“I think that any iPhone range changes will be left until September, and while I wouldn’t expect any radical changes to the pricing structures or value, the iPhone 5C is currently sitting on the bottom rung of the ladder with a rather pathetic 8 GB of internal storage,” Ewan Spence writes for Forbes.
“While the iPhone 5s does have Touch ID, it does not have the hardware to support Apple Pay, and Cupertino is putting a huge amount of focus on mobile payments. If I was Tim Cook I would want all of my handsets to be Apple Pay compatible. That would require some re-engineering on the 5s,” Spence writes. “Couple that required re-engineering with the loss of the colored polycarbonate styling of the iPhone 5c, add in the continued demand for the smaller four-inch screened smartphone, and the answer is a reworked iPhone 5s with Apple Pay support added into a polycarbonate-based four-inch handset.”
“Arguably this would be seen as a ‘new’ handset rather than a discounted older handset, and that approach makes it an easier sale on the high street by Apple Store staff, carriers, and third-party resellers. It just needs a name to tie it into the ‘new’ Apple ecosystem that differentiates it from the existing handsets and evokes a strong reaction in consumers,” Spence writes. “How does the iPhone 6c sound to you?”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: While we maintain that “in general, the only people who still think they want a 4-inch iPhone are those who do not yet own a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 or 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus,” we absolutely do understand that, not in general, a smaller iPhone does offer certain benefits – pocketability, bringing along GPS for Apple Watch runners and cyclists, etc. (As iPhone 6 Plus users, we do know what it’s like to have one strapped to your arm while running. It’s not small.)
What if Apple went even a bit further and made a 4-inch, hard-coated polycarbonate “iPhone 6c” that was just a bit thicker in order to deliver heretofore untold battery life and a certain degree of indestructibility? Any takers?
The tech press is chock full of people telling Apple what the SHOULD be doing.
Yes. Apple is fairly consistent in its practice of continuing the existing iPhone design for a full three years, with minor changes. Therefore…
iPhone 5s continues and becomes the “free” (with contract) option, in its third and final year. Still a great 64-bit phone.
iPhone 6 (4.7-inch screen) gets colorful casing, and becomes the “new” iPhone 6c, the middle option starting at $99. It does not necessarily need to be plastic; it can be anodized stamped aluminum, like iPod touch. And speaking of iPod touch, I think there will be a new one this Fall, based on the same design (minus the “phone parts”); maybe it’s time to call it “iPad something.”
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus at the top of the lineup.
The following year (for 2016 release) is the year Apple decides if there is sufficient demand for an ongoing “smaller” iPhone. And it will be a new design or a significant upgrade of the 5s design.
What about an iPad micro to designate what could otherwise become the 6+c ?
While Ewan Spence makes some good points, he undermines his argument in his zeal to make a (rather obvious) point regarding the role of the iPhone 5c and 5s in the evolving iOS ecosystem.
The Apple Watch offers an Apple Pay solution to tens of millions of existing iPhone 5s users. No need to panic.
What is with the recent down vote trends on this forum for perfectly reasonable posts?
I’d line up for a smaller phone. I went with a moto e for budget and size reasons, but even the new e went bigger..
I also went with the new Moto e and am overwhelmingly pleased. Clean pure Android (5.02) runs very well. And for $150, I got an LTE phone for practically the price of an apple care package.
it sounds 6C (sexy)
44 double D sounds sexier.
So does 32 DD
I prefer qualitity over quantitity ever time.
I prefer both. The “D” was not a quality rating 😉
Clever!
An aluminum shell, like the 5s, maybe with softer edges like the 6 and law the 6 functionality.
law -> awl -> all
Cool etymology at works here.
I’d be very keen to buy a small-screened but slightly thicker iPhone with a much longer battery life. That would be pretty well my ideal iPhone.
Yep, same thickness as the 1st Gen would be just fine. Fits in a pocket. Not too thick to be easily used one-handed.
Won’t bend if you sit on it !
First generation’s thickness is overboard. If you want huge battery, 9.3 mm thickness of iPhone 4/4S would be more than enough since normal 4″ device thickness is 7.6 mm of iPhone 5/5s).
However, as result, the device will weight not 112 grammes, but more like 160 since battery is by far the heaviest thing in there.
Do you know, I don’t find 160 grams beyond the capability of my arm to lift a phone as high as my ear.
An iPhonne battery life that requires once a week charging is far more important to me than the difference between 112 and 160 grams. Not least because I dont spend all day with the thing stuck to my ear.
My old Nokia 6320 had a battery life measured in days – admittedly it did a lot less, but the ability to forget to charge it for a day, or two, or three, is something that would be worth paying for – and no I don’t want to buy a phone and then strap some add-on battery pack (nor do I want a huge case) so there is a balance to be had.
For all of the iPhone’s bells and whistles the biggest issue is when the thing dies on you and then you are without every feature.
Same hardware as the flagship iPhones and not plastic then I am in. I don’t mind the same thickness as iPhone 4S to give a better battery life. I have the Air2 I don’t need a Phablet iPhone at all.
MDN was against big screens until they were for big screens…
Flip Floppers..lol
Me personally, I prefer the design, size and FEEL of the 5S over the 6 or 6+, I’ve held them all, touched them and put them into my pocket. The 5S feels sturdier, looks better and fits better IMO.
MDN has never been the most consistent of thinkers thats for sure.
Everyone, including MDN, runs into situations that change their minds. Apple has a way of doing that…
While I have also railed on MDN from time-to-time for various reasons, fairness dictates that we also acknowledge the numerous highly accurate and forward-looking conjectures and predictions offered by MDN via the MDN Takes and under the name of SteveJack. Overall, the combined Apple-related wisdom on this forum has done a pretty good job of charting Apple’s path over the years. In some cases, we offered ideas regarding product enhancements or capabilities that may have been superior to the approaches actually implemented by Apple.
There are times I wish for the 3.5″ iPhone but I blame that on jeans that are too snug. So I’ll put my vote down for the 4″.
Just like everyone said about the larger iPhone, it’s a personal preference. So make the smaller version with the same tech and let the people pick based on screen size. Right now you have to go with last year’s tech if you want the smaller size.
Agree that some like the 4s size ….. Redo with updated processors and increase battery life and make more indestructible and you’ll have a winner!
I trade away my iP6 for a 4″ version any day of the week.
I have a iPad and a MBP for when I need a larger screen.
The 5S was almost the perfect size for me. I thought the bigger screen on the 6 would make typing on the screen easier — didn’t help a whole lot and what little it did help was overwhelmed by the fact that I can’t reach across the entire screen now (and I have *big* hands). If I’m going to have to use two hands, I’ll use my iPad.
Now if Apple were to produce a larger iPad, I’d give up my iPad3 in a second.
How about the iPhone 6 Sport with polycarbonate shells having the same colors as the iWatch Sport bands?
That was about as badly written and incomprehensible writing as I have seen in a long time. Couldn’t be bothered to try to work out if they were trying to talk sense or not.
Please, YES! I want a small/smaller iPhone! I think it would be cool to have a small pocket iPhone 3.5 to 4.0 inches in size.
I think back to my old Nokia candy bar phones back in 2000. I’d love for Apple to push the envelope and go small for those of us that don’t need web services, etc. I want the bare minimum in a very small phone that slips in my front pocket which I barely notice. They should also think about some how pairing a small phone with the large phone. For example, when I go to work in construction and want the small “indestructible” phone and then in another situation I want my larger 4.7+ phone, both with the same number. I know there are carrier limitations with that, but it would be cool. Give me a 3.5 inch iPhone in the same style as the current model and make it durable and tough.
Apple, you have the large smartphone market, now take control of the mini-market.
5s in the plastic casing = 6c and certainly something I’d buy
I find it difficult to go back to my 4-inch iPhone 5 from my 4.7-inch iPhone 6. The only way I could see this work is if they made it small, 4-inches, but also with super battery life, like 2 days, to differentiate it, and because it’s thicker with the bigger battery, how about a better camera, since the bottle neck in optics ultimately comes down to the distance between lens and focal plane. The fact that the iPhone gets thinner and thinner makes it harder to get a better and better camera. It’s easy to put in a higher megapixel chip, but that’s not going to automatically give you better images, as that’s not the bottleneck. It’s the physical chip size, and that’s limited by the distance between lens and focal plane, aka thickness of phone.
As someone who runs & cycles a lot, a 4″ fully functioning iPhone would not only be attractive to me on its own, but would also be a noticeable nudge toward an Apple Watch. Since some important functionality (GPS) resides on the phone, a smaller form factor would be less cumbersome to bring along, which would then unlock the ability to track info like distance, pace, etc. on the watch. With the right apps, Apple Watch could replace the bulky Garmin wrist device, but only if I don’t have to replace a bulky wrist thing with a bulky iPhone 6 or an even bulkier 6s.
I am not interested in upgrading from my 5s to a larger phone. I hope that Apple understands that the reason lots of us haven’t bought into the newest models is that we don’t want bigger. Bigger won’t fit into my pockets. I’d buy a 6c on day 1.
I’m keeping my 5s as long as I can UNLESS a 6c with a 4in screen but all the power of a 6 comes out. Then I’m first in line. True pocketability is a must for me. I’ve tried the sixes and they are just too big, too top heavy for a phone.
Count me among those who find the new 6s too damn big, both of ’em.
I have had a 5c for about 18 months now and have dropped it multiple times…so far no issues or scratches. On Sunday I pop it out of my case for a slick undetectable feel for church, but use a case for work with alot of sawdust, etc…has held up fine. Would love to use Apple Pay at McDonalds at the drive thru for lunch every day. Good battery life with alot of use each day…have only run out of battery with extended hrs. of use, but not often. Give it an A grade and will buy another one at contracts end if it does Apple Pay. Wish it would be just a little bigger, but not as big as the 6…too big for my pocket and everyday use. I am a good candidate for a watch, so may go with the 6 and the watch and keep it in my pocket for most reader things.
3.5 to 3.8… No c..
Just a smaller version of the 6 form factor.
I have been a supporter of 3 iphone sizes from the get go !
Yes. This would be great. I will never go larger. I’d rather do without. Get on it already Apple.
A smaller iPhone would definitely by my next purchase once my 5c gets too old. The actual 6 is already much too big for my use. As i have no problem with charging, an eventually smaller capacity of battery wouldn’t hold me back.
EDIT: my actual iPhone is a 5s, not a 5c… <8o/
At least 3 people have told me they really want a new phone but want to keep the size of their IP 4 or IP 5. One of them even recently purchased a used IP 4S to replace their old one, just based on size. Seems to me like there’s a market for smaller phones, and Apple would do well to cater to them as well.
I would love a 4″ 6C iPhone.
I tend to prefer smaller devices: 11″ Macbook Air, Mac mini and small phones.
4″/6 would be a perfect one for me. Primarily because it would ensure that I continue to use my iPad and give me another excuse to get an Watch.
Not that I need one, but my wife is so tight with the bank account, I need every reason I can muster.