iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and 4-Inch iPhone 6c Rumored for 2015 Release

[petvas]

I am more interested to see a new design, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for this year.
The current design is very utilitarian and lacks the sexy looks of the HTC One M8. I would very much like to see Apple create the most beautiful phone of the world, like some years ago, with the iPhone 4...

 

[QCassidy352]

I have a 6 and like it, but when I use my gf's iphone 5, I'm reminded that 4" really is the sweet spot. I'd go back in a heartbeat, if it was otherwise comparable to the bigger models.

 

[audiodrummerguy]

It's possible that Apple believes offering more sizing choices to customers could allow Apple to reach more customers...

Well DUH. I'm surprised it's taken Apple this long to add this many screen choices. It always seemed obvious to me that they should've kept the 4" size as an option for the iPhone 5, while adding bigger options...

 

[sdf]

App developers, does 3 screen sizes make things much more complicated? Anyway, in my opinion 4.7" iPhone is the right sized iPhone. Hard to imagine using a 4" screen anymore.

Not as much as you might think if you're using auto layout. The tough part is making sure everything fits well on the smaller screens, but that was true even when we only had 3.5/4.0".

 

[saintforlife]

When Steve Jobs said the 4 inch display was the perfect size because your thumb could easily manage the corner of the device, he couldn't have been more correct.

Steve said nothing about 4" phones publicly. The last phone he saw was the 4S which only had a 3.5" screen. It was Tim Cook who commented on the 4" screen on the iPhone 5 and how you could easily reach across the screen with your thumb.

 

[a0me]

I just pray they keep good specs in the 4 inch display!

I have large hands, I can palm a basketball easily, and I think the iPhone 6 display is simply to big.

When Steve Jobs said the 4 inch display was the perfect size because your thumb could easily manage the corner of the device, he couldn't have been more correct.

I wish I could upvote you x100.

 

[petsounds]

I'll be really disappointed if this "6C" is a low-cost model. I've held off upgrading my personal phone because I dislike the 6 and 6+ form factors so much.

 

[TxExCxH]

I stopped reading at DIGITIMES.

 

[iZac]

I would be extremely excited about a phone with the guts of the 6 and because of the smaller size, and deeper polycarbonate construction ... wait for it ... no antenna bands or camera bump!

 

[crmcm]

Also looking forward to a new 4 inch screen. My 6 is driving me crazy. I thought I'd get used to it, but it's only getting worse.

 

[CE3]

I hope it's true. Anything larger than a 4-inch display is too big for my tastes (I have an iPad for that).

My 16GB 5C has been a great phone. I've had no problems with it beyond my voice being occasionally muffled if I hold it certain ways, which is annoying. But it's got a nice camera, performs well, and charges super fast.

If they give it the iPhone 6's camera or better, I'll probably upgrade.

 

[technosix]

I am more interested to see a new design, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for this year.
The current design is very utilitarian and lacks the sexy looks of the HTC One M8. I would very much like to see Apple create the most beautiful phone of the world, like some years ago, with the iPhone 4...

I share your desire for a fresh new design. Currently it's as though J. Ive has been sitting back waiting for the next gushing praise, award, or other accolades based on past work. It's as though merely having his name on the roster is enough. How long will Apple milk this old iPhone style?

Back to a tiny iPhone, I'm not surprised. Jobs alone spent a very long time programming the faithful that it's all they'd ever need. A massive group of the Apple faithful bought that story hook, line and sinker.

 

[xSinghx]

if:

no 4in screen with the same specs as a 6s + the same 16gb base storage + (un-flush) pimple cam = no reason to upgrade.

 

[commander.data]

The 4 inch as the article alludes will probably be the 6C

and if they're continuing the usual "C" model from the 5C then it wont be the same specs. The 4 incher (6C) will have the specs of the last generation phone like the 5C did.

So I think it's very possible they could easily make a 4 inch 6C this year that has last year's Iphone 6 specs. I mean honestly I feel like a 4 inch Iphone 6 could've been made last year and still fit the same specs aside from maybe the exact same battery life.

Successive Apple SoC tend to have the same or lower average and idle power consumption, but higher peak power consumption. You also can't fit as big a battery in a smaller phone, especially if Johny Ive continues to prioritize thinness. So fitting the existing 20 nm A8 in a 4" iPhone is likely to be challenging without decreasing clock speeds.

If they do want to put the A8 in a 4" iPhone I hope they shrink it to 16 nm which will bring down the heat and power consumption so they don't have to compromise on battery life or clock speeds. A shrink to TSMC's 16 nm process is supposed to be a relatively easy transition from the TSMC 20 nm process currently used for the A8 since they share the same backend. A 16 nm A8 would also allow Apple to refresh the iPod Touch which would otherwise not be able to handle a standard A7 or A8 because the design is so thin. A 16 nm A8 would also be a good candidate for the Apple TV refresh, especially if they retain a plastic design which doesn't have as good heat dissipation as iOS devices with metal housings.

 

[ebouwman]

I really like the cool look of the 5c with the colored plastic back. It got flack for being plastic (as in cheap) but the plastic they use just really works for it. My only beef is that I wanted the 5c exterior with new and current internals. When buying a phone I refuse to buy last years model!

No way I'll upgrade from my 5s until Apple pay comes to Canada though.

 

[CE3]

Back to a tiny iPhone, I'm not surprised. Jobs alone spent a very long time programming the faithful that it's all they'd ever need. A massive group of the Apple faithful bought that story hook, line and sinker.

Or maybe some of us just prefer smaller phones over phablet sized ones. The 4-inch models are not "tiny". It's a very practical size.

 

[prasand]

I enjoyed when Apple had one screen size. Apple argued that was much better than competitors with dozens of different sizes and resolutions.

App developers, does 3 screen sizes make things much more complicated? Anyway, in my opinion 4.7" iPhone is the right sized iPhone. Hard to imagine using a 4" screen anymore.

@ complicated ... not really.

If one is employing relative / flexible designs, then the difference is non-existent as the design will fit all three sizes. If a larger size was being introduced and the app was already created, then it's just a matter of updating the images / assets for the higher resolution. Perhaps that is annoying to some, but I doubt that it is complicated. If any developers utilize fixed designs, it would just take more time.

For some it's only complicated in shifting to flexible design. That complication is like a web designer that only used fixed layouts, but then they start thinking in percentage based layouts. Regardless, the only size differences that generally becomes complicated, is designing / developing for three different form factors (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch).

*cringes* @ the thought of iPad Pro.

 

[technosix]

Terrific news, I'm beyond ready to dump my iPhone 6 Plus, in favor of what is sure to be a big improvement.

Frankly I don't care that Apple will likely keep milking the years old design, it's the performance that matters, there's no way they'll deliver a phone as buggy as this one.

The moment they open pre-orders, I'm in!

 

[AlecZ]

Okay, we'll see who goes back to the iPhone mini.

Me, if I didn't need the big one for testing, and also if I didn't already have it.

 

[prasand]

Now that my serious post is out of the way, I think everyone should re-read this thread but forget / ignore that the iPhone is being discussed. :innocent:

 

[BBCWatcher]

Hurray! A positive iPhone 6c rumor! Make it happen, Apple!

My best guess is that the iPhone 6c will:

1. Share the innards of the iPhone 5s (or possibly have underclocked iPhone 6 internals);
2. Have modest additional, tweaked LTE/frequency coverage compared to the 5s;
3. Have a slightly larger battery;
4. Add Apple Pay (NFC);
5. Have the same case design as the iPhone 5c (possibly with a couple color changes);
6. Come in 16GB and 32GB (or 64GB) capacities. Possibly with a controversial 8GB capacity for emerging markets, but I doubt it. If I had to bet: 16 and 64;
7. Maybe (probably not) creep up to a 4.3 inch display if Apple can hold the form factor (i.e. trim the bezel), albeit with the same pixel count (probably) as the 4.0 inch display. Probably not.

Apple could introduce the 6c off-cycle, before the 6s and 6s Plus. There'd be some sense in a tick-tock release schedule for what is now Apple's most important product line. However, I predict the 6c will end up being a 2 year model before the 7c follows, with no (or very minimal -- new colors, for example) refresh in 2016.

Upon introduction of the 6c Apple will immediately discontinue the 4s in remaining markets (really, Apple?), 5c (except possibly in a few markets), and 5s. Apple might also introduce a 6c-based iPod touch at some point, but we'll see. Upon introduction of the 6s and 6s Plus the 6 and 6 Plus will also disappear.

The iPhone 5c is currently priced at $450 (unsubsidized/full retail, 8GB). I think the 16GB iPhone 6c will be priced the same -- or, maybe, due to the strength of the U.S. dollar and ongoing competitive pressures that Apple mostly but not completely ignores, slightly less (e.g. $429).

This is a phone I'd be in the market for -- I'd very seriously consider buying one. I am not in the market for any other iPhone this year.

 

[ttss6]

The 5.5" has been perfect for my needs. It's big enough where I don't have to have it in my face to see what I'm doing, but not so big it's impossible to use one handed. I can't palm a basketball, but as long as you are willing to readjust your grip and use Reachability the 5.5 is pretty awesome!

 

[carrrrrlos]

Looking forward to an updated 4" version.

 

[Velin]

I am all over the four-inch iPhone. I know others will be as well. Can't wait.

 

[mcarling]

I used to buy a new iPhone every year. I skipped the iPhone 6 because it's too big. I want a new 4" iPhone that supports Apple Pay.

I'm betting that the 6C will have an A7.

I believe the A8 is required to support Apple Pay. I don't believe Apple will introduce any new iPhones that do not support Apple Pay.