moving target when it comes to Apple and it devotees. Or, perhaps, Samsung did get one thing right that they didn't steal from Apple: people DO want a larger phone cuz they can't read the tiny screen on the iphone 3,4,5, 5c and 5S.
 
elgrecomac said:
Where and when has Apple done this before?
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Read again. It's a "concept" phone for the Asian market.
I never said they would introduce it at all.

You know that managers fly around and showcase stuff to carriers?
I'm sure one exists=, but it's not in production...
 
mjschabow said:
The only thing that would completely anger me is if the 5.5" ended up packing better specs. That would seriously piss me off.
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True story.

If this rumor is true, Apple would be putting me (and surely many other customers) in an undesirable buying position. Apple -- who has always been about the "experience": The user experience, the keynote hype and experience, the UNBOXING experience, surely would not want to make my next iPhone purchase one that I am unsure of ("do I want the smaller one NOW or do I want to WAIT to see what specs the bigger one has?") or one that I regret ultimately.

I understand if the 5.5" has better specs... Realistically, it's got more "real estate" being a larger casing and may be able to better accommodate the better features... Plus, Apple may decide screen size alone is not enough of a differentiating factor, so they may feel the need to differentiate it a bit more from the 4.7" BUT...

Right now, I'm on a very good cycle with our upgrades. I'm due for an upgrade 9/18/14 and my wife is due 9/xx/15. That means that our family can get ONE new iPhone every year if we choose to do so. If I wait for a supposed 5.5" because I want 128GB, I screw up my upgrade cycle. I know, I know, "first world problems", but it's a serious consideration in this instance. Also, I don't KNOW if I want that huge of a phone. If the other rumors are true and Apple puts the better camera and more capacity in the bigger one, I may be able to be persuaded -- but if I don't KNOW if that's even going to happen, it puts me in a position for buying.

I, personally, won't be switching. But others who may find themselves in the same mindset as what I've explained above, may decide they want to go give the new Samsung a try.....

No, surely Apple is smarter than that... I guess we'll see how it shakes out!!
 
no apple, the mistake with the 5c was selling it as an ugly version of the 5, nobody wants it. That said I have an ipad mini so getting the 5.5 inch iphone is kind of a null point but hell i'll pick it up just to have it since i'm eligble for upgrade in september
 
What mistake?

The mistake where more people than expected wanted the top-of-the-line, more expensive product and Apple made more profit?
Yea, don't want to make that mistake again.
 
elgrecomac said:
Hey wait a minute....wasn't everyone screaming that the original size was the 'perfect size' not too log ago?

I guess 'perfection' is a moving target when it comes to Apple and it devotees. Or, perhaps, Samsung did get one thing right that they didn't steal from Apple: people DO want a larger phone cuz they can't read the tiny screen on the iphone 3,4,5, 5c and 5S.
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One person's statement does not equate to everyone. Did you even check his/her post history so you could even cite him/her on a personal level?
 
I've got an interesting idea: Samsung usually updates their phones in the Spring, right? What if every Spring, Apple unveils a new larger model?

For instance, this Autumn they would release the iPhone 6, and in the Spring they release the iPhone 6X. It would have a faster processor, and a new feature or two over the iPhone 6. Then in the Autumn, they again update the smaller phone to have essentially the same or slightly better specs than the 6X—but again, with a smaller screen.

So the iPhone 6 might have an A8, and the iPhone 6X in the Spring would have an A8X and optical image stabilization along with a 128GB size option. Then in the Autumn the iPhone 6S gets the OIS, 128GB size option, and the A9 processor which is nearly the same or slightly faster than the A8X. iPhone 6XS gets an A9X in the Spring, along with another feature like MIMO antenna like the iPad has, AC WIFI, or whatever. Rinse and repeat.

So you end up with smaller iPhone buyers getting the latest and greatest for half a year, and then spec-whores get a giant phone that would compete against the other giant phones from Samsung. Everyone wins, including Apple. Why? Because the iPhone 6X would be priced higher, but would have a somewhat lower volume of units than the main product line—hence fewer components. Why is that a good thing? Apple gets to basically put out their test phone for the upcoming model year putting in features that the larger population won't yet see, and they can refine and ramp up production for the mainstream iPhone.

For instance, the 5S was initially constrained due to new components like the TouchID button. If they had put out a 5X the Spring before, they could have slowly ramped up production on a phone that would ship less units, but would still be premium (and priced accordingly). And hopefully they would have worked out the kinks in the manufacturing process of TouchID before the big launch in the Autumn.

So bleeding edgers (who will spend, spend, spend for the fastest and upgrade yearly) get the fanciest iPhone with a giant screen in the Spring, just in time to knock the wind out of Samsung. The other 80% of the population gets a solid phone upgrade in the Autumn, only 6 months later. The only downside is a strategy like this leaves Apple more open to competition in the Autumn, as adversaries can see what type of features they'll be incorporating into their Autumn lineup ahead of time. But perhaps they could still throw in a surprise for the Autumn models. Some that come to mind are a new form factor, improvements in display quality, better Ear Pods, and software-specific features.
 
pmau said:
I believe the 5.5" is a concept for Asian markets.
They will not introduce it in the US or Europe at all.
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That makes no sense whatsoever. People in the US and Europe don't like 5.5"phones? Every other phone manufacturer must be doing terribly then.
 
phoenix78 said:
The 5c failed because it was an appalling product and rubbish value for money compared to the 5s. Nothing to do with timing of release lol.
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The 5c didn't actually fail. The only phone that was selling better than it was the 5s for a while. I asked my dad what he wanted me to get him. He specifically requested a 5c even thought I tried to encourage him to get a 5s.
 
rp2011 said:
Like I said even before the 5C was released, there will not be a discounted metal 5S, Either its full price or not at all. Maybe a plastic discounted 5SC, but no metal 5S at discounted prices. Foolish to do so. Just throw a plastic case on it instead if you want to discount it. But too much of a high end device to lose the margins like that.
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Maybe it'll be 5SC - $100 and the 6 at $200. No 5S at all.
 
macduke said:
I've got an interesting idea: Samsung usually updates their phones in the Spring, right? What if every Spring, Apple unveils a new larger model?
Click to expand...

Then in about 5 years time, iPhones would be the size of the new rumoured 12.9inch iPad :eek:

In any case, the rationale for this rumour is a Jump the Shark of rumours.
 
Unlikely. I would guess the issue would be more with production timelines instead of worrying one phone will outsell the other.

Both will be hits. It's tough to compare to the 5s/5c sales since the 5c was meant to be a lesser form of the 5s.

Unless apple does something else with the 5.5 inch, it will be the same phone as the 4.7 in. except a bigger screen.

Grasping at straws. Bring on September.
 
newagemac said:
Every time Macrumors posts something from Digitimes, Macrumors itself loses credibility. Arn, please ban the use of them on your site. It's hurting you. Seriously.
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Can't believe we got to the second page before someone mentioned this, it's Digitimes!!!!
 
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