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New 4-Inch iPhone Again Predicted to Launch in 2016

shanson27 said:
I've got a better idea, iPhone 7 with 3D Touch surface and Touch ID, without the home button
iPhone_6-Template-White-Ramotion-2.png
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I've said it before, the less dead space on the front of the phone the better.
 
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the 6c, with touch id------------------->4"
the 6s, with touch id and 3D---------->4.7"
the 6s+, with touch id, 3D and OIS -->5.5"

This makes total sense if the pricing is right.
$649 for the 6s (32gig)
$749 for the 6s+ (32gig)

Therefore I would expect $549 for the 6c. If Apple really wanted to make waves, they would find a way to sell it at $449 and still maintain margins.
 
I can't see a new 4" iPhone getting its own launch in early or mid 2016. This has been talked about for for 10 months yet there have been no pics of parts or components. What is most likely happening is a 5s internal upgrade that will launch with all the new ones in the fall. What it's going to called, I don't know. I just don't think they have an incentive to do a solo launch for a product refresh that's on the low end of their pricing tier. Yes they did a quiet refresh for the iPod touch, but that is such a minor product when compared to the iPhone.
 
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Cuban Missles said:
the 6c, with touch id------------------->4"
the 6s, with touch id and 3D---------->4.7"
the 6s+, with touch id, 3D and OIS -->5.5"

This makes total sense if the pricing is right.
$649 for the 6s (32gig)
$749 for the 6s+ (32gig)

Therefore I would expect $549 for the 6c. If Apple really wanted to make waves, they would find a way to sell it at $449 and still maintain margins.
Click to expand...


I see something like this more likely:

4"
5"
5.7 or even 6"

With smaller bezels of course. You basically cover all grounds and everyone's happy.

A 4" device is small, a 5" isn't phablet territory yet and the 5.7/6 would be a phablet for people who want one.
 
jpgr15 said:
I hear you.. this seems to be Apple's course though. iPad Mini has trailed the Air and now it looks like the Air may be setting up to trail the Pro. Even the 6S trails the 6S Plus to a minor extent.

FWIW, I don't like it any more than you do. You shouldn't have to choose between screen size and specs. Everybody needs a different screen size but that doesn't mean you necessarily want lesser specs because you want a smaller screen.
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But you absolutely should have to choose. This is how Android phones managed to pack in faster processors and more RAM to prop up that OS in its earlier, more bloated and inefficient days. Bigger screen=more space for battery.
 
flashy-cat said:
FFS, give it a rest with the 4" rumours. Just upgraded from a 5s to a 6s and would never go back to the smaller screen.
Click to expand...

So because you would never go back...there should no longer be news about something new coming? Maybe you should give it a rest and not click on articles you are uninterested in? I would go back to 4" in a heartbeat as would my wife.
 
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jayducharme said:
If this comes true, I hope it won't be like the 5c and have intentionally crippled hardware. I loved the look and feel of the 5c, but it was saddled with old tech. I agree that there's a market for a smaller form factor, as long as the specs are the same as a larger phone. Apple shouldn't force people to use a device too big for their hands. If there are people who want a smaller device, then give them the power they need in a form factor that works for them.
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The 5C wasn't "intentionally" crippled. It replaced the 5. Same everything except a colorful plastic back that appealed to both the markets with lesser money and kids growing up from iPods. Plus it saved Apple money.
 
Iconoclysm said:
But you absolutely should have to choose. This is how Android phones managed to pack in faster processors and more RAM to prop up that OS in its earlier, more bloated and inefficient days. Bigger screen=more space for battery.
Click to expand...

Sure, the battery is a logical trade off due to size but I'm talking more features like 3D touch, 2nd gen Touch ID, the A9, etc.
 
I can do without 3D Touch. As long as it has an A9, 2GB of RAM and the same cameras as the 6s, that thing should be a powerhouse.
 
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Basically a 6th gen iPod Touch, with a phone and TouchID.

Question is, when?
Doesn't make sense to release it sooner than the next iPhone cycle (makes no sense to have the low and mid end having the same A8 SoC).
And if Apple do it next regular iPhone cycle, will they keep the "small" iPhone as the lowest end only model? (eg. iPhone 6c for low end, 6S for mid, and 7 for high).
 
Am I the only one who feels "analysts" will keep beating this horse until it happens, only to say they predicted it?
 
I hope he is right about us getting a 4" iPhone with at least close to modern technology. That said I see almost no chance of it having its own event. if it is going to happen it will happen along with the release of the 7 in the fall.
 
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manu chao said:
  • The iPad mini trailed the 'Air' in 2012 (retina vs no-retina, A6x vs A5, 1 GB vs 512 MB).
  • The iPad mini matched the Air in 2013 (both retina, both A7, both 1 GB)
  • The iPad mini trailed the Air in 2014 (A8x vs A7, 2 GB vs 1 GB)
  • The iPad mini (almost) matched the Air in 2015 (A8x vs A8, both 2 GB)
That's a nice pattern.

Where the 6s trails the 6s Plus is in areas that related to the 'Plus' being larger, both in thickness as well as a screen size (thicker body allows for a thicker camera module with stabilisation and larger screen + thicker body allows for a larger battery).
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Actually, the 2013 iPad mini 2 trailed the iPad Air when it came to one crucial area, the quality of the display. That's the reason I chose the iPad Air over the mini. The colors just looked dull and washed out compared to the Air. I really wanted the mini and never really liked the Air due to the size/weight and performance issues caused by it having only 1GB of RAM. Now, my main beef with the iPad mini, the inferior display, was corrected with the gorgeous display of the iPad mini 4, which I now own. I would've preferred an A9 instead of the A8, but since the Apple TV has the same A8 with 2GB of RAM setup, game developers will most likely target the A8/2GB of RAM combo for the next 2-3 years. I love my smaller, more powerful mini 4. There's a good chance I'll get the Apple TV 4 by the end of the year as well. The iPad mini 4 is what I wanted two years ago, a beautiful laminated display like the Air, 2GB of RAM and wireless AC.
 
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gixxerfool said:
Am I the only one who feels "analysts" will keep beating this horse until it happens, only to say they predicted it?
Click to expand...
The goal of these analysts is to throw the dart as accurately as possible, repeatedly. The more accurate they are, the more business they drum up for themselves as analysts. There doesn't seem to be a downside to being inaccurate, aside from the ridicule they receive on twitter, et.al, because they keep doing it, regardless of their track record. It's in their best interest to keep throwing, really.
 
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There are analysts who just make educated guesses; and there are analysts to have contacts in materials and manufacturing companies, and make predictions based on information about orders and supplies and business accounting forecasts. And then there may be some who actually do have insider information from apple on occasion.
Which is why some rumours carry more weight than others.
 
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I'm currently using a Sharp Aquos Crystal. 5" screen, bezel-less on 3 sides, but it is a bit larger than I'd prefer. A 4-inch iPhone would be ideal for me. I hope that this comes to fruition.
 
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