I wish they'd just tell us if they're gonna do it or not. I don't want to stick with an iPhone any longer if they're not bringing out a new 4 inch phone, as the longer I root myself into the iPhone, the harder it will be to leave. Essentially I just want to know if I need to move platforms or not, sooner rather than later.
That's a fair point, especially in the context of how much they are screwing up on OS X. If you're more of a 'pro' in how you use a computer, Apple seems to be saying... 'thanks folks, but time to move on.' And, I suppose that's the downside of this whole Apple eco-system they've so benefited from. If I'm leaving with one device, there's less reason to stay Apple for the others.
I'm certainly not THERE yet! The grass isn't greener, despite all of Apple's more recent failures (they really were that far ahead!). But, I'm certainly starting to look and consider.
As I said in my post before, each new size introduces a lot of cost and overhead. Depending on the market potential for a 4" phone, it might even result in a loss for the company and at the end of the day in deteriorating the user experience for all users (see Android as comparison, where most variants are poorly supported after 6 months already).
Apple is usually pretty good in knowing the market and recognizing where there are niches to fill and where not. So far they seemingly did not see a reason to serve the users asking for a new premium 4" device - perhaps because their number is too small to be served from Apple's perspective.
Now, going for a lower price segment to get more user into the ecosystem is a completely different story. Might be worth it eventually due to sheer numbers - and the vocal group asking for a 4" premium device may be partially enticed as well.
Apple is getting more complex in their product line, but I'm not sure this is the place to trim it. It's a place where the sizes really matter. Maybe ditch the 4.7"? People who want a phone might gravitate towards the 4" and people who want a phablet the 5.5"? (5.5" is certainly better as a sole computing device than a 4.7")
If I were to start trimming... I'd trim options within each category. Why have 3 storage sizes? Trim it to one or two. (Because they like to up-sell... it's a marketing decision, not a product design one.)
Why so many iPads? They need the mini, a normal, and maybe the Pro. I suppose the WiFi and cellular makes sense, but simplify that line a lot.
Why have so many laptop variations? You need a 'pro'... probably 15" and then either decide on MB Air or MB for 1 or 2 smaller sizes. They already only have 2 iMacs, though with some variety there... but that and Pro is a more build-to-order kind of thing anyway.
The reason I don't think they got the 4" right, is that they never tested it. They went right to only bigger screens... saw a nice sales growth curve, and that's probably that. I get the impression there are a lot of people who want a 4". In fact, I'd wonder which would sell more, the 4" or 4.7". But, if they don't release equal devices, we'll never know.
And, yes, they might want/need a lower end phone. But, that's not the folks here complaining about lack of a 4" iPhone. The general sentiment seems to be we want a full-featured one, even if it costs the same (or more?).
Your text reads as if the majority of users would be using their smartphones purely as phones. I beg to differ in opinion that those are actually that "many" users. Why should one pay much money for a smartphone if he only intends to use it purely as phone?
Also, iPad, laptop and especially desktop are not always an alternative when on the move (e.g. commuting or just out), as they are - in comparison - too big and cumbersome or not portable at all.
Another factor is demography. Apple products are traditionally more on the expensive side. Thus the average user is older than on more inexpensive platforms. And growing older comes with increasing limitations in e.g. eyesight or finger coordination. Not really limiting everyday life similar to what the aged experience, but enough to make a difference between - say - a 4" and a 4.7" (or even 5.5") device.
Not purely as phones, but as a smart PHONE. We already have tablets or laptops, so we don't need the phone to do all of that as a primary device. But, we want access to the DATA when we need it. And, I think there are actually quite a few of us. How many business professionals in industrialized countries don't also have a laptop or desktop? Heck, even home users.
And, if indeed, so many are using them as their only devices... why aren't the 5.5" sales higher? IMO, it's because that's too big for most and they want a smaller phone... but 4.7" is the smallest they can go, so we don't know how many of THAT crowd would go for the 4".
And, no, maybe the laptop isn't a good option when on the move, but I'm also not in a big rush to design a super-spreadsheet at that point either. If I'm standing on a bus, what am I doing with a 4.7" screen that I can't do on a 4" screen?
I'm one of those older people now, I guess. My eyesight isn't what it used to be. But, when I'm mobile, I can hold it as close as I like and have an easier time on a screen where I can operate it with one hand on the bar of the bus rather than needing one hand to hold, and the other to touch.
It's not that I'm into smaller displays... I'm into phone-sized-phones.
