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Sketchy Rumor Claims Apple Planning New 4-Inch iPhone for 2015

I hope there is a new 4" model and that it has all the latest internals.

I find the 4.7" model too big. While holding it with one hand so that I can move my thumb down to the Home button, I can't comfortably also touch things at the very top of the screen. The 4" was perfect in that regard. To use the 4.7", I have to move the phone around in my hand which is cumbersome. I know there is the function to "shift the screen down" by touching the home button but thats not a slick solution. The only thing that could really solve the issue is if all the Apple and third party software eventually gets redesigned to remove anything you need to click from the top area of the screen.

Really, if I want a bigger screen I'd get an iPad Mini or take out my Macbook Air. In a phone I want something that fits in my pockets and that is convenient to use.

There are more of us. A lot of people I know are not happy with their iPhone 6 size. To be clear, I know a lot of older people with failing vision who appreciate the larger screen, and a lot of women who keep their phone in their purse anyway, but amongst my techie male friends that keep their phones in their pockets and aren't short on devices with bigger screens, most are not happy with the iPhone 6. Even the smaller size is too big.
 
This is good and bad for me in a way.

If the 4" is just as premium as the 4.7" or whatever size I have now (I have the 6), I'm going to have a hard time deciding because they both have things I really like (I do still really like the smaller size and easy one handed but I admit I also like the larger screen).

But... I'd still like it cause it would still give me an option of a smaller device without going budget (and I think it would be a mistake to make it the budget phone. There's plenty of people who want small but not necessarily budget. It's going to be cheaper regardless so budget people won't notice as much if it isn't directly targetted at them but those who just want a smaller phone but still a premium phone will very much notice it's budget if they market it at the budget crowd).
 
I'd love a smaller iPhone

I bought a new iPhone 6 (4.7" screen) when I switched to T-Mobile. There are many things I like about it, but even after a month of use I still find it's just too big in my hand and in my pocket. I realize people who regularly read and write idiogrammatic languages might need the extra size, but for me the larger size is a disadvantage. When I need a bigger screen, I just use my iPad. As a male retired ex-techie, I'm hoping this rumor is true.
 
I dont know how to feel about this... on one hand it would be nice to have a smaller phone and there should be an option for people who dont like the big screens. But at the same time I think bigger screens are the way to go. Its a toss up and Apple has to think it through, ALOT!
 
3 sizes good

I know plenty of people who are buying the 5s cause the 6's are just too big for them. Three different sizes is a great idea - 4, 4.7, and 5.5 are ok.

Personally I think anything over 5" is insane (for a phone) and a fad (which will fade). It would actually be foolish to eliminate the 4" size, as many still want that size, and I dare say most people will eventually be desiring smaller sizes again at some point.

I'm going to get the 4.7" model cause I want something slightly bigger than 4", and 4.7 is as close as Apple gets. IMHO I think 4, 4.5, and 5 would be the ideal spread.
 
If this rumor is actually true, then I (and I'm sure many others) would welcome it.

I still go back and forth between my 6 and 5s. I really like the form factor and bigger screen of my 6, but I love how I can easily use my 5s with one hand. Plus, it feels much more comfortable to hold as well.

I would certainly have a decision to make if Apple is to introduce a new 4" model iPhone.
 
This makes a lot of sense. If you look the 5th generation iPod Touch and the existing iPhone 6's, the styling is very similar. The 5GiP even has a camera with a lens sticking out a bit from the back surface like the iPhone 6's.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a 6th generation iPod Touch also roll-out with this.
 
I love the iPhone but hate the iPhone 6. I don't want to stop other people from enjoying it but it's way too big for me. I have a Mac and iPad so don't want an all in one device, I just want something light and full featured. For so long smaller has always been better, now that some large screen phone products are selling well I'm supposed to forget that? I've actually bought an Android Xperia Z3 compact in protest - but it's not iOS! But the iPhone 5 is such a perfect size and weight.

If Apple release a new top spec 4 inch I will be first in line. :)
 
01silver4 said:
I do a lot of traveling and out there in the wild u can see the demand for bigger phones. Every other smartphone manufactures out there has bigger phones except for Apple. A lot of people That I talk to in regards to the iPhone, most of them say they like the iPhone but the screen is not big enough. So there u have it, and then finally here comes the 6/6+ order my SG 64gb on launch day 9/19 and got it in 10/16. My wife 64gb gold 6 got here on 10/7. Some people are still waiting on there 6+ Every hard to get still in most part of the country especailly the 64/128 GB models. It's getting a little better now though. So this is prove enough that a lot of people want the bigger display. More than the latest and greatest. And to me my 6+ is more portable than my Mac and any iPad to carry around for that matter, it fits nicely in my pocket. Anyway to each is own and hope apple do a 4" for the people that still desire this size.
Click to expand...

There is a demand for both big and small phones, I know of a few people who went with the 5S since the 6 was too big. And I don't personally know very many people who are happy with the size of the 6 or 6+, all the people that I know who like big screens already went to Android and aren't coming back.
 
chleuasme said:
It'd be great if Apple released a bit of its margins, and now that larger sizes exist, use size for price differentiations (alongside specs only larger and more expensive size will have, as OIS on the 6+ this year, or arbitrary limitations on flash storage as it do now too). And then stop to sell 2 years old (or more) iDevices as their cheapest models; it made much more sense when there was only one size, but now they likely could be moving to a different approach.

To maximize profits, made on their most expensive models, they have to be top notch, while their lower-end = smallest size could have a different schedule with delay on adoption of last techs to ensure attractivity of high-end models.
Lots of people in the market for high-end models aren't upgrading during the summer before the fall release, and sales plummet in that period.

One could imagine Apple suppressing both the 5c and 5s and replacing them with a new 4" model based on A8, with Touch ID and NFC (and Apple Pay for everyone), in june for example at the WWDC, then boosting sales in the low-end before the high-end customers run in fall '15 for the upgrade of the 4.7" and 5.5" models.
And repeat every year, in june the 4" model gets the guts of previous fall's more lucrative models.

And same with the currently messy iPad mini line, release in june an A8 model and remove the original mini and the mini 3, with only the mini 2 as the lowest-end.
Click to expand...

horrible horrible horrible idea. Why would someone that prefers a smaller phone have to have a lower quality feature set? People like me are willing to pay for top featured smaller phones
 
Yeah, it's doubtful, at this point, that it will happen, but I'd like to see it come to fruition. I have a 5s right now and 2015 is my upgrade year and I'd prefer to keep a 4" model if I could.
 
My guess is that this means that the iPhone 5s is still selling well, and Apple sees a market next year for a mid-range 4" phone.

I can see the Plus being offered only in the 6s line (and Apple discontinuing the 6 Plus), the 6 offered as the mid-range along with the new 4" model (call it it "6 mini"), and the 5s offered as the free-on-contract model.

It would expand Apple's total lineup to 5 phones. Apple ramped up the line to 3 phones under Steve Jobs, expanded it to 4 this year, and so 5 would still be a decent number without fragmenting the market too much.
 
Minxy said:
I love the iPhone but hate the iPhone 6. I don't want to stop other people from enjoying it but it's way too big for me. I have a Mac and iPad so don't want an all in one device, I just want something light and full featured. For so long smaller has always been better, now that some large screen phone products are selling well I'm supposed to forget that? I've actually bought an Android Xperia Z3 compact in protest - but it's not iOS! But the iPhone 5 is such a perfect size and weight.

If Apple release a new top spec 4 inch I will be first in line. :)
Click to expand...

Hate is a strong word, and if u hate the iPhone 6 just because of size well I am sorry to hear that. And believe me u are not going to stop other people from enjoying ther iPhone 6. So let me ask this u prefer the Z3 compact Over the iPhone 6 right? If so u lost me there because the Z3 is 4.6 vs iphone 6 4.7" display.
So about 1mm smaller than the 6. And you know the iPhone 6 is liter than the iPhone 5 and the Z3 compact right? So u hate the 6 by all means get what ever makes u happy. But don't be stress out over the size of the 6, there is 4S, 5/5S still out there. Also I have a late 2011 13" Mac book pro and IPad Air but I still bought my 64gb SG 6plus & 64gb gold 6 for my wife on launch day, I still use my Mac & iPad around the house. But my 6plus when I am out and about or traveling overseas. My I pad was mainly used on flights but since my 6 plus I haven't use my iPad much for that becaus my 6plus is more portable. No big deal though will give the iPad to my 11 year old daughter if I find my self not using it much anymore. In the end get the one u want and don't worry be happy.
 
mrkramer said:
There is a demand for both big and small phones, I know of a few people who went with the 5S since the 6 was too big. And I don't personally know very many people who are happy with the size of the 6 or 6+, all the people that I know who like big screens already went to Android and aren't coming back.
Click to expand...

Looks like there is a greater demand for the bigger display because the 6/6+ is the best selling iPhone for Apple ever. Well my wife loves her 64gb gold 6. And most of the ladies and gents around the office is loving there's. My boss went from a note3 to the 6plus and rave about how smooth and fluent it works. He said that he have always wanted to try the iPhone but the screen was to small for him, lucky for him not anymore. The 5s is a great phone, and that was the only model iPhone series that I didn't own. Really didn't see why I need to upgrade from the 4S to the 5/5S. Because I was hopeing that apple would make a bigger screen, and finaly here we are. And there is a lot of people on this forum who came over from Android when the 6/6+ was available to order 9/12 and launch day 9/19. But like I always say to each is own, get what ever makes u happy.

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justinthesommer said:
I dont know how to feel about this... on one hand it would be nice to have a smaller phone and there should be an option for people who dont like the big screens. But at the same time I think bigger screens are the way to go. Its a toss up and Apple has to think it through, ALOT!
Click to expand...

Do think that they are still thinking it through after the record breaking sales of the 6/6+? I hope so far the sake of the people who still prefer the 4" display.
 
Apple, especially Steve Jobs, spent years programming followers to believe that Apple knew what was best for them. That the Customer was incapable of thinking for themselves, a concept a very large number of devotees actually believed and repeated here on the forum.

To abandon the old size, introducing only larger phones was a bit puzzling. Especially since Apple is never wrong. Therefore it only makes sense that they would reenter the space occupied by the original tiny iPhone. I predict they'll sell millions upon millions.
 
igorsky said:
And where are all these lost customers going to go for a 4" phone if Apple doesn't make one?
Click to expand...

Stick with the 4" iPhone we already own until Apple makes iOS unbearably slow and we literally need to buy new hardware, which leaves us with a tough decision to go to Android.
 
This explains why Apple recycled the same tired style for the current iPhones. Just think of the massive savings that translate into fat profits for all iPhones in the 6 series.
 
tuna said:
I hope there is a new 4" model and that it has all the latest internals.

I find the 4.7" model too big. While holding it with one hand so that I can move my thumb down to the Home button, I can't comfortably also touch things at the very top of the screen. The 4" was perfect in that regard. To use the 4.7", I have to move the phone around in my hand which is cumbersome. I know there is the function to "shift the screen down" by touching the home button but thats not a slick solution. The only thing that could really solve the issue is if all the Apple and third party software eventually gets redesigned to remove anything you need to click from the top area of the screen.

Really, if I want a bigger screen I'd get an iPad Mini or take out my Macbook Air. In a phone I want something that fits in my pockets and that is convenient to use.

There are more of us. A lot of people I know are not happy with their iPhone 6 size. To be clear, I know a lot of older people with failing vision who appreciate the larger screen, and a lot of women who keep their phone in their purse anyway, but amongst my techie male friends that keep their phones in their pockets and aren't short on devices with bigger screens, most are not happy with the iPhone 6. Even the smaller size is too big.
Click to expand...

I don't get it though u know a lot of people who don't like there 6 .So why are they getting something they are not happy with? Just don't make sense to me. And what's your point on the older peole with lager screen display? Because My goodness I saw a lot of teenagers with the 6 and a few with the 6plus at the Apple Store on this past Saturday. And my wife was like wow mommy and daddy buying all these kids expensive phones. The thing is a lot of them had crack screens. And most of them wasn't in a case either. Before the 6/6+ the bigger screen for most people was the way to go. Apple just didnt have any until now. And look what happen when they join the the big screen market. Record sales they are people still waiting to get a 6plus 64gb/128Gb I was at T-Mobile on Monday and one of the rep told me there is still a 3-4 weeks wait for the 6+ 64/128Gb model. Also meet a few people from Brazil at the Bose store next door from the Apple Store. Who came up to ask me where did I get my case from for my 6+. Each of them had like two bag each with iPhone 6 that they where taking back for family members. This is at the Florida mall in Orlando Fl. There is a bunch of people on this forum that put there iPad mini up for sale when they got there 6+. I hope apple do something though for the peole who prefer the 4" screen.

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Kilamite said:
Stick with the 4" iPhone we already own until Apple makes iOS unbearably slow and we literally need to buy new hardware, which leaves us with a tough decision to go to Android.
Click to expand...

Good luck with going to android have fun with that. Also the smallest android phone is like 4.6" vs the 6 4.7" #
 
yaboyac29 said:
The 6 isn't much bigger.

I can't stand posters like you who won't give the phone a chance. Playing with it in store for 5 minutes doesn't count. Give yourself a week
Click to expand...
I went from a 5S to a 6 Plus, which I returned after a week and replaced with a 6 that I still have. I'm past the return window for the 6, but I actually miss the 5S.

What gets lost in the "isn't much bigger" argument is that when you're talking about devices that are only a few inches to begin with, even a half inch significantly affects the ergonomics. I've never lusted after a larger screen, especially at the expense of pocket fit and one-hand usage, but I was willing to give the 6 Plus a shot to see if it could replace my iPad. For me, the Plus experience seemed to combine the disadvantages of both devices: too cumbersome for a phone and too cramped a display for a tablet. So I went for the smaller 6.

The problem with "giving the phone a chance," which I obviously did, is that not everyone has the luxury of dropping hundreds of dollars or meddling with their current contract just to try something out for a week or two. The motivation needs to be there. I happened to have the money to test the 6 Plus, and I don't buy phones on contract, but most people need to feel more committed.
 
Gameboy70 said:
I went from a 5S to a 6 Plus, which I returned after a week and replaced with a 6 that I still have. I'm past the return window for the 6, but I actually miss the 5S.

What gets lost in the "isn't much bigger" argument is that when you're talking about devices that are only a few inches to begin with, even a half inch significantly affects the ergonomics. I've never lusted after a larger screen, especially at the expense of pocket fit and one-hand usage, but I was willing to give the 6 Plus a shot to see if it could replace my iPad. For me, the Plus experience seemed to combine the disadvantages of both devices: too cumbersome for a phone and too cramped a display for a tablet. So I went for the smaller 6.

The problem with "giving the phone a chance," which I obviously did, is that not everyone has the luxury of dropping hundreds of dollars or meddling with their current contract just to try something out for a week or two. The motivation needs to be there. I happened to have the money to test the 6 Plus, and I don't buy phones on contract, but most people need to feel more committed.
Click to expand...

Wow u think the display on the 6+ is cramped? There is a lot of people putting there iPad mini up for sale because of the 6plus. To me the the IPad would be more cumbersome than the 6+ don't find my 6+ to be cumbersome or cramped at all its fits in my pocket nicely but then again I dont whare tight fiting pants I am 6'1" 207 lbs with 8% body fat tight pants won't work for me, I love everything about my 6+. And this is me coming from the 2G,3G,3GS,4S and now the 6+. And to be honest in my opinion the previous iPhones are the ones that are cramped, but not cumbersome. They needed to expand the screen on the iPhone and I am glad they did. It's all good though 4S/5C/5S is still out there and can be pick up for a good price.
 
Four oF NINE said:
horrible horrible horrible idea. Why would someone that prefers a smaller phone have to have a lower quality feature set? People like me are willing to pay for top featured smaller phones
Click to expand...
Horrible? I'm describing here a solution where iPhone models' lifespan would be 21 mo (internals) rather than currently 36 mo (generation). And probably ensuring to maintain an ASP well over $600.
I only tried to have an approach Apple could have, just as I did few post later in a fantasized price grid.
Horrible? No. More 'Deal with it' :p You'd pay for the full features for a 4" model 9 months after the high-end.
 
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