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Yeah the 2GB of RAM will make a huge difference, but also having the A8 in a 4" device will also improve performance. I did a little calculation with the Geekbench scores and with the A8 in the iPod Touch 6th gen being clocked over 20% lower than the one in the iPhone 6, it scores just under 15% less; so the A8 in a 4" iPhone (clocked the same as the iP6) should outscore the iPhone 6 by maybe 8%. I know it isn't much but its something. Graphics would be better too. But man what a beast the A9 would be in it!!!

Anything better than the 5S in terms of ram would be good. I mean not that the 5S is bad, but going from my 5 to a 5S wouldn't be that much of an upgrade...
 
If you are most concerned about pocketability, does it really need top hardware so you can pull it out and check your messages and unoptmized apps? It's the 2016 flip phone.
 
If you are most concerned about pocketability, does it really need top hardware so you can pull it out and check your messages and unoptmized apps? It's the 2016 flip phone.

Not sure what you're trying to say... Theres no reason why they can't offer a small phone with the performance/functionality of the 6S
 
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Not sure what you're trying to say... Theres no reason why they can't offer a small phone with the performance/functionality of the 6S

There is at least one reason: the 6S size is not meaningfully different than the 5S. Why not a 1, 2, and 3 inch phone, too? For example, the 6S is only .335 inches wider than the 5S. Why cram a 6S into a 5S, without any compromises, simply to accommodate such a minor difference?
 
Theres no reason why they can't offer a small phone with the performance/functionality of the 6S
Uhhh, yes there may well be: Heat and battery, for example. The A8(9) has originally been designed with the bigger housing of an iPhone 6(s) in mind.

It's quite possible that the A8 only fits into the smaller 4" housing now because of improvements in the production process, which bring down energy consumption (battery run-time) and reduce heat.
 
There is at least one reason: the 6S size is not meaningfully different than the 5S. Why not a 1, 2, and 3 inch phone, too? For example, the 6S is only .335 inches wider than the 5S. Why cram a 6S into a 5S, without any compromises, simply to accommodate such a minor difference?

Because 4 inches suits a lot of people who don't like the bigger phones and it was the size that Apple made a song and dance about being the best size. I would not have bought into the ecosystem had I known that they'd abandon what they said was the ideal one . Lets remember screen size is down completely to opinion and the screen size jump is quite considerable and meaningful for many. I'd rather no iPhone than an iPhone that is not useable one handed. If the difference is not meaningful why did Apple make the 6S bigger? The screen increase is obviously not meaningful.

Uhhh, yes there may well be: Heat and battery, for example. The A8(9) has originally been designed with the bigger housing of an iPhone 6(s) in mind.

It's quite possible that the A8 only fits into the smaller 4" housing now because of improvements in the production process, which bring down energy consumption (battery run-time) and reduce heat.

I would imagine the iPhone 6S logic board would not be bigger than the 6 board, and considering the 6 is a almost identical in size to the 5S, I don't think it will be that much of a problem. The A9 is also apparently more efficient than the A7 thus less battery usage..
 
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Agree with everyone in this thread that says small shouldn't mean downgraded and huge shouldn't mean best. It's ridiculous. Let people pick phone based on screensize but not be forced to buy larger for more features.

The problem with this is it takes a huge amount of design and engineering to make a power 4" phone which is why virtually none of the handset makes do it, takes too much time, skill and resources for little gain when seemingly everyone wants massive cinema screens in their pockets.

The large screen revolution was the biggest let off the mobile phone industry had.
 
If you look at the iPod touch gen 6, you will see it has the A8 and a larger battery, by just as smidge, than the gen 5. Larger displays require larger batteries for normal all day use. The newer SoC's are actually more efficient hence the iPhone keeps getting thinner because the batteries are scaling down while the chips are scaling up. There would be no problem putting an A8 or A9 in a 5s form factor and get all day performance with a commensurate battery.
Right; I take your point about SoC. But remember, the speed of the A9 (clock speed) is increased. And granted we may get 'all day' but comparing the 6S Plus to the 6S on battery life we see the smaller form factor has made it decrease through user experience. Point being, if we use the same hardware in an even smaller form factor the battery life will diminish again (I may be wrong in macro terms, but I am basing this statement on my own experience)
 
If you look at the iPod touch gen 6, you will see it has the A8 and a larger battery, by just as smidge, than the gen 5. Larger displays require larger batteries for normal all day use. The newer SoC's are actually more efficient hence the iPhone keeps getting thinner because the batteries are scaling down while the chips are scaling up. There would be no problem putting an A8 or A9 in a 5s form factor and get all day performance with a commensurate battery.
Right; I take your point about SoC. But remember, the speed of the A9 (clock speed) is increased. And granted we may get 'all day' but comparing the 6S Plus to the 6S on battery life we see the smaller form factor has made it decrease through user experience. Point being, if we use the same hardware in an even smaller form factor the battery life will diminish again (I may be wrong in macro terms, but I am basing this statement on my own experience)
 
Does the size actually dictate whether it will slip out of one's hand?
It seems there are any number of threads here iPhones slipping out of one's hand prior to iPhone 6/6+/6S/6S+.
You could attribute "slipping out of one's" hand more to personal clumsiness and the inability to pay attention.
I'm going to disagree with you. Whether its the size (big) or shape (rounded edges), the 6 was never easy to get a grip on. my 5s (smaller/hard edges) has never slipped out of my hands.
 
A new design with latest CPU/GPU please. The iPhone 5 is the strongest iPhone, make something that strong but with new design, tks
 
Anything better than the 5S in terms of ram would be good. I mean not that the 5S is bad, but going from my 5 to a 5S wouldn't be that much of an upgrade...
A9 would be great but really the iphone 5 (A6) to 5S (A7) is a huge jump
- its twice as fast across the board

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A9 would be great but really the iphone 5 (A6) to 5S (A7) is a huge jump
- its twice as fast across the board
I mean its an ok jump, but by next year when I'm ready to make the jump, its going from one outdated phone to a semi-less outdated phone.
 
I already have a 6s and 6s+ which I use mostly for work, but I'd also buy a 6c. I could do with a cheaper, smaller, lighter and more robust iPhone to put in my jeans without having to worry about scratching it. I like the colourful plastic shell which makes it easy to hold without having to use a case. Ideally I'd prefer a phone version of the Apple Watch but I don't think that is in the pipeline.
 
Ok, so the good news is at least this looks like a viable upgrade for people who still want a phone-sized phone. The bad news is that if it sells well, the friggin' idiots in Cupertino will just think it means that there is a market for a lesser phone than their 'flagship' models.

Apple, we ***WANT*** a flagship 4" iPhone! Is this that hard to get? Is it impossible for companies not to get stupid when they grow? Sheesh!
 
Ok, so the good news is at least this looks like a viable upgrade for people who still want a phone-sized phone. The bad news is that if it sells well, the friggin' idiots in Cupertino will just think it means that there is a market for a lesser phone than their 'flagship' models.

Apple, we ***WANT*** a flagship 4" iPhone! Is this that hard to get? Is it impossible for companies not to get stupid when they grow? Sheesh!
Amen!
 
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Will you buy the smaller phone if it costs the same as a iPhone 6S? Same internal specs, same price point but smaller screen.

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.
 
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To get it clear: is the idea (rumors) that Apple will just the chassis of the iPhone 5s and put basically the same internals + some new internals in it or will it also get a different design?
 
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