“A leaked report from KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo (dubbed ‘the best Apple analyst on the planet’) reveals Apple is going to dramatically shake things up with the iPhone 7. And given Kuo’s remarkable track record, when he speaks it is worth serious attention,” Gordon Kelly writes for Forbes. “How he breaks this down is the introduction of an entry level 4-inch iPhone 7 with metal chassis. Next will come the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, but it will be more clearly repositioned as a step down from 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus with the latter having improved performance and 50% more RAM (3GB vs 2GB).”
“Apple finally playing ball with customers who still love the smaller 4-inch form factor will be big news, but it is equally newsworthy that the company finally looks set to admit the ‘Plus’ range is more than just a size increase on the standard iPhone. Apple has already been hinting at this for two generations by selling the standard model with an inferior screen, optics and far worse battery life,” Kelly writes. “In fact in my iPhone 6S vs iPhone 6S Plus review, I remarked that the Plus was a vastly superior experience to the standard model in almost every way – except portability.”
“Kuo says the 4-inch iPhone 7 won’t come with 3D Touch and will use the Apple A9 chipset from the iPhone 6S/6S Plus rather than the A10 chip he states will feature in the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus,” Kelly writes. “While I think every iPhone 6S buyer would concede the iPhone 6S Plus is a superior device, it still sells in higher volumes simply because it is smaller (the $100 price difference plays little role with a long term contract). This shows how polarising large phones remain and to make the 4.7-inch model a more obvious second class citizen could lose some of the prestige from the brand.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus was and now the iPhone 6s Plus is clearly Apple’s flagship iPhone. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6s is the world’s second-bets smartphone.
Unsurprisingly, we have both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus… The iPhone 6 is a beautiful phone. It’s the second best smartphone in the world, in fact. But, lay them both on our desk and we’ll grab the Plus when heading out every time. We can simply get more done with it, the battery lasts far longer, and the camera is superior… All other so-called smartphones pale in comparison to Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus.
Now, as for making the “4-inch iPhone 7” so clearly “last gen” with what will be an older A9 chip, no 3D Touch, etc… well, that doesn’t seem to be what our readers, at least, desire:
SEE ALSO:
KGI: Apple to release new 4-inch iPhone in early 2016; A9-powered, but no 3D Touch – November 4, 2015
Why Apple might launch a new 4-inch iPhone in early 2016 – October 15, 2015
No 4-inch ‘iPhone 6c’ at Apple’s September 9 event, iPhone 5c to be discontinued – August 27, 2015
Should Apple make a state-of-the-art 4-inch iPhone? – July 31, 2015
Analyst: Apple has scrapped plans for a 4-inch iPhone 6c – July 27, 2015
Analyst: No 4-inch iPhone coming – May 12, 2015
If Apple makes a next-gen 4-inch iPhone, they should do it right, not make it a second class device – March 26, 2015
