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New 4-Inch 'iPhone 5e' Could Feature A8 Chip, 1GB of RAM, Apple Pay and VoLTE Calling

LizKat said:
It's not dumb from Apple's point of view, as you say. It's not dumb of me to point out that 16GB is plenty for plenty of people, either. Who needs 32GB on a phone used to make phone calls, snap some pics or send a few texts or emails. We here are not representative of smartphone users in the entire marketplace. Apple knows how their stuff gets used. When 16GB won't cut it, the base storage will get bumped. Or, heh, maybe it will get bumped when the mainstem of Apple's profit margin comes from cars instead of phones... :) but meanwhile it doesn't make a lot of sense to get all fired up over a decision that belongs to the manufacturer. One still has choices, and can go elsewhere if they're not appealing enough. So far the number of times that happens is apparently not significant enough to force Apple's hand.
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It's a dumb argument because you're framing it like people who can live on 16GB are saving money by not having 32GB, but they are not. The only one who wins in this scenario is Apple.
 
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I'd love to see a smaller phone with the same specs, but even with the Mac line the specs are better at both the base model and maxed out specs with bigger models so unfortunately this must be Apple's style.
 
dark_knight177 said:
That 100 billion in the bank will sink FAST when you need to pay the paycheck for 99 thousand of employees and when you have low sales with empty stores. That 100 billion will last them 6-12 months at most if sales drop dramatically. Now that may not happen, but sales ARE dropping!

2016 will be the first year iPhone sales decline.

And just because they have 100 billion doesn't mean they "GET" it. Microsoft was and still is one of the most profitable companies in the world, doesn't mean they "GET" it either. It just means they are good at marketing and making a profit.

Your weak argument is actually an indication that you don't "GET" it.

And by the way, their 100 billion in the bank will actually be 60 billion after they bring the money to the US and pay the taxes.
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I've been reading about this predicted iPhone sales decline for about two years now...good luck with your own prediction, because you definitely seem to GET it.
 
nolankvn said:
It's a dumb argument because you're framing it like people who can live on 16GB are saving money by not having 32GB, but they are not. The only one who wins in this scenario is Apple.
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You're right. They're not saving money. Apple is.
 
SteveJobs2.0 said:
Look folks, Tim Cook is an operations guy. He wants to convert people to the 4.5" size in order to lower the number of phones in the pipeline. This is a classic transitional measure until they completely remove the 4" phone offering.
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Well, you might want to hop over to the latest 3.5mm jack thread. Apparently there the way to "the future" is not transitional but to just chop out something completely. If Cook thinks it's over for 4" or wants us all to go with the present sizes, why even bother with another 4" phone? Just jettison it away in the name of "the future."

Personally, I think another size iPhone makes great sense (and I found 4" too small for my big hands). There used to be tens of millions of buyers of iPhones at 4" screen sizes and all of them voted on that size with their wallets. Some of them that visit this site argued passionately for the perfection of 4" vs. the abomination of anything larger (not to mention ridiculing the fragmentation of Android having too many screen sizes). Now they can buy something newer in their former "perfection." Choices are good.

To those arguing how it would be impossible to put 6s functionality in a smaller size, that's a big pile. This rumor is already about a smaller (screen size) phone in a thicker iPhone 5 case. That added thickness creates the space for more battery (the non-battery parts of 6s can easily be made to fit inside a slightly less wide and less tall case).

To those arguing how the phone would have to cost a lot more due to the miniaturization required, see above. AND the bulk of miniaturization costs will only be at the R&D phase, not at the per-unit retail. It may indeed cost a bit of R&D to fit the 6s guts into a iPhone 5-size case. But once you figure out the layout, the manufacturing process is likely the same and spreading those R&D costs over millions of units will make the difference amount to practically nothing in iPhone unit retail costs.

Apple hasn't actually added THAT much more to iPhone 6 that wasn't already in iPhone 5s. What has gone into 6 was also accomplished as part of "thinner." If this new iPhone 5-based model is based on iPhone 5- thus not as "thinner"- there will be space in the depth of the case to fill with the newer add-ons of iPhone 6 or more battery or both (if Apple even wanted to do that).

Either way though: choices are good. Those who hunger for smaller screens will be able to get what they want. If Apple chooses to leave a few features out, the importance of those features will need to drive each person's decision-making for "as is" vs. this new option.
 
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Abazigal said:
The iPad mini 2 had the same specs as the iPad Air, and its smaller screen size meant the iPad mini 2 actually had a higher ppi.
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PPI has nothing to do with how much processing power is needed, just total number of pixels is what matters. A Playstation doesn't need more power to push a 30" screen versus a 70" screen, even though the 30" has a higher PPI (both being 1080p)
 
dearfriendx said:
This isn't for everyone and that's incredibly obvious. It's for those who cannot afford a flagship iPhone. Think about the market in other countries like India, China, etc. So they release an updated "economy" iPhone so even more users will come to iOS and use things like Apple Pay (which Apple gets a slice of the transaction). I don't see why the privileged can't see beyond their own nose. If you don't agree with Apple's choice of 4.7" and 5.5" phones there are other manufacturers out there.
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Also iPhone users in those other markets are not spoiled, entitled brats like they are in the US. In those countries, people feel fortunate to have any model that they can afford. Here in the US, everyone feels they're entitled to the model and specs that serve their own personal use cases, at a price they feel is fair. You're making great points that, unfortunately, will go over these people's heads.
 
mr.steevo said:
Steve Jobs said it.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/jobs-no-ones-going-to-buy-a-big-phone/
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I don't know how anyone can forget that. Apple prided themselves on tiny phones for years when the competition had big phones and stressing the use of one thumb to reach the whole screen. They talked about it so much it was nauseating. There's nothing wrong with the small screen size, but Apple releasing a phone with a [by the time the 7 is released] two year old A8 chip is just an insult to everyone that's been waiting for a new Apple phone to come in a smaller size again. They can put the tech in there, they just choose not to. The A8 came with the iPhone 6 ... so size is clearly not the issue here if this information is to be believed.
 
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Just let people have their opinions.

If a grown man wants a tiny phone compared to what the style is today, then let them.

Chances are, if they want a 4" iPhone, they probably drive around in a pink Volkswagen Beetle, have a tiny little house, have tiny little hands, get beat by their girlfriend, and like to eat like a bird.

For those who like to use their phone for what it's intended for, you know, high powered games, e-mail, photos, facebook, etc. Then get a phone that actually has a screen size that's in style.
 
I will be selling my iPhone 6 to get this if it's true. I miss my 4" iPhone 5. It felt better in the hand and I have big hands!
 
“What would Steve do? I don't know, so let's focus on that instead of ‘What could we do, that hopefully would be better than what Steve would have?’ “Got it! iPhone 5e! I'm fired? Not at Tim Cook's Apple!”
 
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This would SUCK. My wife has the 6S right now, and she really wants to go down to something smaller, but she's also an avid photographer and power user of her device. Going to 1GB of RAM and not letting her get 128GB of storage are deal breakers.
 
God, they can't even properly name their devices... Why 5e??? It should be 6s whatever. The only reason it could be called "5e" is if this combination means something really important to Chinese customers.

Just make 6s, 6s plus and 6s mini or 6s touch or something.
 
macnewbie91 said:
Just let people have their opinions.

If a grown man wants a tiny phone compared to what the style is today, then let them.

Chances are, if they want a 4" iPhone, they probably drive around in a pink Volkswagen Beetle, have a tiny little house, have tiny little hands, get beat by their girlfriend, and like to eat like a bird.

For those who like to use their phone for what it's intended for, you know, high powered games, e-mail, photos, facebook, etc. Then get a phone that actually has a screen size that's in style.
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So the millions upon millions of people that bought that size phone for years are all effeminate, weak males? Didn't realize phones were for "fitting in" instead of being used for the intended purpose in which the person bought it for. Remember when phones just made calls? Crazy, I know.
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Mactendo said:
God, they can't even properly name their devices... Why 5e??? It should be 6s whatever. The only reason it could be called "5e" is if this combination means something really important to Chinese customers.

Just make 6s, 6s plus and 6s mini or 6s touch or something.
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Or iPhone Mini ...
 
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macnewbie91 said:
Just let people have their opinions.

If a grown man wants a tiny phone compared to what the style is today, then let them.

Chances are, if they want a 4" iPhone, they probably drive around in a pink Volkswagen Beetle, have a tiny little house, have tiny little hands, get beat by their girlfriend, and like to eat like a bird.

For those who like to use their phone for what it's intended for, you know, high powered games, e-mail, photos, facebook, etc. Then get a phone that actually has a screen size that's in style.
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This is not even funny. A 4'' phone is perfect for email, photos and facebook, maybe not gaming but that is not for macho "grown man" anyway
 
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\-V-/ said:
I don't know how anyone can forget that. Apple prided themselves on tiny phones for years when the competition had big phones and stressing the use of one thumb to reach the whole screen. They talked about it so much it was nauseating. There's nothing wrong with the small screen size, but Apple releasing a phone with a [by the time the 7 is released] two year old A8 chip is just an insult to everyone that's been waiting for a new Apple phone to come in a smaller size again. They can put the tech in there, they just choose not to. The A8 came with the iPhone 6 ... so size is clearly not the issue here if this information is to be believed.
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Rather than giving Apple that much power, to cause you to feel insulted (of all things), why not just purchase another brand?

Simple.
 
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This 4 inch phone is a budget solution (in Apple terms), and positioned as such to replace 5S.
 
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