New A9-Based 4-Inch iPhone Expected to Launch Early 2016 With Apple Pay and Colorful Metal Casing

[shanson27]

Metal chassis, CPU A9, Ram 2gb, 16 GB, nice screen and camera quality, 200$ cheaper than the 6s and this "Iphone 6c" could be my first iPhone.

Maybe by "colorful metal" they mean they are matching iPod colors?

Edited, with phone function and Touch ID

 

[Iconoclysm]

Apple is designing the product for "budget" conscious buyers and for buyers in the developing countries. I sure the U.S. veersion will have 16GB instead of the 8GB offering and 1GB RAM! The 4" is for people who cannot afford a 4.7" and for the U.S. carriers are offering it for "zero" down as a recruiting tool for new customers! It is not for the "normal Apple buyer"!

That would be a missed opportunity, I'm sure Apple is quite aware that they have 5/5S customers who are holding out for this.

 

[macduke]

I'm starting to wonder if there will be a small press event on Apple's campus next month. They'll introduce the 4" iPhone in a few different colors that probably match some Apple Watch straps. Introduce the iPad Air 3 with Apple Pencil support, faster clocked A9 than the one found in the 6s but with more graphics cores, sitting pretty evenly between the iPhone 6s and iPad Pro in benchmarks with faster NAND/controller stuff for faster app loading like on the Pro. Maybe announce another exclusive Apple Watch strap like the Hermés series. Possibly announce the launch of their streaming TV plan for Apple TV 4 priced at $30-40/mo.

Here's how it will go down:

• Welcome. Apple is great and here are some numbers showing you we're not lying. Apple Watch is doing well.
• Transition to Apple Watch accessories. Mention the new charging pad. Talk about another exclusive band partnership or some new colors or something. Talk about how well it works with iPhone. Transition to…
  
• We believed for years that the perfect iPhone size was around 4", and we've heard that many of you still agree.
• iPhone 6c. Four inches. New A8 chip (2GB of RAM but won't say it) from Apple TV 4 and iPad Mini 4. Same back camera as iPhone 6 but upgraded 5mp front camera with display flash. No 3D Touch but faster Touch ID tech. Same LTE chip as 6s. Comes in a few colors that closely match Apple Watch sport straps, as well as some new Apple cases. Ships mid or late February.
  
• iPad Air 3. Faster A9 chip (same 2GB of RAM but won't say), 30-40% faster than the Air 2, supports Apple Pencil. Ships early to mid February.
  
• One more thing. Apple TV 4. Sales have been solid, and now there's even more reason to love the Apple TV: Apple Cast (yeah shut up, whatever they decide to call it…haha…maybe Apple TV Live? Apple Play? Apple Stream?). Streaming TV packages starting at just $29/mo. Maybe some kind of customization/discovery similar to Apple Music (but hopefully improved).
  
• The new streaming service also works on iPhone and iPad with a new iOS 9.3 update coming next week when the service goes live.
  
• That's a wrap! Cue the music.

 

[AirdanMR]

It would be very easy for Apple to add the cellular module and the A9 is much smaller then the A8 SoC!

I would like to have the same technology and capacities as the 5.5" flagship as in the rumored 4" and leave the 4.7" as the budget model! Price the 4" and 5.5" the same!

That would be another great option, but it will kill my budget, so no iphone for me =(

 

[AirdanMR]

Edited, with phone function and Touch ID

Nice! One space grey for me please

 

[Michael Scrip]

How many SKUs does apple have now? Different colored/HD/sized phones? Different spec computers? It's started to turn into how it was when Apple carried printers and stuff in the early 90s...

It's insane. Look at the iPad lineup alone. They need to slim it down.

They may have a lot of SKUs for a particular model... but it's not as bad as you're making it out to be.

A person walks into an Apple Store and gets asked the following questions:

Phone? -- "iPhone 6S"
Size? -- "64GB"
Color? -- "Space Gray"
Carrier? -- "Verizon"

Done.

Who cares if there are actually 48 different SKUs for the iPhone 6S? Apple's inventory system keeps track of that. You don't have to worry about that. You're not a robot.

All you need to do is pick your phone, your capacity, your color and your carrier.

Think of it as one phone that comes in 3 capacities, 4 colors, and 4 carriers... instead of 48 separate phones.

Apple's problems in the 90's came from having too many terrible products.

That's different than having a few products that come in different colors or whatever.

 

[kb12252004]

I position as "budget" phone and Apple has to make the same profit margin or more, so definitely going be the lowest technology that still run the iOS for the next 3 years. Camera will be the 5S and memory could start at 8GB, max 32GB!

 

[H2SO4]

Assuming it isn’t gimped, (the usual Apple MO), I’d buy that to replace my ageing 5S.

 

[kb12252004]

I think one of the more interesting points is if the "6c" will be available with 64GB or 128GB storage. Given the only options for a newly purchased 5s are 16GB andf 32GB, probably doesn't look too likely, which is unfortunate.

 

[trifid]

I would really love a full-featured 4" iPhone 7, not a slimmed-down phone for "economy/budget" market. I have a feeling a true full-featured 4" iPhone 7 would be more popular than expected since most iPhone users already know the form-factor and they've had a chance to try larger iPhones, it'd be awesome if we could see what the 'verdict' was among all sizes given equal (mostly equal) specs.

 

[turbineseaplane]

My only disappointment is that I wish it was plastic.

The iPhone 5c was my absolute favorite phone to hold in the hand because of the plastic.

Other than that… Sign me up!

I absolutely can't wait to dump the iPhone 6s as I hate the larger phones. I'm currently only using one because I love Apple Pay.

 

[b-dogg]

They may have a lot of SKUs for a particular model... but it's not as bad as you're making it out to be.

A person walks into an Apple Store and gets asked the following questions:.

True. That's if the person knows what they want. The problem I've found is people asking me what iPhone is best for them. Trying to explain the difference between 5s, 6, 6+, 6s, 6s+, the 16/64/128gb tiers... my head starts spinning and the difference between them all gets foggy.

 

[KPOM]

Interesting that we're back to rumors of an A9. Either way, it looks like an updated 4" iPhone is coming. If it has the A8, it is replacing the 5s at the low end. If it has an A9, it is probably going to be priced about the same as the iPhone 6.

 

[BruceEBonus]

Jony, we have resized the iPhone up and down. From that daft Watch idea to the monstrosity of the iPad Pro because, let's face it since 2011 we haven't had an original idea for something groundbreaking. Man ... You've gotta bring something out before they ... y'know ... rumble the fact ...

Tim .... No need to panic, mate. We had it here all the time....no more resizing needed. Colourisation IS the new resizing ... I give you .... The 6S!

Sorted!

 

[turbineseaplane]

I would really love a full-featured 4" iPhone 7, not a slimmed-down phone for "economy/budget" market. I have a feeling a true full-featured 4" iPhone 7 would be more popular than expected since most iPhone users already know the form-factor and they've had a chance to try larger iPhones, it'd be awesome if we could see what the 'verdict' was among all sizes given equal (mostly equal) specs.

I totally agree and of course people are going to say that there's no market for the 4"phone when really we don't know what the market is because they are not giving it flagship features anymore.

A completely modern spec 4 inch phone would sell a lot better than people think I would guess.

 

[rp2011]

People saying there is a strong market for a 4" iPhone: the 4" 5s is still available from Apple now.

Appreciate this rumoured phone would have updated specs, but a 4" iPhone already exists.

Why so much excitement?

..and the bigger iphones already exist, you saying no one should be exited about next years new iphones?

 

[turbineseaplane]

People saying there is a strong market for a 4" iPhone: the 4" 5s is still available from Apple now.

Appreciate this rumoured phone would have updated specs, but a 4" iPhone already exists.

Why so much excitement?

I would like a 4" model that has flagship specs (or at least close to it).

It's silly that only the "bigger screens" gets top end specs.

That's like saying "only the big screwdriver gets a nice modern handle". What if you need or prefer a small screwdriver...it'd be nice to still get the modern handle on the small screwdriver, right?

 

[sofila]

One month ago we've had a similar thread. My post over there:
A new smaller iPhone with limited specs would be the final stab in the back of some Apple lovers. I can see them bleeding.

 

[igorsky]

iPhone 6S is too big, too heavy and fat....too Samsungy

 

[macduke]

Apple is designing the product for "budget" conscious buyers and for buyers in the developing countries. I sure the U.S. veersion will have 16GB instead of the 8GB offering and 1GB RAM! The 4" is for people who cannot afford a 4.7" and for the U.S. carriers are offering it for "zero" down as a recruiting tool for new customers! It is not for the "normal Apple buyer"!

The 4" is for people who don't want a big phone but still want a nice iPhone that will last them a few years. Apple doesn't cheap out and go for budget buyers except to discount older models over time. The 5C, for instance, still cost $549. From 2007 to 2013 the 4" or smaller iPhone was the flagship model with the best specs. There's no reason Apple couldn't do that again. There isn't something inherently cheap about a 4" device. Will it probably be cheaper? I think so, but not very much. I tend to think it might be a blend in the $50-100 cheaper range. Maybe a few 6s technologies, like the faster Touch ID, or improved front camera. Apple also tends to stick with the Apple TV chips for a long time. Just look at the A5. It helps keep costs down to keep manufacturing an older chip for a while. I think the A8 will be similar. The question is how much RAM. The A8 in the iPod Touch has 1GB of RAM, but the A8 in the Apple TV and iPad Mini 4 has 2GB. So it's a toss up. From a consumer standpoint I think it's best for Apple to make all new devices with a 2GB minimum going forward. This is especially important if they want to add cool new features for newer devices in iOS 10. This is a good time to set a new baseline spec for this generation as RAM is one of the most important hardware factors that impacts software design, especially in mobile where our processors are already more than adequate. Furthermore, putting 2GB into the A8 on the new 4" iPhone would allow Apple to get more life out of that A8. They could just keep selling the same thing the next year and keeping using the A8 found in the Mini 4 and Apple TV 4 since those stay around for a while.

 

[0007776]

People saying there is a strong market for a 4" iPhone: the 4" 5s is still available from Apple now.

Appreciate this rumoured phone would have updated specs, but a 4" iPhone already exists.

Why so much excitement?

The hope is to have a 4" phone with flagship specs, that hasn't been around for about 2 years now, although if Apple doesn't do anything with it I bet some android manufacturer will.

 

[MrCrowbar]

I would like a 4" model that has flagship specs (or at least close to it).

Ditto. I do not like how the iPhone 6 feels. It's alright with a leather case but just too large for me to use one handed comfortably. When the 6 was announced, many of coworkers got it day one and I tried it out extensively. Ended up ordering a 5S and selling the 4S and couldn't be happier.

I still play around with the iPhones in the Apple store when I got some time to waste, trying to get used to it because I know this is the new normal. I'd love to eventually replace the 5S with something similar sized but upgraded. I'm surprised at how little I'm missing out by sticking to the 5S actually.

 

[HarryWild]

Reading all the comments; alot of people think that the new 4" iPhone will just have re-cycled parts from the 5S with the only new feature - A9 and a new metal colored cases. It would be great if Apple crossed up Ming for once and made an upscale flagship 4" iPhone instead of a limited low spec budget 4" iPhone!

If both the 4" and 5.5" are price the same; the Apple concern about a cheaper iPhone taking away sale from a higher price iPhone would be neutralized too! Another reason for why Apple should make a 4" iPhone with flagship specs instead of the other way around!

 

[stiligFox]

Man, I'd totally be down for one - I just need a simple phone for emergencies and something that can be used as a conduit for making calls from my iPad and Mac, but retaining Apple Pay would be the bee's knees...

 

[Michael Scrip]

True. That's if the person knows what they want. The problem I've found is people asking me what iPhone is best for them. Trying to explain the difference between 5s, 6, 6+, 6s, 6s+, the 16/64/128gb tiers... my head starts spinning and the difference between them all gets foggy.

It's still not that difficult though.

You might spend some time outlining the differences between the 3 generations of iPhones... but things like screen size, color and capacity are fairly straightforward and shouldn't need a lot of explaining.