“Smartphone sales in the increasingly saturated U.S. market may have slowed, but if the results of a new survey are any indication, the larger-screen iPhone that Apple is supposedly set to release later this year could be a big hit — at least among the early-adopter types,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune. “”
“In a March survey of 4,109 ChangeWave members, 26% of those planning to buy a smartphone in the next three months said they were ‘somewhat likely’ and 14% ‘very likely’ to buy what was described to them as a next-generation iPhone 6 with ‘a larger screen size, gesture control, a faster processor, an updated iOS operating system’ and a starting price of $199 (with 2-year contract),” P.E.D. reports. “‘This is the highest level of demand for an unannounced Apple model in a ChangeWave survey – stronger than we’ve seen in previous years for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 models prior to their announcements,’ said Andy Golub of 451 Research. ‘Speculation over a larger screen iPhone is clearly striking a chord with consumers.'”
So 50% of iPhone users would want a 4.5 to 5 inch iPhone. Count me amongst one of them. Mostly, because I use my phone as a GPS. The current iPhone is a bit to hard to read when using it as a GPS. Unless I figure out a good way to mount my iPad Air in my Jeep, a larger screen iPhone would be most welcome. Hopefully CarPlay with a large built in display will make this a moot point. Than, the 4″ iPhone would be more than adequate for my needs.
What hint does not understand is, the 4.7″ is almost about the same size of 5s
That might be, but I’m actually hoping to see an iPhone that’s also wider this time. A taller screen with a couple millimeters more width means screen edge-to-edge column text on some non-mobile webpages is just barely larger than it is now… and if you rotate to landscape, then the same text might be too big and you’d see fewer lines than we do now.
Then you have to change for shirt with a bigger pocket !
I keep my iPhone in my front pants pocket. An extra half-inch’s width won’t burst the pockets of any guy.
I’m fine with the current display size, but I’d happily buy an iPhone as thick as the original model if it gave me a week of battery life.
The headline doesn’t depict what the survey says. The 26% that brings the numbers up the most is referring to people who are “somewhat likely”, and while that’s the highest in years, the “most likely” number is 14%, which is actually lower than that for the 5, which was 15%. So while the numbers look good, we need to have caution when interpreting them.
Apple will sell a ton of bigger screen iPhones. Price will be $299 and they’ll have an updated 4″ model for those who want that too. Samsung and android will lose market share. This will be the biggest upgrade cycle for iPhone ever. Simple as that.
1- Cleaning up the effed up UI is more important than chaining the hardware at this point.
2- The skinny phone thing is way past being an advantage. As was posted above- longer battery life would be nice.
3- A slightly larger phone would be nice, but I place it far below fixing the cringe worthy skinny font and flat train wreck that is iOS 7. I can tolerate it with all the tricks applied on an iPad, but it kills my eyes on an iPhone. Not everyone is 25 years old.
Inaccurate headline. 40% of early adopters did NOT say they would buy a bigger iPhone: they said they would buy a new iPhone 6 described with various features …including a larger screen. To know how many early adopters would buy a new iPhone 6 owing to its bigger screen alone, we must deduct those early adopters who would buy the new iPhone 6 regardless of screen size.
4.7″ isn’t big enough for me to say I would definitely buy the iPhone. Based on how I use my phone, 5.5″ would be a no brainer for me. However, with all the rumors of issues with this particular size, I grow leery that it will be released with the rumored 4.7″ phone. Actually, the rumor of the 5.5″ iPhone would be the biggest reason for me reason to not run out to buy a 4.7″ iPhone. I hope this isn’t the case.
With all that said, with the iPhone at a legitimate larger size, 4.7″, I anticipate it to be the biggest selling iPhone, by a wide margin. Not that, that is going out on a limb, but it is what I believe. And 4″ will be nothing more than a memory as those users will easily acclimate themselves to the larger screen and begin to wonder, how did I ever deal with 4″.
I’m an original iPhone purchaser, and as a result have signed two year contracts since that original purchase. That means, I’ve never been in a position to buy a new iPhone until that contract expires. So, all this talk about extra interest in this year’s iPhones is a bit off base. I’ll be upgrading whatever Apple releases, and I suspect that’s true of many iPhone owners with an expiring contract.
That said, I’m getting older, my eyes are weaker, and a slightly larger screen that will fit in my pocket and hand will be welcome.
If I recall, barely 20% of smartphone sales are for these larger phones, so Apple’s doom without one is a bit silly. I do agree, however, that the maturity of the iPhone base means it’s time to broaden the product mix to satisfy these niche interests.
‘Speculation over a larger screen iPhone is clearly striking a chord with consumers.’
NO. Go back to your data and START AGAIN.
Source data: …what was described to them as a next-generation iPhone 6 with ‘a larger screen size, gesture control, a faster processor, an updated iOS operating system’ and a starting price of $199 (with 2-year contract)
Were those surveyed ONLY asked about their interest in a ‘larger screen size’? NO.
Now go do your survey again with JUST the single question about ‘larger screen size’. We’ll wait for you…
From a review: “The 5.1-inch screen is too big to operate with the hand that’s holding it, unless your thumb can stretch like Mrs. Incredible’s. But Samsung has a clever, if weird, fix for this: Among the Galaxy’s 732,852 features is one called “One-Handed Operation,” whose function is to shrink the screen so that you can reach all of it with your thumb. It leaves empty black areas around the shrunken image. Clever!”
Or “desperate” might be a better word. Let’s see how Apple enables a big screen, the Samsung can ‘innovate’ again.
And how big is the “early-adopter” share of the market in the first place? 😉
I’m ready for the larger iPhone.
So 50% of iPhone users would want a 4.5 to 5 inch iPhone. Count me amongst one of them. Mostly, because I use my phone as a GPS. The current iPhone is a bit to hard to read when using it as a GPS. Unless I figure out a good way to mount my iPad Air in my Jeep, a larger screen iPhone would be most welcome. Hopefully CarPlay with a large built in display will make this a moot point. Than, the 4″ iPhone would be more than adequate for my needs.
Count me among the majority that don’t want a larger screen!
My iPhone should A) fit in my pocket and B) be easily usable with ONE hand. 4″ of iPhone 5/5s allows for both perfectly.
You *aren’t* the majority, according to the MDN poll. The majority want a 4.5″ screen or higher.
“hint” must be a politician, lol.
What hint does not understand is, the 4.7″ is almost about the same size of 5s
That might be, but I’m actually hoping to see an iPhone that’s also wider this time. A taller screen with a couple millimeters more width means screen edge-to-edge column text on some non-mobile webpages is just barely larger than it is now… and if you rotate to landscape, then the same text might be too big and you’d see fewer lines than we do now.
Then you have to change for shirt with a bigger pocket !
I keep my iPhone in my front pants pocket. An extra half-inch’s width won’t burst the pockets of any guy.
I’m fine with the current display size, but I’d happily buy an iPhone as thick as the original model if it gave me a week of battery life.
-jcr
The headline doesn’t depict what the survey says. The 26% that brings the numbers up the most is referring to people who are “somewhat likely”, and while that’s the highest in years, the “most likely” number is 14%, which is actually lower than that for the 5, which was 15%. So while the numbers look good, we need to have caution when interpreting them.
Apple will sell a ton of bigger screen iPhones. Price will be $299 and they’ll have an updated 4″ model for those who want that too. Samsung and android will lose market share. This will be the biggest upgrade cycle for iPhone ever. Simple as that.
1- Cleaning up the effed up UI is more important than chaining the hardware at this point.
2- The skinny phone thing is way past being an advantage. As was posted above- longer battery life would be nice.
3- A slightly larger phone would be nice, but I place it far below fixing the cringe worthy skinny font and flat train wreck that is iOS 7. I can tolerate it with all the tricks applied on an iPad, but it kills my eyes on an iPhone. Not everyone is 25 years old.
Inaccurate headline. 40% of early adopters did NOT say they would buy a bigger iPhone: they said they would buy a new iPhone 6 described with various features …including a larger screen. To know how many early adopters would buy a new iPhone 6 owing to its bigger screen alone, we must deduct those early adopters who would buy the new iPhone 6 regardless of screen size.
4.7″ isn’t big enough for me to say I would definitely buy the iPhone. Based on how I use my phone, 5.5″ would be a no brainer for me. However, with all the rumors of issues with this particular size, I grow leery that it will be released with the rumored 4.7″ phone. Actually, the rumor of the 5.5″ iPhone would be the biggest reason for me reason to not run out to buy a 4.7″ iPhone. I hope this isn’t the case.
With all that said, with the iPhone at a legitimate larger size, 4.7″, I anticipate it to be the biggest selling iPhone, by a wide margin. Not that, that is going out on a limb, but it is what I believe. And 4″ will be nothing more than a memory as those users will easily acclimate themselves to the larger screen and begin to wonder, how did I ever deal with 4″.
(That’s what she said…)
I’m an original iPhone purchaser, and as a result have signed two year contracts since that original purchase. That means, I’ve never been in a position to buy a new iPhone until that contract expires. So, all this talk about extra interest in this year’s iPhones is a bit off base. I’ll be upgrading whatever Apple releases, and I suspect that’s true of many iPhone owners with an expiring contract.
That said, I’m getting older, my eyes are weaker, and a slightly larger screen that will fit in my pocket and hand will be welcome.
If I recall, barely 20% of smartphone sales are for these larger phones, so Apple’s doom without one is a bit silly. I do agree, however, that the maturity of the iPhone base means it’s time to broaden the product mix to satisfy these niche interests.
Bad statistical analysis at work. Yawn.
‘Speculation over a larger screen iPhone is clearly striking a chord with consumers.’
NO. Go back to your data and START AGAIN.
Source data:
…what was described to them as a next-generation iPhone 6 with ‘a larger screen size, gesture control, a faster processor, an updated iOS operating system’ and a starting price of $199 (with 2-year contract)
Were those surveyed ONLY asked about their interest in a ‘larger screen size’? NO.
Now go do your survey again with JUST the single question about ‘larger screen size’. We’ll wait for you…
From a review: “The 5.1-inch screen is too big to operate with the hand that’s holding it, unless your thumb can stretch like Mrs. Incredible’s. But Samsung has a clever, if weird, fix for this: Among the Galaxy’s 732,852 features is one called “One-Handed Operation,” whose function is to shrink the screen so that you can reach all of it with your thumb. It leaves empty black areas around the shrunken image. Clever!”
Or “desperate” might be a better word. Let’s see how Apple enables a big screen, the Samsung can ‘innovate’ again.