Possible 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 Rear Shell Showcased in New Video

[Iconoclysm]

With the iPad Air being the larger iPad and now this reported 'iPhone Air' being the largest iPhone ever, the 'Air' moniker may now be associated with 'large'.

Kind of weird since it initially was associated with low weight and portability. The MacBook line is also doing the opposite, with the MBA being (on average) smaller than MBPs.

Pretty sure Air refers to weight alone, as in the idiom "lighter than air". Air is quite large.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

There is no 5.5" iPhone.

There is no 4.7 iPhone either at this time.

 

[StoneJack]

I am rather interested if the larger iPhone has something else to differentiate from its standard sibling, for example more sensitivity levels as to allow use of various styluses (as for Note, for example). Use of various sensitivity levels is good for artists to draw.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Blimey Charlie, that 5.5" phone is just HUGE!
It's not far off the size of my iPad mini.

Oh brother. Here's a revamped version of the iPhone measurements laying in an iPad Mini: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2lv2phny3oiytrf/iPhone6RelSizesWiPadMini.pdf?dl=0"

"Not far off"??? I think it IS far off, but print that PDF, cut them out and see how HUGE (or not huge) they are in your own hands.

 

[daveathall]

Don't care who came up with something first, means absolutely nothing and has zero I pact on my choice in device. What matters is execution. The Note 4 is a powerhouse of a device, Samsung's best offering, IMO. But as good as the hardware is, I'll never own it because of the software--iOS is why this will be a better user experience, again, IMO.

Regarding the name, who honestly gives a &@$# what its official name is? Everyone is just going to refer to it as their iPhone, same as we say our iPad or our Mac. Jeez the things forum posters obsess over....

Excellent post.

 

[boshii]

Oh brother. Here's a revamped version of the iPhone measurements laying in an iPad Mini: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2lv2phny3oiytrf/iPhone6RelSizesWiPadMini.pdf?dl=0"

"Not far off"??? I think it IS far off, but print that PDF, cut them out and see how HUGE (or not huge) they are in your own hands.

It is far off but the 5.5" definitely looks huge on that PDF. I wanted a 5.5" until seeing that in real life.

 

[Gasu E.]

seems strange how apple loved their small screen and even made a crippled 4incher just to be able to hold it in 1 hand and then suddenly they jump from 4>5,5? i mean, isn't 5,5 kinda sorta TOO big for a phone?...

Different strokes for different folks. Some people like the comfort of the small form factor; others like the power and versatility that comes with a larger screen. How do you use your phone? As the market grows, there are more people to fill out each niche, and more uses for the product appear. That's the way it works a for a lot of multi-use products.

 

[red kiosk]

Here is it as a PDF file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7qg0wof5kbfcayc/iPhone6RelSizes.pdf?dl=0

No doubt the 5.5" looks a LOT bigger than the 5s but notice that it's not that much bigger than the 4.7" and the Android crowd are quite accustomed to 5-6" smart phone screens. So, from our perspective, it looks like a HUGE jump from 4" but our perspective is heavily skewed by what Apple deemed a perfect size in current and previous iPhones. Now even Apple appears to be moving on to sizes that it (likely) thinks will sell much better than 4". Apple is not doing that because they are stupid.

Thanks for the drawing!

I printed it out on heavy paper and then glued it to 1/4" foam core. It's really close to the 7.0mm (0.275") reported thickness of the new phones and lets me play with it a bit and slip into a few pockets. I was dead set against a 5.5", but now I'm seriously re-considering it.

 

[emm-dee]

I am 90% sure I will be getting one of the -6 iPhones. Which one will be determined by technology differences (if any) and how it fits my hand and pocket.

That being said, if Apple only brings out the smaller size first there is no way I would get it. A lot of people are going to want to see both before making the purchase decision. If released separately I don't think sales numbers will be as spectacular as they were when the -4, -5 & 5s were released. But, when the larger model is released many like myself will make the final decision and sales numbers for both will be greater than we have ever seen.

I learned many times over the years whenever you buy a boat, motorcycle, airplane or house that you later wished you had gotten a bigger one. In this case I may not want the biggest iPhone but I will just have to wait to make that decision.

 

[MacFinnley]

For me it's already impossible to reach the whole screen with my thumb, but the wirst thing is that there is NO WAY to reach the home button. It makes me feel sad when I want to switch between apps. Therefore it would be great if Apple could invent some thing like a one-finger-gesture.

 

[sigma7]

The iPhone NC (Naked Celebitries)

 

[BMcCoy]

Oh brother. Here's a revamped version of the iPhone measurements laying in an iPad Mini: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2lv2phny3oiytrf/iPhone6RelSizesWiPadMini.pdf?dl=0"

"Not far off"??? I think it IS far off, but print that PDF, cut them out and see how HUGE (or not huge) they are in your own hands.

Thanks for that.. yes, you're right.. in my hand, it looks even bigger!!

So the iPad Air (240mm tall) is 20% taller than the iPad Mini (200mm).
And the alleged 5.5" iPhone (158mm) is 21% shorter than the iPad Mini.

So yes, you're right.. it is quite reasonable to call the upcoming 5.5" iDevice the 'Ipad Nano'.

 

[Mikal86]

How about bringing back the 4" but without home button to make for less bezel and smaller overall phone.

Why not have 3 different phones to choose from?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Thanks for the drawing!

I printed it out on heavy paper and then glued it to 1/4" foam core. It's really close to the 7.0mm (0.275") reported thickness of the new phones and lets me play with it a bit and slip into a few pockets. I was dead set against a 5.5", but now I'm seriously re-considering it.

No problem. This is actually an effect- the "but then I actually saw one" effect- that I expect. Lots of nay sayers dismissing it on imagination will likely be surprised at how small- and pocketable- even a 5.5" iPhone will be. This group here is very biased to Apple's past & present claims of 4" as "perfection". "We" have years of towing the (Apple) company line calling phones bigger than 3.5" and then bigger than 4" "abominations", "stupid", "99% don't want" and so on.

Now Apple is going bigger but none of us dare call Apple "abomination", "stupid" and so on. Instead, it looks like the bulk of this crowd is ready to jump right onto the 4.7" as if "we" never said a word against anything bigger than 4". And a segment of us- myself included- are ready to jump on a 5.5". The "one handed use" and "need bigger pockets" arguments so prevalent when these iPhone 6 rumors first started to stir have mostly faded away as "we" have come to realize that it is very likely that Apple is shifting to a size bigger than 4".

 

[Toltepeceno]

Oh brother. Here's a revamped version of the iPhone measurements laying in an iPad Mini: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2lv2phny3oiytrf/iPhone6RelSizesWiPadMini.pdf?dl=0"

"Not far off"??? I think it IS far off, but print that PDF, cut them out and see how HUGE (or not huge) they are in your own hands.

It's amazing how people can compare the 5.5 phone to the mini and it's not even close. It's just exageration to try and make a point.

Here is an image from your pdf link:

 

[Gasu E.]

People complaining about "those bands" in 3, 2, 1

As of the time I write this, there has been only one quiet complaint. I'm as disappointed as you are. Someone needs to step up and fill the void, so here goes:

There's no question whatever that those obnoxious bands are utterly loathsome. My stomach turns and the bile rises to my throat at the sight of these execrable abominations. They are a vile, loathsome, repulsive, odious offense against all that is good. These cursed, confounded stripes are a new low point in design, and Jony Ives' soul will undoubtedly be damned to perpetual infernal agony for this putrid, odious, wretched crime against both aesthetics and the contents of my stomach.

OK, now when do you suppose this will ship?

 

[Toltepeceno]

Thanks for that.. yes, you're right.. in my hand, it looks even bigger!!

So the iPad Air (240mm tall) is 20% taller than the iPad Mini (200mm).
And the alleged 5.5" iPhone (158mm) is 21% shorter than the iPad Mini.

So yes, you're right.. it is quite reasonable to call the upcoming 5.5" iDevice the 'Ipad Nano'.

Right. The 5.5 is far closer in size to the 4" iphone than to the ipad mini. The ipad mini surface space can swallow all three iphones, It's just about as wide as both the 5.5 and 4.7 together.

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It is far off but the 5.5" definitely looks huge on that PDF. I wanted a 5.5" until seeing that in real life.

Look at them comparison posted of the 3 iphones and the ipad mini, puts them all into perspective.

 

[Tumbleweed666]

No problem. This is actually an effect- the "but then I actually saw one" effect- that I expect. Lots of nay sayers dismissing it on imagination will likely be surprised at how small- and pocketable- even a 5.5" iPhone will be.

You are spot on, I've just printed that out (thanks) and compared to my wife's galaxy 3 the 5.5 is only marginally bigger, and doesn't seem massive at all though I thought it would be. And the 4.7 seems too narrow!

I'm not at all convinced the 5.5 is even a phablet, and if it really will have a 2x battery capacity co,pared to the 4.7 I think that's the one I'll get. But it will need a store visit to check out for sure.

 

[red kiosk]

No problem. This is actually an effect- the "but then I actually saw one" effect- that I expect. Lots of nay sayers dismissing it on imagination will likely be surprised at how small- and pocketable- even a 5.5" iPhone will be. This group here is very biased to Apple's past & present claims of 4" as "perfection". "We" have years of towing the (Apple) company line calling phones bigger than 3.5" and then bigger than 4" "abominations", "stupid", "99% don't want" and so on.

Now Apple is going bigger but none of us dare call Apple "abomination", "stupid" and so on. Instead, it looks like the bulk of this crowd is ready to jump right onto the 4.7" as if "we" never said a word against anything bigger than 4". And a segment of us- myself included- are ready to jump on a 5.5". The "one handed use" and "need bigger pockets" arguments so prevalent when these iPhone 6 rumors first started to stir have mostly faded away as "we" have come to realize that it is very likely that Apple is shifting to a size bigger than 4".

Even with the squared off edges of the foam core when I first cut it out, the 5.5 was not that hard to maneuver around and slip in and out of pockets. Then I created a little jig with a razor blade held at an angle and cut down the top and bottom edges to mimic the rounded sides. That made quite a difference and now I'm pretty sure the 5.5" is for me.

 

[sfwalter]

It's amazing how people can compare the 5.5 phone to the mini and it's not even close. It's just exageration to try and make a point.

Here is an image from your pdf link:

Image

Thanks for the drawings. This really puts the different devices in perspective. I can't wait! I hope the 5.5. is available the same time as the 4.7

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Even with the squared off edges of the foam core when I first cut it out, the 5.5 was not that hard to maneuver around and slip in and out of pockets. Then I created a little jig with a razor blade held at an angle and cut down the top and bottom edges to mimic the rounded sides. That made quite a difference and now I'm pretty sure the 5.5" is for me.

I like your idea of laying it on something to replicate the rumored thickness too. I'm going to give that a try (though I'm already sold on the 5.5" as THE size for me).

 

[BMcCoy]

Look at them comparison posted of the 3 iphones and the ipad mini, puts them all into perspective.

Not really.. take the 4.7" out of the picture, to remove the perspective bias, and then look again.
The 5.5" then definitely looks somewhere in the middle, between the 4" and the 7.9". So could reasonable be a small ipad, as much as a large iphone.

 

[Toltepeceno]

(though I'm already sold on the 5.5" as THE size for me).

Me too.

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Not really.. take the 4.7" out of the picture, to remove the perspective bias, and then look again.

The 5.5 is STILL far closer to the 5s than to the ipad mini. Cut out the ipad mini, 5.5 and 5s and compare them without the 4.7. The width of the ipad mini is closer to the height of the 5.5. Try putting the height of the 5s into the 5.5.

Lay the 5.5 cross ways on the ipad mini and the 5s cross ways on the 5.5.

Just rough numbers the 5.5 is roughly 45% in size to the ipad mini and the 5s is roughtly 60% in size to the 5.5. The ipod nano IS about 41% of the 5s, so why not call the 5s an iphone nano?

 

[sofila]

Take a mental step past using it as a phone. Then what do you have? A much more portable, pocketable iPad that runs all the apps in the app store. A great deal of iPhone use is not using it as a phone. So here's a nice sized, fully functional, pocketable computer with a screen big enough to really enjoy "everything else" that makes iDevices so nice. Oh, and if you want to make or take a call, it can double as a phone too.

Well balanced post, as usual, but once you start using your iPhone with all or some of the other features, there you'll see the battery charge disappearing very quickly. A lot of possibilities but mined from a undersized battery (IMO). I remember a song from 1980 The River: You Can Look (but You Better Not Touch).

 

[loybond]

Many of the larger phones have better battery life than smaller phones, so it'd actually be likely (if there were a 5.5") that it would have much better battery life than the 4.7" phone.

Well balanced post, as usual, but once you start using your iPhone with all or some of the other features, there you'll see the battery charge disappearing very quickly. A lot of possibilities but mined from a undersized battery (IMO). I remember a song from 1980 The River: You Can Look (but You Better Not Touch).