Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
IM NOT buying the 3 Gb rumors because there is no need for that in current iOS implementation.
Who knows, just because the current iOS implementation doesn't need more than 2GB doesn't mean the next one won't, especially if they put in split screen. RAM has been steadily increasing over time, it will likely go above 2GB next year or the year after.
 
I wonder if this release will add stacked memory to the CPU assembly to improve speed, thinness, and power consumption? If so it appears they are planning on two assemblies, one with 2gb memory and one with 3. It may be the 6C and 7 will have 2 and 7+will have 3. I for one hope the 7 gets 3. I got a 6S not a 6S+ and appreciate top of class performance on it coming from a 4S.
 
Late to the party, but here's my theory (which may be original or already widely popular and/or dismissed).

So, here's my theory (again, which may be widely held already; just don't have time to read this thread):

There will be no iPhone that comes out in 2016.

The current iPhone is robust enough and will sell enough that a 2016 update will not happen, because...

June 29, 2017 is the ten-year anniversary of the iPhone. The iPhone 6s will be the last to roll out until Apple unveils some wicked awesome, truly-game-changing iPhone on that anniversary. Perhaps the iPhone X (denoting the 10-year anniversary).

Carry on.
I think this may be my favorite theory. This would be fantastic. It would really separate Apple from the status quo that's been associated with their mobile releases, and they could drop a bold, daring, refreshed product.
 
I don't own an iPhone, so forgive my my uninformedness, but are all these iPhones really necessary?

Whether they're "necessary" or not is irrelevant. The only pertinent question is whether there's a market for them.

I'm currently using a 4s. I was intrigued by the 6 when it came out because Apple Pay seemed like a feature I would use. But I hated the enormous size of the 6, so I didn't upgrade. I'm sticking with a 3 year old phone because none of the current models come in a configuration that interests me.

If Apple were to produce a 4" model that supported Apple Pay, I would buy it. As long as they don't, I'm sticking with my old model. The only relevant question, obviously, is whether there are enough people like me to merit developing a solution to fill our needs. I suspect there are.
 
My decision on getting the iPhone 7 will be determined by iOS 10. The iPhone hardware is better than it's ever been but goddamn iOS has been sucking since 7.0 so hopefully iOS 10 will bring a refreshed GUI (to match the new OS X), some useful features throughout the OS, more polished performance and hopefully a revamped music app to make up for the absolute POS app that was introduced in iOS 8.4. So basically, I know the iPhone hardware will undoubtably be great but if the software remains as crappy as it's been lately, I'm afraid I can't justify the purchase of a new iPhone (or iPad for that matter).

All I want in iOS 10 is any of the three multitasking features that the select iPads have.

If the iPhone 7s plus gets 3GB ram , iPhone 6 Plus with 1GB ram is going to really struggle under iOS 10. So glad I got rid of the 6 plus, the 6S plus is yet to crash on me.

Though I never much doubt the 7 plus will get 3GB. Maybe iPhone 9....

If iOS 10 does include multitasking support (in some form), I'd imagine it'd only be supported on the 7 and possibly the 6s, so you wouldn't have those RAM issues. With the increases in screen size and RAM of the iPhones, and the introduction of three types of multi-tasking on iPads, it seems apparent that we'll see some type of multitasking in iOS 10 for iPhones.

I know Apple dislikes cluttered product lineups and I do as well, but three models for an as personal device as the iPhone really makes a lot of sense. In my opinion, 5.5" is "XL", 4.7" is "L", and then... Well, then that's all you've got. Re-introducing size Medium (or Small if you like) just makes a lot of sense in this case.

If they did this, they could move on without touching the display sizes for a LONG time to come. I can't really imagine they would then need to change them for the foreseeable future. I could before the iPhone 6, but not if they did this, which is great for developers and helps with confidence in the new lineup.

There are larger phones than the 5.5" iPhones. It's L, but I wouldn't call it XL. Keep it simple; S, M, L. But of course with Apple, bigger means more power. A 4" air or sport phone could work, especially if you're catering to poorer populations who want a smartphone at a cheaper entry price.

I'm sure there will be some people who crave the smaller iphone. It's funny tho, you'd think petite women would be the main group craving a smaller iphone...and yet I notice more of them going for the current 5.5" iphone 6 plus over the smaller 4.7" iPhone 6.

Women like big things :p

What on earth do you need split screen on an iphone for?

Whether it be split screen, slide over, or picture in picture, expect some type of multitasking in iOS 10 for iPhones. I'd love to be able to watch a video and browse Safari at the same time. Or open up messages to respond to multiple people while watching Netflix, view two notes at the same time, etc. This is exactly the type of functionality that needs a larger screen size; we haven't seen a huge increase in functionality that takes advantage of the larger screens and that's exactly why the 4" crowd want smaller phones. Once you can actually DO more with a larger screen, things will change.
 
What are you blabbering about. They currently offer a 4" iPhone with "limited specs" by comparison to the other models...it is called the iPhone 5s.

Apple sees the value in the 4" class, and will eventually update it accordingly.
I've edited the post adding "new". The current 4" is an old version. I'm talking about a new ipothetic 7 in a smaller form.
I'm sorry for the "blabbering", I don't even know what that means.
 
Not sure about the A9 in this "small" iPhone, as the lineup will be weird with the iPhone 6 + A8 in the middle.
I think if Apple would release one, it would come with an A8 with 1GB RAM. I mean Apple already did it, i.e. the 6th gen iPod Touch. Same panel, just making it into an iPhone.

I feel the A8 is going to be the new A5. right now it is the most widely use Ax chip after the A5. It is in the iPod Touch, Apple TV, iPad mini 4, iPhone 6.
Well it's tied with the A7, in the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3.
 
Well it's tied with the A7, in the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3.
Sure, but the A8 is on the Apple TV and iPod Touch, the two devices that seem to have longer life cycle than the rest of iDevices. And considering Apple made apps available for the A8-based Apple TV, I think it's going to be the baseline for 64-bit iDevices for the next few years.
 
My wife would be happy to hear that. She is still rocking her iPhone 5S and does not like the larger size of the 6 and 6s. I upgraded to a 6S (from a 5) and now I'm kinda wishing I would have gone with the PLUS. Options are good, but I hope Apple doesn't gimp performance specs because they consider it their "low end option".
 
Why not? There are millions of iPhone users who couldn't name the processor in the phone let alone give a definition for what RAM is. They know how much storage it has, maybe know the camera's megapixels, and that's about it.

Well said. Most people aren't bothered by the smaller details generation to generation. The general population isn't bothered by it for the most part. I mean there are people on these forums that's don't even know, and I would suggest people who venture these forums are more informed on average.

For instance, few realize how similar in performance certain iphones were, yet they will still pump out hundreds of dollars for an "upgrade"

The biggest example of this I can think of was when the iPhone 5c came out, The number of people who "upgraded" from the iPhone 5 to the 5c was astonishing. Not only was it mostly the same phone, it could be argued it was a downgrade in some aspects (subjective of course but most would agree polycarbonate isn't as high quality of a finish as aluminum & glass) but people still went from the 5 to the 5c.

Though, if people are completely content with a phone there is nothing wrong with that as well. Everyone's needs are different and a 4s is still perfect if it meets your personal needs.

Hopefully this 4" phone is a reality just so that it provides an opportunity for others who want both high (the latest) performance and a 4" form factor
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
With the amount of bitching and moaning on here about how the 6 and 6 Plus were too big, I am sure those complainers will be happy if Apple does release this smaller phone, though I am sure they will still complain that it doesn't have all the features of the 6S/6S Plus.
 
A 4 inch 6C would be great... The 5C may not have been very popular at first, but there is a LOT of them out there. The form factor is actually quite nice. My daughters 5C is holding up very well.

A 6C that is cost-competitive with Android (in other words, less than $500 sale price) would be a HOT seller. Now that 2yr contract subsidies are being phased out, Apple can't keep selling their phones at $650+ without losing a whole segment of the market - a segment they could dominate.
 
@4":
images.jpeg
 
I will be great if Apple release another 4" phone, i really like my 5s but it gets boring owning the same phone forever.

Despite what the 6/6s plus brigade say on here there are millions that still like the 4" form factor and haven't bothered upgrading because the 6/6s is too big and ugly.
 
Who knows, just because the current iOS implementation doesn't need more than 2GB doesn't mean the next one won't, especially if they put in split screen. RAM has been steadily increasing over time, it will likely go above 2GB next year or the year after.

Split screen on an iPhone? This will need to come with a toothpick & a magnifying glass. ;) Seriously, though, what for?
 
My mother uses barely a gigabyte on her iPhone 16GB.

This is a market segmentation strategy. Are you complaining on forums every day that airlines charge 2x, 5x for basically the same flight in different classes?

Get over it, it's business.

my mom uses iphone 5 16GB
she ran out of space from taking photos and videos. she doesn't even know how to install a new app.
get over it, average user needs more than 16GB

My mother still uses her 8Gb iPhone 4 and 16Gb iPad 4 without any complaints about a lack of storage space.

So get over yourself. 16Gb is still fine for many, many people.

my mom has a 16gb iphone 5. ran out of space from taking photos and videos. she doesn't even know how to install a new app.
get over it, 16gb is not enough for the average person.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think it is more likely the replacement for the 5S gets the A8 chip. I can't see Apple selling an A9-equipped phone for $450 next year.
 
I've been waiting forever for this news. I loathe every minute of using my oversized, unwieldy, awkward iPhone 6. When I occasionally encounter a 4S in the wild, I marvel at the wonderful size and amazing build quality. If only they made iPhones like that again! PLEASE, Apple: smaller screen, thicker, and heavier - I'll be all over it!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.