We’ve heard plenty of conflicting reports about when we should expect a new smaller, 4-inch iPhone “c” from Apple, but Piper Jaffray’s resident Apple analyst Gene Munster suggests that Cupertino would be wasting its time by releasing a sequel to 2013’s iPhone 5c.
Why? Because, Munster claims, customers don’t really want smaller handsets at all.
In a recent note to clients, Munster acknowledged that Apple may indeed be working on a 4-inch iPhone for 2016, but suggested that Apple would be foolish to go down this avenue.
According to Munster, around 20 percent of smartphone users claim that a 4-inch screen is the perfect size for a smartphone. Getting hung up on these numbers is wrong, however, because most of the people who choose this option are saying it only because they haven’t used a larger screen iPhone before, and are sticking to what they know.
On top of this, Munster says that the different color option selling point of the iPhone “c” models are wasted on customers, since most people put their phone in a case.
Finally, he suggests that — despite rumors that a new 4-inch iPhone would be cheaper than larger models — Apple is unlikely to drop the price to the rumored $450, since this would be a, “change in [Apple’s] philosophy.”
“The reality is that whether the device is real or not doesn’t matter,” Munster writes. “We would not expect Apple to sell significantly more iPhone 6C devices than the typical low-end model (currently the 5S) and would also not expect margins to be significantly different.”
Does Gene Munster have a point, or is this another incorrect Apple prediction for him, like his repeated “it’s just about to ship” Apple television set reports? Leave your comments below.
Via: Business Insider
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.
9 responses to “Top Apple analyst believes a 4-inch iPhone isn’t worth Apple’s time”
Id happy pay $150 MORE than the 6s+ for a premium 4″ handset that had all the features of the 6s (not some borked budget nonsense) – I realise it takes skill and talent to fit the power of a 6s into a 4″ frame hence it should cost more money. But then Apple should be the ones with the ability to do this. I know it wont happen though, its too easy to just release a smaller product with last years specs, a device which doesn’t’ really appeal to anyone and claim 4″ just isn’t very popular when all the people who want the latest spec are forced to have a large phone.
I agree with some comments, disagree with others.
I believe there should be three sizes (4″, 4.7″ and 5.5″). But I do not believe it should come as three differently specced phones, but rather as one spec with three sizes. For example, I would prefer a smaller screen (even after using bigger ones), but I don’t want a lesser specced phone than the 4.7″. I want 3D-Touch, the same powerful chip, the same camera (I think all models should get OIS) and all the other same inners.
My sisters both use larger phones right now (because who has a choice at this point unless you want to buy massively substandard hardware) but would prefer a 4″ size that they can use with one hand. That, in reality, is what most customers want – a smartphone that doesn’t require both hands to use.
When i went to change my wife’s 5S a few weeks ago i was really turned off by the size… Mind you, I had been using the 6+ for a year already.
I went to change my 6+ for a 6S and find that 4.7″ is the perfect size for me.
Now that carriers are starting to abandon the 2 year contract with subsidized pricing, Apple needs to step up and lower pricing on iPhones in general. The iPad is $499 and the iPhone is $649… explain that.
It costs more to tightly pack the components etc. If you look at the BOM costs they’re all overpriced of course…
100% agree with this entire article.
It’s a top Apple analyst remember :-)
So Munster is not very insightful. I’m waiting for the 4″. It’s the happy medium. (Get it?)