Consider the possibility that Apple will seek to continue to serve the market that thinks the 6 is too big for them. It seems likely to me that Apple will consider at least, upgrading the 5S form factor to a 6 mini and launch it on a staggered schedule, sometime around March, in a typical lull for Apple devices.
By that time the manufacturing base will have caught up to demand for the 6, all the new adopters will have bought in, and process tech will have been perfected. Why not make some more hay out of the existing 5 form factor by including new components into it? It could still sell for the $650 price point (or $200 after subsidy in the US) and will make sure that no iPhone user starts looking at the competition to get a current model phone in a 4" form factor.
Like it or not, far more phones were sold in that smaller size than in the 6 and 6+ size last year, so Apple is going to have to keep that size moving forward internally.
Thoughts?
By that time the manufacturing base will have caught up to demand for the 6, all the new adopters will have bought in, and process tech will have been perfected. Why not make some more hay out of the existing 5 form factor by including new components into it? It could still sell for the $650 price point (or $200 after subsidy in the US) and will make sure that no iPhone user starts looking at the competition to get a current model phone in a 4" form factor.
Like it or not, far more phones were sold in that smaller size than in the 6 and 6+ size last year, so Apple is going to have to keep that size moving forward internally.
Thoughts?