There are many who claim that the iPhone 5c, Apple’s plastic-backed “budget” iPhone, was a disappointment, especially compared to the sales of iPhone 6/6s/Plus. Yet rumors continue to circulate that the iPhone 6c will be released next year.
Here’s another rumor to throw on that fire: Supply chain sources within Foxconn are allegedly saying the iPhone 6c is on track for a February 2016 debut.
Chinese site TechWeb, a source that is probably a little sketchy, cites unnamed “insiders” who claim the iPhone 6c will still be colorful when it comes out early next year, but will have an anodized aluminum enclosure instead of its predecessor’s plastic back.
They go on to say that the device will still come in at 4 inches, and will be outfitted with Touch ID — but not 3D Touch. Apple is aiming to keep the price of the handset between $400 and $500 in the United States, compared to the original iPhone 5c’s retail price of $549, unlocked.
Take this all with a grain of salt, though. According to TechWeb, Foxconn has not yet received any orders for this device from Apple … something that needs to happen soon, if a February 2016 launch date is going to be achieved.
I know some people are down on the iPhone 5c, but I hope this new rumor is true. My wife, who has small hands, is due for an iPhone update soon, and she hates the comparatively gigantic iPhone 6. Time will tell, but even if this rumor isn’t true, I still think there’s a place for a 4-inch iPhone in Apple’s lineup.
Source: TechWeb
Via: iDownloadBlog
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
4 responses to “The 4-inch iPhone 6c: Coming in time for Valentine’s Day?”
I want the rumors to be true as well, but I hope they position it differently this time. I would really like to see a 4″ phone with the same modern design as the other two, and the same features and guts as the other two, only it has a smaller screen. I wouldn’t buy it if it had inferior specs, then I might as well buy the 5.
Apple needs to stop assuming that people who want smaller devices want crappier specs! They make their devices thinner all the time, they get that people want things smaller and lighter. If the issue is supply constraints, get TSMC to make the A10 for the 7 and the 7 Plus, and get Samsung to make the 7 mini’s processor. (Or vice versa.) If you need to make the phone as thick as an iPhone 5 to get everything in there, fine, do i! If you need to make it a little thicker, do it. Just don’t skimp on the processor. I want my iOS experience on a 4 inch phone that’s just as good as the bigger phones.
I just got a 5c new this summer for $350. If you keep it in a case who cares if the back is plastic or metal? In a couple years this will be cheap too, and smaller is much better. Its a phone not a workstation.
I hope not.