Apple Unlikely to Release New 4-Inch iPhone This Year, New Low-End Model Expected in 2016

[JayIsAwesome]

Many people managed just fine on phones smaller than the 5S for several years. My hands haven't gotten any bigger.

Sure, the additional screen size provides for benefits - no question there.

But for some people that additional size isn't worth those benefits in terms of other conveniences, like fitting in pockets, purses, etc.

Perhaps the strong 5S sales are a result that a large part of the population prefers the smaller form factor.

There are people who do prefer the smaller phone. I'm not hating on them but for me and clearly a lot of others based on the numbers Apple and Samsung do, many love the bigger screen. I like the bigger screen for media consumption and I can also see the text on the phone without holding it super close to my face. The retina 1080p display on the + and especially the quad HD Super Amoled display on the S6 Edge...make for some excellent viewing angles. One thing I never understood tho, is the "it doesn't fit in my pants pocket" argument. Exactly what kinda pants are people wearing lol? My S6 Edge, which is pretty much the same size as the iPhone 6, fits in my pants pocket just fine. No issues at all. They're just regular pants.

 

[dampfnudel]

2GB of RAM is significant. The current 1GB is a joke, and will obsolete those devices quicker than they should be.

If the 6s/6s+ gets 2GB of RAM, it would be to some degree an acknowledgement that the iPhone 6/6+ was shortchanged. Apple would only do it if they wanted the 6s/6s+ to compete well performance-wise with the iPhone 7. It's possible the iPhone 6/6+ will take a significant performance hit with iOS 10, maybe even iOS 9. Keep in mind that both the 4s and 5s didn't get an increase in RAM, so it's possible the 6 was supposed to get 2GB of RAM, but for some reason, didn't.

 

[milo]

If they don't upgrade a 4 inch model, when the next generation comes out would they drop prices on that model again or keep it the same?

Which won't happen. You have to move on with the times.

Consumers don't have to do anything. If there's consumer demand for modestly sized phones, if Apple doesn't make one someone else will. My wife wants a smaller phone, based on Apple's offerings that probably makes Android a lot more appealing right now.

 

[elf55]

Big not always better

I had a 6 and went back to a 5S. Like the speed and features of the 6, but it's too big. I take my phone everywhere with me. Having it with me all the time is the point. I don't take my iPad or Mac with me everywhere. The 6 is just too clumsy to have all the time. It's hard enough getting my 5S in and out of my pocket, let alone tucking it somewhere when I don't have pockets.

I liked that the 5 series had the longer display that was more compatible with image media than the 4 series, so I was OK with the longer phone. But 4.7" plus bezel is too big. I'll wait till a new phone has the same footprint as the 5 before purchasing another iPhone.

 

[phillymacuser]

I am still not used to the iphone 6. If there was a 4-inch screen device with all the hardware and specs of the larger unit, I would buy two! I miss the one hand operation and I do have an ipad that I use to watch videos, etc.

 

[ggf]

Why not come back with a premium 4' design that's introduced with the same materials as the 4.7' and 5.5' sizes?

Full prices for the 2016 lineup -

4' - $600 ($149 with new two year)
4.7' - $650 ($199 with new two year)
5.5' - $750 ($299 with new year)

Why does the smallest size need to use the cheapest materials?

I agree why do people assume a 4 inch model should be low end.
I do not believe that is where the market is.
I want a 64gb min (prefer 128 or 256) for my music and podcasts. I don't do internet on a phone - my 56 year old eyes are not good enough even on a 6+ if I need to do browsing I use the iPad. I want the compact phone for audio and phone functions

 

[manu chao]

Since the regular 6 couldn't really be used with one hand easily either, I said screw it I'll just get the 6 plus then.

I use my iPhone 6 predominantly with one hand, only for text entry do I switch to two-handed use occasionally. It essentially depends on how sticky my hands (slight humidity is enough). If my hands are really dry (eg, outside when it is cold), I have more problems anchoring the phone safely in one hand.

My standard way of holding it is to perch the bottom right corner of the phone in the gap where my pinky and my ring finger connect to my palm. With this I can reach the top left corner by tilting the phone more towards vertical and the bottom right corner by tilting it towards horizontal.

 

[neoelectronaut]

A shame, I would be all over an iPhone 6c, the 5c is my favorite iPhone to date.

That being said, I hope we get a new "small" iPhone. I hate the 6 and 6+ sizes.

 

[bookwormsy]

I'd be curious to see how the sales on a 4" phone would be, especially if they keep the specs on par with the 4.7" and 5.5" models.

I went from an iPhone 4S to a HTC One M7 and that was a huge jump, but I've gotten used to the size. I plan to switch back to iPhone with this upcoming release cycle, but I'd probably go with the 4.7" model. I'd be curious to see how others would react.

 

[LordQ]

Outstanding design is the key. Im sure many, like myself, are annoyed by Apples new phablets and prefer the much better looking 5S even if it is weaker. Screw NFC and other new features if those huge, ugly ass iphones are required.

That's why I love my 4S, beautiful phone and perfect size.

 

[Allin44]

I'm posting from the 4s I've been using for the last 3 years (almost) and I can't wait to upgrade to this year's 5.5" model. I could live with a phone this size if I had to, but I have no desire to ever use a phone with a screen this size (or 4") again. It's far too small for me personally. I want as big of a screen as I can get in the footprint of the 6+ going forward.

 

[a0me]

Apple Unlikely to Release New 4-Inch iPhone This Year, New Low-End Model Expected in 2016[/url]

I'm Unlikely to Buy a New iPhone This Year...

 

[Gameboy70]

Well, everyone has their preferences. After moving to iPhone 6 Plus, no wonder Android users were making fun of iPhone users for long. I can't go back to my iPhone 5 now. No more headaches and eye strain from extended use like I did with my iPhone 5. Don't know how I accomplished anything on that tiny ass screen.

Your discomforts are different than mine. I've never once experienced eyestrain on my old 4S and 5S models. On the other hand, I switched to the 6+ for a week and found it completely unwieldy in the hand, and annoyingly cumbersome in the pocket. So I switched to a 6, which lessened those problems. I still have it, but will switch back to a 5S when I switch carriers next month.

I also don't see whats the huge problem with the 4.7" iPhone 6. Pretty much everyone that's able to one-hand with the iPhone 5S can one-hand the 4,7" 6, unless they have tiny hands to begin with. It's not that much bigger. It's not like Apple did the Google move and only released a 6" phone(Nexus 6).

I don't see the huge improvement with the 4.7" iPhone 6. My thumb can't reach the upper right quadrant of the screen without loosening my grip on the phone unless I resort to a kludge like Reachability (does anybody still use Reachability?). The 5S feels completely secure in my hand without supporting it with my pinkie under the bottom edge.

It sounds more like a hate of change more than anything.

I had zero problems upgrading from the 4S to the 5 and 5S, contrary to my expectations. The one tangible benefit of the 4" screen was getting an extra row of icons (oh, and having native 16:9 video playback on the rare occasions I'd watch video). It's the additional width of the 6 and 6+ that I find uncomfortable. I thought that after a few weeks of using the 6, I'd get used to it, but after recently helping my mother upgrade her 4 to a 5S (her choice), I was amazed at how optimal the size still felt (not to mention much I miss the camera's flush lens).

One day we'll all get over the more-is-better mindset and come to realize that, as with clothes, fit matters, and that one size doesn't fit all—nor should it. I'm happy that Apple finally satisfied the pent-up demand for large screen phones, but the market for large and small screens isn't mutually exclusive.

 

[Gameboy70]

I liked that the 5 series had the longer display that was more compatible with image media than the 4 series, so I was OK with the longer phone. But 4.7" plus bezel is too big.

I'm not against large screen phones on principle, but Apple's design language of symmetrical, relatively tall bezels makes the overall device footprint of the 6 and 6+ too cumbersome for me. HTC and LG make phones with the same screen sizes of the 6 series but with a smaller device footprint.

 

[nijmegen96]

So if you want the four inch model you have to get the "low end" model? If that's how it's marketed than they are clearly trying to up sell. That's too bad since I want the top of the line phone but don't want a large screen.

 

[mgmacius]

The real problem now is not the screen size, it's the amount of storage you can have on one of these - I don't care about cloud storage. And for so many reasons - internet connections are still slow (4G, you say? yeah, in a big city, 80% of population or so they say. Probably less than 50% of countrys area...), they are not 100% reliable, we all have data caps and so on. Future? Maybe, but definitely not today. Or tomorrow.
So they sell these useless phones with 8 gigs of memory for the last 5 or 6 years? Remember original iPhone with 4 GB of storage? It was discontinued so quickly... And why? You could put five songs and three pics on it before it got full. I always had 16 GB versions as the minimum - iPod Touch 1G, iPhone, iPhone 3G, but then The crisis hit and i just had to buy iPhone 4 with 8 GB of memory. I still use it today (typing on it right now) and it's such a pain in the (lower back), you have no idea! 600 pics, 1,5 GB of music, sudoku, Simpsons game, some tiny apps - 300-400 MB left! Why do they do that? Why?!! And for what reason? Flash memory is so incredibly cheap - 32 GB SD Card is around 10$, so how much is the memory alone? Why not making this as a lowest option for 5c or it's replacement and 64 and up for the 6s?

 

[lowendlinux]

If they don't upgrade a 4 inch model, when the next generation comes out would they drop prices on that model again or keep it the same?



Consumers don't have to do anything. If there's consumer demand for modestly sized phones, if Apple doesn't make one someone else will. My wife wants a smaller phone, based on Apple's offerings that probably makes Android a lot more appealing right now.

That's what I did. I didn't like the thin phone and I'm not buying a huge phone so I went to Android.

 

[recoil80]

Upgraded to the iPhone 6 last year and will never go back to a 4 inch screen.

This.
I really can't use the keyboard on the 4'' anymore cause is too tiny, I always tap on the wrong letter.

But I think there is still market for a 4'' phone. Of course not the premium model, but they should continue to make 4'' iphones. A 6C in plastic like the 5C with touchid and apple pay would be nice

 

[joe-h2o]

The 6+ is the perfect size. We don't need Apple to go backwards.

How is it going backwards to offer three sizes of phone with the latest hardware in them?

The 6+ is too big for me.

I have a 5S now. At the point where I come to upgrade I will want another phone that is the same size as the 5S. If there isn't one, then I will just keep the 5S or look for an Android in the right size bracket. Given the various apps I have and the integration with my car, it's more likely to be the former - I'll just keep the 5S until the wheels fall off.

What I will never do, however, is buy a phone the size of the 6+.

 

[B4U]

Why not come back with a premium 4' design that's introduced with the same materials as the 4.7' and 5.5' sizes?

Full prices for the 2016 lineup -

4' - $600 ($149 with new two year)
4.7' - $650 ($199 with new two year)
5.5' - $750 ($299 with new year)

Why does the smallest size need to use the cheapest materials?

4 feet!!!! That is a TV!!

----------

I returned my 6 after two days. Far too big and uncomfortable to use, especially compared to the beautifully designed 5S. I'm amazed Apple sacrificed usability for this pointlessly giant screen in your pocket

Oh well, I'll hold onto my 5S until their next 4 inch phone.

I am with you on this one. Too bad Apple is run by a bunch of bean counters now and Steve is not here to save their sorry asses this time...

 

[Gusjasso]

Jobs didn't join the race to the bottom.

He used to say 'we don't know how to make a good $500 laptop so we don't'.

I suspect he would never have allowed these cheap plastic ugly devices.

Neither that ugly Apple Watch

 

[AppliedMicro]

Why do they do that? Why?!! And for what reason? Flash memory is so incredibly cheap - 32 GB SD Card is around 10$, so how much is the memory alone? Why not making this as a lowest option for 5c or it's replacement and 64 and up for the 6s?

1. Advertise with a low entry price:

"Starting at only $$"
Or "free on contract", as the Americans seem to call it.

2. Steer people towards the $$$ configuration with more memory later.
Which happens to have a higher margin as well.

Classic example of the bait and switch.

 

[waynethexplorer]

I prefer the smaller iPhone as well

I've tried a S5 and the iPhone 6, it's just hard for me to get past the convenience of one hand use and not even knowing its in my pocket. I like the bigger screen for viewing but for me the trade off is too much, I hope they produce a newer 4 inch with nfc and the right power and features to handle ios8 or 9 , I'm still running ios7 after the crappy integration of ios8.