There have been plenty of reports about a possible new 4-inch iPhone in the works. A new report, however, claims that the device is essentially an “iPhone 5s Mark II,” and even runs through the supposed internal components of the handset.
Best of all, it’s reportedly ready for production and can be shipped any time from now.
A report from Macotakara suggests that the rejigged iPhone 5s will feature a form factor similar to its predecessor, but will boast an A8 chip, 802.11ac Wi‑Fi, and Bluetooth 4.1, while the FaceTime HD camera is changed to a higher quality ƒ/2.2 aperture similar to that used in the sixth-generation iPod touch.
These specs run counter to a report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo suggests that a 4-inch handset from Apple would boast an A9 processor, rather than the A8 mentioned in today’s report.
Personally, I’d like to see a 4-inch handset that rivals Apple’s larger-size iPhones, since there are many users like my wife who would prefer the smaller size handset but would appreciate up-to-date technology. If Apple does continue its push into markets like India, though, it could definitely be good to have another lower-cost iPhone to sell.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
7 responses to “Apple could sell an updated iPhone 5s with better internals”
I would be one of those users who prefers a 4-inch phone with updated internals. Just much easier to carry and to use. In black, please,
I hate to say it, but I’m actually getting tired of the iPhone 6+ screen as being too small to play video games. I don’t watch videos on my smartphone, but I might play the occasional video game when I don’t have my iPad and I’m finding the 5.5inch screen being too small. i actually wish they could utilize more of the available area of the 6+/6S+ and make the screen a little bigger in all directions without making the unit any bigger.
I think Apple is finding out how some different people use the phone differently. Mature folks like myself don’t play video games. Maybe a match-it game while we are waiting, but mainly we use it as a productivity tool. Check emails, flight status, make telephone calls, etc. The 4 inch is the perfect size…. in white or blue please.
Apple’s product line has become a bit of a mess, as they are trying to figure out price points, product demand and introducing new tech. Personally, I’d like them to clean up their act and offer the following:
iPhone 4″ (mini), iPhone 4.7″, iPhone 5.5″ (plus). Same design and tech for each model.
iPad 7.9″ (mini), iPad 9.7″ (air), iPad 12.9″ (pro). Same design and tech for each model.
MacBook 12″ (including what previously was MacBook Air 11″ and MacBook Air 13″), MacBook 14″ (previously MacBook Pro 13″) and MacBook 16″ (previously MacBook 15″ and filling the 17″ space).
As for the iMac, I think the time has come to change its name too, as it’s not an iOS device. Just call it Mac. Like the Mac mini and the Mac pro. And change OS X to macOS, just like iOS, watchOS and tvOS. Way back in ’97 this simplified view on names was what made it easy for consumers to get the product range, I think it’s time again to do the same. Fewer product lines and shapes also mean more attention to detail per line, and that’s really what they need now.
If they updated the 4 inch model and stuck an A8, I would think it wouldn’t be that expensive. I would think they would price it below the cheapest iPhone 6, which would just be a replacement for the 5S, which is the last year of that model on the price list.
I wish Apple would kick up the minimum storage to 32GB and the RAM minimum was at least 2 or 3GB. I know they should only ship products with 4GB of RAM standard, but Apple will probably wait a few more years for that to happen on their iProducts.
Don’t hold your breath.
If they come out with a 4 inch phone but don’t give it all the best internals, I’m going to be pretty annoyed. The only reason I switched from my iPhone 5 to the 6 was the faster processor. I also don’t get why Apple put an A8 in the Apple TV given that it’s new this year. (Though I suspect they decided that an A8 that didn’t have to try to be so power efficient could easily handle things. But they’re doing gaming so they really should have given it as much horse power as they could.
But Apple really seems big on running past gen processors in current gen products. And from a marketing point of view it tells people who read these things that they should just wait.