The news comes from Chinese site MyDrivers which has attained detailed specifications and launch information for a 4-inch iPhone which could put its larger rivals to shame. MyDrivers has a good track record having broken the news in October that the iPhone 6S uses different chipsets in different models – something Apple eventually confirmed.
So what are these mouthwatering specs: an Apple A9 chipset, 2GB of RAM, a 1,642mAh battery and a 4-inch 1136 x 640 pixel display. Yes, these are very similar specifications to the iPhone 6S (A9, 2GB RAM, 1715 mAh battery) alongside the same screen size and resolution as the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. So what makes them so exciting? How they are combined.
Displays are the dominant factor in both power drain and performance. The display sucks more battery life than anything else and the number of pixels in the display drags down performance (which is why the 4.7-inch iPhone 6/6S is notably faster than the 6 Plus/6S Plus).
Furthermore given the 4-inch model has the same chipset and RAM but is driving 30% and 64% fewer pixels than the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus respectively, it should also be significantly faster. So what is this thing?
The obvious point to make is that it is Apple’s anticipated iPhone 6C, it will just bring a lot more to the party than had been expected. Then again MyDrivers states the phone will use the same ‘2.5D’ slightly curved glass as the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus which will make its fascia identical to them, rather than the completely flat iPhone 5C. Furthermore MyDrivers lists its retail price as starting from 4,000 yuan ($615) for a 16GB model, while the iPhone 5C starts at just 8GB and costs 3,288 yuan (roughly $500).
Consequently the performance, battery life and design of this phone all suggest it is more ‘iPhone 6S Mini’ than iPhone 6C and even if it does end up being called the iPhone 6C it would arguably still be the most appealing price/performance handset in Apple’s range. This may even mean its introduction would be something of a gamble as it could cannibalise sales of the 6S and 6S Plus.
Some questions do still remain. Exact camera details are unknown, as is the inclusion of 3D Touch and the release date, though MyDrivers says mass production will start in January/February. Either way – and regardless of the final branding – my hopes of Apple finally bringing a flagship worthy 4-inch iPhone to its range have skyrocketed and going with a ‘small, medium and large’ line up would make tremendous sense. Ditching the C range altogether would even give Apple the chance of increasing the iPhone’s entry level price.
While we won’t definitely know all this will happen until Tim Cook is holding this new iPhone aloft at an official press event, I can say one thing: I really, really hope it happens…
Writer - Liam McClelland | @Liamicy