New A9-Based 4-Inch iPhone to Replace iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

[iOSFangirl6001]

Anyone here with 6 and 6s can tell me the difference between 1GB and 2GB in the real world?

This thing could be my first iphone.

Processing power/speed/short term local memory.

Basically 2GB or 3GB of RAM is far better for graphics potential, speed ( working w/The A9 Chip ) and less issues of stuff loading or staying loaded in the background.


Stuff needing to refresh more often when you switch cause of 1GB or less is a nuscense and a helpful way to eat up your mobile data alotments ( if you're not on unlimited )

Stick with mid or higher tiers. It's totally worth it

 

[Q-Dog]

Don't worry. Your 5s will soon be unusable when iOS 10 is released.

Nope, still on ios8.

 

[samcraig]

There's nothing confusing about this model, how it fits into the product line and why it would be replacing a variety of products offered last year.

 

[iZac]

Why on earth would you want a glass back? Do you like being twice as likely to break the glass on the phone?

I clearly live life on the edge

tbh, I was just fantasising about some sort of glorious renaissance of the iPhone 4.

Although the 6 series is already probably twice as likely to shatter than the 5, since the curved glass edge means that the angle of impact is much more likely to directly hit glass, rather than the little rubber ring the 4 / 5 series used.

 

[mbh1976]

Does anybody else feel like Apple is choosing March for no reason other than to steal the spotlight from Samsung?

I'm pretty sure the entire reason Samsung chooses to release new products in March is just so they're as far out of Apple season as possible - they want their time in the spotlight and they know that if they and Apple release products at the same time, all the focus will be on Apple.

I think they are choosing March because people have been going nuts for a 4-inch phone for 1.5 years now.
[doublepost=1453737375][/doublepost]

I clearly live life on the edge

tbh, I was just fantasising about some sort of glorious renaissance of the iPhone 4.

Although the 6 series is probably twice as likely to shatter than the 5, since the curved glass edge means that the angle of impact is much more likely to directly hit glass, rather than the little rubber ring the 4 / 5 series used.

I mean, I would gladly take the 4s formfactor over a 6, but an all aluminium 5S would be preferable.

 

[heeloliver]

The iPhone 5s' design was flawless, their peak aesthetically thus far.

huh? I always hated how the screen was slightly raised above the body.

 

[Jsameds]

Don't worry. Your 5s will soon be unusable when iOS 10 is released.

No it won't. iPhone 5 is still great on iOS 9, so 5S won't become "unusable" until at least iOS 11 - and that's only if you install it.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yeah it seems pretty unlikely they would make a different version of the A9 just for this phone for maybe a year

I see there being a good reason to change the names to;
iPhone Mini
iPhone
iPhone Plus

Then add the year number. The mini could be a year behind on processor and slightly less expensive. That's how I see it working.

 

[furi0usbee]

Don't forget this is the entry iPhone, not a flagship. If you don't like it, then it's not for you. Stop whining.

Sure. What a great "entry" to an Apple product. 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. Thanks Apple? Hopefully the person who buys this likes the way it looks cause it will look better than it handles apps.

 

[lordofthereef]

Makes a lot of sense to me to just make this a smaller 6s. There will be three different sized phones with roughly equivalent specs allowing the user to decide what they want. I can see this one coming in at $50-100 below the 6s and, moving forward, there will always be three "new next gen" phones to choose from and three "precious gen" phones. Precious gens will each get $100 knocked off their msrp when the best iteration hits.

 

[1applerules1]

Sure. What a great "entry" to an Apple product. 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. Thanks Apple? Hopefully the person who buys this likes the way it looks cause it will look better than it handles apps.

I like my 16gb iPhone. And all my apps and literally thousands of pictures.

 

[djcerla]

No, the 6 and 6s are really ugly designs. Even the 4S is nicer than the 6.
[doublepost=1453736855][/doublepost]

I remember reading the very same words about the iPhone 5 design vs the 4 back in the days.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

The report claims the so-called "iPhone 5se" will likely replace the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in Apple's fall 2016 smartphone lineup,

I find that absurd and unbelievable. An iPhone 5 iteration is going to replace the current iPhone 6 slot? Logically, and especially from the description of the phone, the 5se will replace the 5s. The iPhone 6 and 6+ will be replaced by the 6s and 6s+ which will be replaced by the 7 and 7s.

There is no way in the world that the 5se is anything but a "free" and ultra low cost model. The 6 and 6s are mid-tier. Apple isn't going to replace mid-tier with utter crap. It will replace utter crap (5s) with slightly less utter crap (5se).

Question is, if Apple is going to the efforts to bring back a 4" phone, why not make a top end model too? I'm happy with the 6/6s size, but there seems to be a decent market for the 4" outside of the cheapskate market. Why punish these customers?

 

[ForkHandles]

I still own a 5S and despite having very large hands I have never needed to go bigger. I think that continuing with a 4" form factor is the right decision for the product. The iPhone mini will be very well received I think.

One thing I don't understand is the pricing. Why should an iPhone cost substantially more than an iPad mini with a Sim card slot?

Apple knows it can get away with the price model and are obligated to maximise profits, but why do we, the consumers, let them? I am on O2 (UK) and they have an app (Tugo) which effectively allows me to make and take calls, text over a 4G or wifi connection. I have been thinking for sometime about getting rid of the phone, I just need bigger pockets.

Does anyone know of a more robust reason why iPhone cost so much?

 

[raybo]

Don't forget this is the entry iPhone, not a flagship. If you don't like it, then it's not for you. Stop whining.

Planned obsolescence is ugly - they did this with the iPod Touch - 18 months later, it couldn't support the latest iOS because of 256 RAM. I'm sure Apple knew this well in advance.
If this is true, it will suck - we have enough electronic junk...it's not "whining".

 

[American Hero]

Today's report also claims the new 4-inch iPhone will have 16GB and 64GB storage models available

It's a shame people will spend their hard-earned money on mediocre phones and other devices, rather than just buying the flagship device for a little bit more money.

If a 16 GB storage option is okay in the second generation iPhone, it's not okay in the ninth generation of iPhone(s). I guess if you're someone that uses a smart phone to make phone calls and text, 16 GB is okay... But those are the same people who don't know the difference between Plexiglas and regular glass.

 

[lordofthereef]

huh? I always hated how the screen was slightly raised above the body.

It's that way now...

 

[raybo]

I find that absurd and unbelievable. An iPhone 5 iteration is going to replace the current iPhone 6 slot? Logically, and especially from the description of the phone, the 5se will replace the 5s. The iPhone 6 and 6+ will be replaced by the 6s and 6s+ which will be replaced by the 7 and 7s.

There is no way in the world that the 5se is anything but a "free" and ultra low cost model. The 6 and 6s are mid-tier. Apple isn't going to replace mid-tier with utter crap. It will replace utter crap (5s) with slightly less utter crap (5se).

Question is, if Apple is going to the efforts to bring back a 4" phone, why not make a top end model too? I'm happy with the 6/6s size, but there seems to be a decent market for the 4" outside of the cheapskate market. Why punish these customers?

The 6 and 6+ will be gone because of the 7 - not because of a new 4" phone.

 

[lordofthereef]

It's a shame people will spend their hard-earned money on mediocre phones and other devices, rather than just buying the flagship device for a little bit more money.

If a 16 GB storage option is okay in the second generation iPhone, it's not okay in the ninth generation of iPhone(s). I guess if your'e someone that uses a smart phone to make phone calls and text, 16 GB is okay... But those are the same people who don't know the difference between Plexiglas and regular glass.

16gb was actually available in the first gen as well. Lol

 

[American Hero]

16gb was actually available in the first gen as well. Lol

Indeed, you are correct sir. I just couldn't find any information on storage with the original iPhone.

 

[lordofthereef]

Indeed, you are correct sir. I just couldn't find any information on storage with the original iPhone.

Yeah it's rather crazy. What's crazier is folks defending apple on this decision. If you took anything else from the first gen iPhone and there it into a 6s people would riot (or maybe they'd find ways to justify that too lol).

 

[nicho]

Makes a lot of sense to me to just make this a smaller 6s. There will be three different sized phones with roughly equivalent specs allowing the user to decide what they want. I can see this one coming in at $50-100 below the 6s and, moving forward, there will always be three "new next gen" phones to choose from and three "precious gen" phones. Precious gens will each get $100 knocked off their msrp when the best iteration hits.

One reef to rule them all

 

[jonnyb098]

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were a pathetic upgrade from the iPhone 5s (basically same chip and camera with really minor improvements), so it makes total sense.

But there's absolutely no justification for Apple giving that phone 1GB RAM. That's just being blatantly greedy for what? 3 cent savings?

"Yeah, let's cripple the user experience because we save ourselves $0.03 in production. Margins, people! Margins!"

3 cents per phone x 50 million = 1.5 million. Now can apple afford it? Sure. And as long as Apple is a public company they have to answer to all the money hungry greed mongers of Wall Street. So until the entire US economy changes its ways (probably never) companies will continue this way. Unless in the case like General Motors happens. Saving 5 cents on the ignition switch cost a lot of lives and loads of cash. Or the case of the Flint, Michigan water crisis. City tries to save a couple million, fails, people are drinking contaminated water and now costs 20+ million to fix the huge mess its created.

Moral of the story. Corporations do whats in their best interest for shareholders until it backfires. Thats all.

 

[Jsameds]

It's amazing how people on here will condemn a product based on ONE line of the specification, before the product has even been announced let alone released, tested, reviewed and benchmarked.

People these days. Sheesh.

 

[1applerules1]

Planned obsolescence is ugly - they did this with the iPod Touch - 18 months later, it couldn't support the latest iOS because of 256 RAM. I'm sure Apple knew this well in advance.
If this is true, it will suck - we have enough electronic junk...it's not "whining".

I wonder if this is part of their secret plan to keep you coming back for newer products. As far as I know, making your dated products obsolete is a good way to keep you coming back for more, and it's working.