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Munster: 4" iPhone doesn't make sense for rumored Apple event in March

Despite rumors that Apple plans to hold a mid-March event to introduce several new products, it may not make sense to include a 4-inch iPhone among them, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

Were Apple to launch a phone in the spring, it would quickly look outdated following the iPhone 7's expected September launch, Munster wrote in an investor memo obtained by AppleInsider. He also remarked that having two iPhone events per year would detract from the releases of other products.

The analyst suggested that Apple will instead concentrate on a second-generation Apple Watch and a third-generation iPad Air for its March event. The former will probably be an "S" version, he said, with a similar design but upgraded components like a better battery and new band styles.

The "iPad Air 3" will probably include a redesigned body, Force Touch, and better internal components, Munster said. it might also offer a Smart Connector akin to the iPad Pro.

Munster's claims are at odds with recent reports indicating that Apple is not only preparing to launch a new 4-inch phone — alternately referred to as the "iPhone 5se" or "iPhone 6c" — but that the device is already in production. The device might share similarities with the iPhone 5s, but upgrade to an A8 or A9 processor, as well as support for features like Apple Pay.

Likewise, rumors have hinted that the Watch itself will be unchanged, but simply pick up new bands and a watchOS update. The new iPad Air might indeed have a Smart Connector and a rear camera flash, among other improvements, but generally Apple isn't expected to add 3D Touch to iPads until sometime after this fall's iPhone refresh.



68 Comments

canukstorm 12 Years · 2765 comments

There are two reports saying there will be a March 15th event debuting a new 4" iPhone:

http://9to5mac.com/2016/02/02/march-15-event-4-inch-phone-new-ipad-apple-watch/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnpaczkowski/apple-to-debut-new-ipad-smaller-iphone-at-march-15-event#.mhpDzzXMQD

And both Gurman & Paczkowski have great sources.

1 Like · 0 Dislikes
sflocal 17 Years · 6150 comments

Does Munster ever make sense?

3 Likes · 0 Dislikes
Mr_Grey 9 Years · 118 comments

1) No one but AppleInsider really, actually thinks it will be called "iPhone 6c" despite plugging it in every single article on this site. 

2) How many times do we have to look at that ridiculous render (also placed on every story of this type) of the Android-esque iPhone that will literally NEVER happen. 

msantti 23 Years · 1362 comments

Aple needs to knock something out of the park this year.

New 4" iPhone, and iPad Air 3, and watch bands ain't it.

3 Likes · 0 Dislikes
SpamSandwich 20 Years · 32917 comments

Oh, Gene...

How did that TV prediction work out? Yeah, thought so...

2 Likes · 0 Dislikes