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As an iPad replacement, yes.
I wasn't one of them.
I carry an iPhone in my pocket and don't need to shoehorn a larger device there. When I need a larger screen I grab the 10" iPad that's either in my bag or on my couch.
You're not the only one who felt that need, which I don't share.
I've stayed with the 6 because the 128GB option. If there were a 5S with 128GB, I'd switch back in a heartbeat.

I commend u and others that say they would go back to 4S/5S if it had this or that spec. But for me I am just going to keep it real because that's the only way I know to be. I just sold my 4S after having my 64GB 6+ SG since 10/16. I try to use my 4/S just to see if I could After being on my 6+ For sometime now, and I just couldn't do it, felt like I was using a play toy or something. I was at the Apple store on Monday one of the employee who I know for quite sometime now took is 5/S out of is pocket and laid it on my 6+ and said he can't wait to get is which he should have by now, because he would be eligible for an upgrade on Thursday. And even the 5S look like a toy comparing to my 6+. Maybe I could go back if I really tried but it would be really hard. And I couldn't do it in a heart beat like some of the people are saying on here. For example i drove a 2000 Jetta vr6 for years, now I have 2011 Audi S4 night and day between the two cars. Could I go back to the Jetta? I probably could but boy it would be really!!!!! Hard. And I wouldn't be able to do it in a heart beat. And that's just keeping it real for me, kudos to all of u that can switch back from the 6/6+ to 4S/5S in a heart beat.
 
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I commend u and others that say they would go back to 4S/5S if it had this or that spec. But for me I am just going to keep it real because that's the only way I know to be.
I keep it real by accepting compromise. The 6 is a little unwieldy compared to the 5S, but it can sync my entire iTunes collection. Similarly, I don't like the UI of Yosemite compared to Mavericks, but I've stuck with it for the Handoff and Continuity features. I don't expect Apple to ever release a product that has exactly the specs I want, so I have to choose the product with the specs that matter most.
I just sold my 4S after having my 64GB 6+ SG since 10/16. I try to use my 4/S just to see if I could After being on my 6+ For sometime now, and I just couldn't do it, felt like I was using a play toy or something. I was at the Apple store on Monday one of the employee who I know for quite sometime now took is 5/S out of is pocket and laid it on my 6+ and said he can't wait to get is which he should have by now, because he would be eligible for an upgrade on Thursday. And even the 5S look like a toy comparing to my 6+. Maybe I could go back if I really tried but it would be really hard.
No reason to go back to something that feels like a toy to you. By the same token, if Apple releases a 4" iPhone with 128GB, I'd have no reason to stick with a phone that feels like a brick.
And I couldn't do it in a heart beat like some of the people are saying on here. For example i drove a 2000 Jetta vr6 for years, now I have 2011 Audi S4 night and day between the two cars. Could I go back to the Jetta? I probably could but boy it would be really!!!!! Hard. And I wouldn't be able to do it in a heart beat. And that's just keeping it real for me, kudos to all of u that can switch back from the 6/6+ to 4S/5S in a heart beat.
We all have different hands, different clothes, and different use cases that drive us to different size preferences. In my case, I don't spend much time browsing on the iPhone beyond quick look-ups, I don't play games, and I rarely look at videos, so most of the highly touted advantages of phablets don't apply to me.
 
Very cool if true. Three sizes seems to be the sweet spot for any line, whether it be tablets, phones, laptops, or displays. One mini, one humongous, and one mainstream.

I've talked to a lot of people who prefer a 3.5" - 4" iPhone. I enjoy my 6+ but still find myself wishing I still had my 4S in certain situations. Sometimes you just want a device that's durable and tiny.
 
I don't have to adapt to anything. As an educated consumer of a luxury device, I have the right to pick and choose and select the device that best suits me. If you truly believe that you have to go out and settle for less just because it's what is available, then you have a lot of maturing to do.

Ok and therefore you can pick and choose what's available, and that is the 6/6+ or 5S.

You have a lot of maturing to do if you think that apples going to release a device that is not in demand.

The only reason the 4" devices did great was because that's all that was available. If Apple relewses a 4" device next year i can bet that the 4.7/5.5 will do better.

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The difference between the 4" iPhone and 4.7" iPhone is pretty much the same as the difference between the 4.7" and 5.5". The different is not minuscule.

I don't care if people with small hands want a big phone. Good for them! There's people who don't want that, so good for them too.

You'd be quite the dictator since you're very against choice!

4" phones serve no purpose anymore.

Go buy an android if u want choice
 
Very cool if true. Three sizes seems to be the sweet spot for any line, whether it be tablets, phones, laptops, or displays. One mini, one humongous, and one mainstream.

I've talked to a lot of people who prefer a 3.5" - 4" iPhone. I enjoy my 6+ but still find myself wishing I still had my 4S in certain situations. Sometimes you just want a device that's durable and tiny.

We just need a transforming phone. I like the large and 4s size.

Ok and therefore you can pick and choose what's available, and that is the 6/6+ or 5S.

You have a lot of maturing to do if you think that apples going to release a device that is not in demand.

The only reason the 4" devices did great was because that's all that was available. If Apple relewses a 4" device next year i can bet that the 4.7/5.5 will do better.

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4" phones serve no purpose anymore.

Go buy an android if u want choice

Don't some want the 5S with 6 specs not an olderror phone. Kind of like wanting a retina MacBook with an optical drive not an older model without. Not much choice.
 
What really baffles me is that BEFORE the iphone 6/6+ all the fanboys were bashing android phones for being so big. But now that the fanboys have a big phone, they suddenly like it now? Give me a break.

It would be a good thing for apple to give back the 4 inch iphone.

Let's just get this straight here, the iphone 6/6+ is for iphone users who really want an android and android users who always wanted an iphone but only if it came in a bigger size.
 
What really baffles me is that BEFORE the iphone 6/6+ all the fanboys were bashing android phones for being so big. But now that the fanboys have a big phone, they suddenly like it now? Give me a break.

It would be a good thing for apple to give back the 4 inch iphone.

Let's just get this straight here, the iphone 6/6+ is for iphone users who really want an android and android users who always wanted an iphone but only if it came in a bigger size.

I suppose I fall into the latter category but I did use larger screened android phones. My dad is one of those who mocked me when I got my original Galaxy note. He said it was ridiculous and that he would never get a phone that big and that it wouldn't fit in his pocket. Fast forward to 3 years later and he's ordered his 6 plus. When I reminded him of the things he said, he started back tracking and talking about his nexus 7 which is bigger than the iPhone 6 plus and saying that he carries that around comfortably with him lol
 
What really baffles me is that BEFORE the iphone 6/6+ all the fanboys were bashing android phones for being so big. But now that the fanboys have a big phone, they suddenly like it now? Give me a break.

It would be a good thing for apple to give back the 4 inch iphone.

Let's just get this straight here, the iphone 6/6+ is for iphone users who really want an android and android users who always wanted an iphone but only if it came in a bigger size.

Yes except I didn't want android. I was one who use to bash the big phone, but u know the saying don't ever say never. And don't knock something until u try it. One of the trainer at the gym where I work out at. I use to make fun of is note3 all the time. Those where his words to me don't knock something until u try it. Well what do u know we are both rocking the 6+ now. I took back everything I said about having a big phone. I am loving my 6+, and u got admit the 6+ is the best looking Fablet by far out there.

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What really baffles me is that BEFORE the iphone 6/6+ all the fanboys were bashing android phones for being so big. But now that the fanboys have a big phone, they suddenly like it now? Give me a break.

It would be a good thing for apple to give back the 4 inch iphone.

Let's just get this straight here, the iphone 6/6+ is for iphone users who really want an android and android users who always wanted an iphone but only if it came in a bigger size.

Yes except I didn't want android. I was one who use to bash the big phone, but u know the saying don't ever say never. And don't knock something until u try it. One of the trainer at the gym where I work out at. I use to make fun of is note3 all the time. Those where his words to me don't knock something until u try it. Well what do u know we are both rocking the 6+ now. I took back everything I said about having a big phone. I am loving my 6+, and u got admit the 6+ is the best looking Fablet by far out there.
 
Ok and therefore you can pick and choose what's available, and that is the 6/6+ or 5S.

You have a lot of maturing to do if you think that apples going to release a device that is not in demand.

The only reason the 4" devices did great was because that's all that was available. If Apple relewses a 4" device next year i can bet that the 4.7/5.5 will do better.

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4" phones serve no purpose anymore.

Go buy an android if u want choice

That's not really true. Quite a lot of iPhones sold this quarter were the 5s, which means that many people still prefer a smaller iPhone (or at least, don't want a larger iPhone).

In this sense, Steve Jobs wasn't entirely wrong. Sure, many consumers wanted a larger iPhone, but they don't seem to form a significant part of the iPhone consumer base.

And the irony of your statement is that there isn't a 4" high-end Android phone. Those that do exist tend to be more budget models sporting average specs at best.
 
I would like there to be some truth in these rumours, but I'm skeptical.

A lot of the comments made in this thread so far have been bang on while others have been borderline ridiculous.

One comment I read that I agreed with was that for months, hell years on end, the "fanboys" told us that bigger screens were ridiculous but now Apple has one they're calling the 4" 5s a "toy". Sheer hypocrisy.

To those who say "If you want choice go to Android", have you looked at the iPad line up now? Even the iPhone line up is riddled with various models and SKU's.

Choice is a good thing. If people prefer a smaller screen, great. If people prefer a larger screen, fantastic.

At the end of the day it's not rocket science to acknowledge that Apple have gone "big" on iPhone because they have felt the heat from Samsung and people who only go for Android because they want a big screen. However in doing this and focusing on one area of the demographic they've also left behind a lot of people who have used iPhone since day one, the core demographic who make up the iPhone customer base.

I know three people personally who went from a 4s or 5 to the 5s with their recent upgrade because they don't want a giant phone. A 4" version of the iPhone 6 would be a welcome addition to the line up. The people who talk it down are the ones who own and like bigger screens, but why the hostility? The 4" model doesn't impact you, so why get angry toward something that doesn't affect you but makes other users happy?

If the 4" model doesn't happen then I'll be forced to take a 4.7" 6s next year and get used to it. Fine, that's what I'll do. However I'd prefer a 4" iPhone 6 model so I can retain the comfortable one handed use I've become accustomed to over the last 6 years.
 
That's not really true. Quite a lot of iPhones sold this quarter were the 5s, which means that many people still prefer a smaller iPhone (or at least, don't want a larger iPhone).

In this sense, Steve Jobs wasn't entirely wrong. Sure, many consumers wanted a larger iPhone, but they don't seem to form a significant part of the iPhone consumer base.

And the irony of your statement is that there isn't a 4" high-end Android phone. Those that do exist tend to be more budget models sporting average specs at best.
I think the 5S sales can be attributed to people wanting a smaller screen but also people taking advantage of the the cheaper price. You can now get the 5S free on contract with a low price tariff. Some people want an iPhone but they don't need the latest model. These are the same people that bought a 5C last year over the 5S. Also the iphone 6 was the top selling iPhone this quarter so I'd say a significant portion of iPhone users do want a larger screen. The plus will always be a nieche product, but still quite popular as it was the best selling phablet in the US last quarter.
 
I really don't see why they wouldn't. The 4" size did well for it's time. Anecdotally, I know many people that are still on their 4/4S because the current phones are too big.

There is still a market as long as Apple doesn't handicap it in some way.
Apple just needs to take the iPhone 6 and put it in the iPhone 5s form factor and call it "iPhone 6s". It will use the A8 processor, which is much better than the A7, and the iPhone 7 models will use the A9 processor. Better yet, have all models use the A9 processor and call the models iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7s.
 
I think Apple hit the bigger sizes at the right time. I still prefer the size of the iPhone 5 over the 6 but software being designed right now is taking advantage of the bigger sizes. If you have used both and look it from the perspective of user experience (not what feels better in your hand) then you can see that the user experience is far better on the bigger devices.
 
I think the 5S sales can be attributed to people wanting a smaller screen but also people taking advantage of the the cheaper price. You can now get the 5S free on contract with a low price tariff. Some people want an iPhone but they don't need the latest model. These are the same people that bought a 5C last year over the 5S. Also the iphone 6 was the top selling iPhone this quarter so I'd say a significant portion of iPhone users do want a larger screen. The plus will always be a nieche product, but still quite popular as it was the best selling phablet in the US last quarter.

Another aspect is the performance. There isn't the huge gains over the outgoing model that previous generation leaps have seen. The Geekbench scores, while "only benchmarks", are still a fantastic indicator and the 6/6 Plus have extremely low gaps in both single and multi core numbers compared to the 5s (roughly 300 points each).

When looking at the 4s to 5 and 5 to 5s scores, it was almost double in both regards. And when you see the A8X chip in the iPad Air 2 with that extra CPU core and 2GB of RAM it hints at what could well be coming in the A9 chip we'll see in the 6s and 6s Plus.

The 5s runs iOS 8 equally as fast and smooth as the 6 and 6 Plus do and aside from Apple Pay (which for now is useless in the UK) it runs every feature of the new OS.
 
Another aspect is the performance. There isn't the huge gains over the outgoing model that previous generation leaps have seen. The Geekbench scores, while "only benchmarks", are still a fantastic indicator and the 6/6 Plus have extremely low gaps in both single and multi core numbers compared to the 5s (roughly 300 points each).

When looking at the 4s to 5 and 5 to 5s scores, it was almost double in both regards. And when you see the A8X chip in the iPad Air 2 with that extra CPU core and 2GB of RAM it hints at what could well be coming in the A9 chip we'll see in the 6s and 6s Plus.

The 5s runs iOS 8 equally as fast and smooth as the 6 and 6 Plus do and aside from Apple Pay (which for now is useless in the UK) it runs every feature of the new OS.

All of this is true but I think the average consumer doesn't pay attention to this or really know this. They can be swayed by added features or changes in design. I think the fact that older hardware still runs so well is a testament to the quality of Apple's devices. I didn't update my iPad air this year because it still runs perfectly fine. I wouldn't get the 5S because its too small for me but otherwise it's a fine phone and one that I'd be happy to buy if it were bigger.
 
Oh, yes!
A proper phone again.

The phablets were the only time I didn't upgrade my iphone. It'll be nice to get some upgraded /premium internals without having to compromise on a vulgar / cheap size.
Pretty sure they won't do anything "sexist" like pink or sparkly models, so that aimed quote is probably a mistranslation for refined / discerning etc.
 
Targeted at women?

Women are the ones getting bigger phones, they at least have a bag to carry them in. Guys use pockets hence need smaller phones. Unless compensating for something....
 
I was just searching for a 3.5 inch modern smartphone to see if anything out there. Not much of anythingredients with new tech, good camera etc. I would kind of like an updated 4S. I'm thinking small phone then tablet. Really just need it for quick tasks, texting, calls, social stuff. 3.5, 4.7 and 5.5 would be great. Not that they would go back down to 3.5.

Targeted at women?

Women are the ones getting bigger phones, they at least have a bag to carry them in. Guys use pockets hence need smaller phones. Unless compensating for something....

Cargo pants is the only reason it worked well.
 
I'm short and have small hands and I can use my 6 Plus fine one-handed with Reachability. Going back down to 4" would be a step backwards.
It's not only one-hand use mind you, 6 and 6+ are just too big to carry around..it's not that we are wearing tight jeans all the time or have small pockets, we just don't want a big phone.
 
Holding on to my 5S...

I held on to my 5S after I tried the new 6. (I didn't even pick the 6S up since I already own an iPad...)

An updated 4" phone would be enough to get me to upgrade but I have no interest in a phone that doesn't easily fit in my pocket.

Sadly, at 14 months old, my 5S is showing it's age and I'm working out where I go from here. The guts in newer Android phones make the 5S feel slow and clunky. If I switched it would be the first non-Apple smartphone I've ever owned but I'm confident I'm not getting a contract on an outdated 5S and there's no way in hades I'd pay $600 for unlocked two-year-old technology.
 
If it can trust my Linux computers and doesn't lowball on spec's I'd buy one
 
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