Neil Hughes
Yet another report claims that Apple is planning to refresh its 4-inch iPhone model with revamped hardware next year, and with an earlier than usual timeframe.
IHS analyst Kevin Wang posted to his Weibo account to share the details, referring to the rumored handset as an "iPhone 6c." Apple currently sells a 4-inch iPhone 5s for $449, or free with a new two-year service contract.
According to Wang, Apple is apparently planning to debut its improved 4-inch iPhone in mid-2016 powered by an A9 processor. If accurate, that would be a change for the company, which has launched new iPhones in the fall in recent years.
AppleInsider's own sources indicated this month that Apple is considering an earlier-than-usual launch for the anticipated "iPhone 7" as well. The rumors would seem to suggest that Apple could debut both a next-generation iPhone model, as well as a faster 4-inch model, at the same time. Monday's report was first spotted by G for Games.
Wang's claims corroborate details shared by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also expects that Apple will launch a new 4-inch iPhone with A9 system-on-a-chip next year. Kuo expects that Apple will stick with a metal casing for the new, smaller iPhone, rather than using the plastic back it adopted for the iPhone 5c.
Kuo also suggested that Apple would withhold its force sending 3D Touch capabilities from the new model, leaving that exclusive to higher end offerings.
As for Wang, he correctly predicted earlier this year that the iPhone 6s would boast a 12-megapixel rear camera with smaller pixels. Pixel sizes on the iPhone 6 lineup were 1.5 microns, but that shrunk to 1.22 microns with the launch of the iPhone 6s.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
41 Comments
I say it all the time: Apple launching a "c" phone mid cycle would throw a wrench into competitors gears and disrupt their plans without any chances to breathe.
Wang also claimed it would launch this year and was wrong. Please tell me why we should take anything these charlatins say at face value or put any stock into their "claims"?
[quote name="cali" url="/t/190202/apple-predicted-to-launch-a9-powered-4-inch-iphone-in-mid-2016#post_2807122"]I say it all the time: Apple launching a "c" phone mid cycle would throw a wrench into competitors gears and disrupt their plans without any chances to breathe.[/quote] It should be called iPhone 7s. The "s" is for "compact".
I have held off upgrading my iPhone 5 for getting on to 3 years. Whilst there is no denying the success of the larger 6 models, from what l have read their is still far more people who have 4 Inch iPhones. There must be many who simply don't want a larger phone but will only purchase a new one if it came with improvements to the processor, camera and with Apple Pay. The 5S went some way but did not feel far enough. A 4 inch with A9 and a better camera and Touch ID sounds like a great move by Apple. I can't wait.
I tend to believe Apple will do this at some point. The 5S is getting a bit dated, they will give it either an internal spec bump with the same casing, or update both. I don't think the 4" model will ever be high-end again, though.