Courtesy of Future Supplier
“That phone is too big! How do you type on that ‘phablet’? My iPhone is the perfect size!” These are just a few of the comments I have heard over the years form iPhone owners. Since the release of the iPhone 6, Apple owners have been surprisingly quiet regarding the size upgrade they received; even those who purchased the iPhone 6 Plus.
This begs the question, is there really a need for a smaller iPhone? According to leaked photos by Future Supplier, Apple feels the need is there. These leaked images indicate that Apple is creating another version of the iPhone 6. If Apple continues their naming strategy, you can expect this to be the iPhone 6C.
At first, you may think this looks just like the iPhone 5C, and if it were not for a few subtle differences you would be right. After taking a closer look, you will notice that the camera’s flash and the microphone are slightly different. First, the camera’s flash cutout is an oval shape rather than a circle. Second, the microphone has two sets of loudspeaker holes one on each side of the charging port. The iPhone 6C will support a 4 inch display–the same size as the iPhone 5. Since the iPhone 6C will be considered a “budget phone”, we can expect that the phone will have slightly less powerful hardware.
This year Apple will discontinue the iPhone 5C. We originally speculated this was due to poor sales of the iPhone 5C. According to CIRP, the iPhone 5C accounted for only 27% of total iPhone sales in 2013, while the iPhone 5S accounted for 59%. With Apple possibly releasing an iPhone 6C, it’s difficult to argue that Apple decided to discontinue the iPhone 5C as a result of sales. Instead, it is possible that Apple planned to discontinue the iPhone 5C due to the number of future iPhone variations they had planned on releasing.
If there is a demand for an iPhone 6C, is it due to the fact that users want a smaller screen, or a budget phone? You can easily argue both sides. Personally, I would want to keep the hardware, and do away with the larger screen. I am sure there are others that would rather pay less for a iPhone in exchange for a hardware downgrade, cheaper plastic body, and smaller screen.
Keep in mind that we are still in the early stages of iPhone 6C rumors. While these images may seem convincing, Apple has yet to officially make a statement regarding the release of the iPhone 6C. So until the official word is out, let’s remain skeptical.
What are your thoughts? Is there a need for a smaller iPhone 6? If so, would you rather have a smaller screen with the same hardware, or a downgrade in hardware and smaller screen? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.