New 4-Inch iPhone Rumored to Feature A8 Chip, Bluetooth 4.1 and More

[MacRumors]

Apple has developed a new 4-inch iPhone based on an iPhone 5s with sixth-generation iPod touch features including an A8 chip, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 and an improved FaceTime HD camera with ?/2.2 aperture, according to often-reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara [Google Translate].

Mac Otakara, citing reliable sources, claims the so-called "iPhone 5s Mark II" has entered production and could be shipped at any time. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the new 4-inch iPhone, which he also believes to be an upgraded iPhone 5s, to launch in the first half of 2016, a launch date corroborated by other recent rumors.

Kuo previously claimed that the next 4-inch iPhone may adopt an A9 processor in order for iOS 9 or iOS 10 smoothly, but his chip-specific prediction appears to be more guesswork rather than information sourced from Apple's supply chain.

Given Mac Otakara's respectable track record, and considering Apple's reported desire to differentiate the new 4-inch iPhone from its flagship iPhone 6s lineup, it is plausible the so-called "iPhone 6c" could be powered by an A8 chip.

Apple will also reportedly withhold 3D Touch from the 4-inch iPhone in order to encourage adoption of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Follow our iPhone 6c roundup to keep track of the latest news about the 4-inch iPhone.

Article Link: New 4-Inch iPhone Rumored to Feature A8 Chip, Bluetooth 4.1 and More

 

[catean]

I think NFC/Apple Pay is quite important. Hope to see this in the new phone.

 

[TurboPGT!]

They can't possibly withhold Apple Pay from this product. That would make no sense.

 

[mabaker]

TouchID and I'm sold. Couldn't care less about 3D touch.

 

[TurboPGT!]

An A8 chip is fine for this product, but it needs an upgraded camera, Apple Pay, and other features unique to the 2014 6-series.

 

[Oblivious.Robot]

Such spec. Much wow.

I at least hope it's better priced then.

 

[Crosscreek]

I love my 5S and this sounds like a perfect replacement.

 

[ActionableMango]

Damn I wish I had known about this before I went to a 6S. The 6/6S are simply too big.

 

[Icaras]

As much as I am excited for the new Apple Watch dock, why did that get front page main section and this get sidelined to the blog? A new iOS product device certainly seems like big news to me.

 

[apolloa]

Interesting, so long as it has a very sensible price point and 32 and 64gb options and Touch ID. Should be good. Will it be plastic or metal though?

 

[StudyFlo]

This device kind of already exists: it's the iPod touch - it'll be a little thicker, have a little more battery, all the phone stuff (and Touch ID of course!) and yeah, called the "iPhone 6c". Pretty obvious, isn't it?

 

[Benjamin Frost]

A8?

Please give us the latest chip in a 4" iPhone, Apple.

 

[pika2000]

Seems obvious. Apple already have one. It's called the 6th gen iPod Touch. Just add a phone and TouchID, and voila, iPhone 6c.

The interesting part is whether Apple is going to keep the 4.7" and 5.5" screen sizes just for the mid end and up or not. Meaning in 2016, we will see 4" 6c at the lowest end, 6S/6S+ at mid end, and 7 at the highest end, getting rid of the current 6 and 6+. Or are they going to be integrated somewhere in the lineup.

 

[pgiguere1]

As much as I am excited for the new Apple Watch dock, why did that get front page main section and this get sidelined to the blog? A new iOS product device certainly seems like big news to me.

Agreed. This is not a new phenomenon on MacRumors either.

Back when we saw the first iPhone 6 supply chain leaks it also went to the iOS blog, while celebs like Karl Lagerfeld being spotted with a gold Apple Watch is front page material. What the hell?

 

[aajeevlin]

They can't possibly withhold Apple Pay from this product. That would make no sense.

I'm just going to say it, won't make any sense if Apple doesn't put NFC/Apple Pay in this device. If they still hope to make a push for it. However, I personally would still go to the 4inch (with or without Apple Pay). As much as I personally like Apple Pay, it's just not wide spread enough, and I don't see Apple making enough effort for a push.

 

[soupcan]

Hey Apple, a smaller product should not get last-gen hardware just because it's smaller. That's a trend that needs to stop.

 

[tennisproha]

Why even go through the trouble then. Its basically a 5s with a new casing. Smh.

 

[Eidorian]

Are they really developing another phone just to upsell you to the next model up? I remember the iPhone 5C ended up in Europe with the memory soldered off down to 8 GB just to sell what they had in stock.

I do not see any interest in targeting users in the developing world and leaving that to Android and Google.

 

[TurboPGT!]

A8?

Please give us the latest chip in a 4" iPhone, Apple.

Not gonna happen. This tier currently costs less than an iPhone 6 with an A8. Whether that stays the same, or changes to cost the same as an iPhone 6, it will not exceed the 6 by sporting an A9.

 

[TurboPGT!]

Why even go through the trouble then. Its basically a 5s with a new casing. Smh.

We don't know what it is yet, but it is undoubtedly going to be an upgrade over the 5s, for people still with a 5c/5s, that don't want a 4.7" phone.
And this tier costs less than the leading tier, so performance wise it cannot be the same as the leading tier...obviously.

 

[User 6502]

Not gonna happen. This tier currently costs less than an iPhone 6 with an A8. Whether that stays the same, or changes to cost the same as an iPhone 6, it will not exceed the 6 by sporting an A9.

Why not? Who cares about the iPhone 6? If I want a 4'' display it doesn't mean I don't want the latest and fastest hardware; they should stop this nonsense of considering bigger devices premium devices.

 

[LordQ]

Nice, but I'd love to see some iPhone 7 leaks soon

 

[Spock]

My wife would love this, she loves the upgraded front facing camera and Touch ID on the 6s but hates the screen size and the power button on the side.

 

[goodcow]

1GB RAM?

 

[mbh1976]

I won't complain about an A8, as long as the battery/camera/internals are upgraded from the 5S and they add applepay.

Annoying that this is viewed as an entry-level model rather that something that can rival a current 6S, but that actually fits in one's pocket/doesn't slip out of one's hands when trying to hold it.