There have been lots of rumours that Apple is planning to launch a new 4in handset to sit alongside the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. I was half expecting the handset to be released in September alongside the other handsets, but it never materialised, making me think that Apple had ditched its plans altogether. Well, apparently that's no so, with 9to5mac reporting that a March 2016 launch event could bring the iPhone 6C alongside the Apple Watch 2.
So, why now? With the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple had the smaller iPhone 5S available for people that wanted a smaller handset that was still powerful. Now, the iPhone 5S is looking a little old, yet there are a fair number of people that would relish a smaller phone, finding even the 4.7in iPhone 6S too big. By launching the smaller handset, Apple also increases its ability to grow market share, with three new handsets on sale at the same time. Current rumours point to the iPhone 6C being a combination of old and new, with some parts ripped from the iPhone 5S and some from the newer flagship handsets.
What you need to know, quickly
Need the information fast? here's everything you need in a quick, bite-sized digest. Obviously, everything here is based on unconfirmed rumours, so things can change quickly, but the below is, at least, a quick view of how things stand at this point in time.
What is it? | Apple's 4in smartphone, for people that think the current generation handsets are too big |
When is it out? | March 2016 has been rumoured |
What's new? | A 4in display, A9 processor and 8-megapixel camera seem likely |
In Detail
Design
The iPhone 6C is said to be the spiritual successor to the iPhone 5C, with a plastic, rather than a metal case. I don't think that's a big problem, as it means that Apple can make the new phone in a variety of funky colours, while it also makes high-quality plastic: it's fair to say that the iPhone 5C didn't feel like your average plastic handset. It's also reasonable to think that the iPhone 6C will have the same shape and rough size as the iPhone 5C, as detailed in the leaked photo below.
Screen
Expect the iPhone 6C to have the same 4in display as used in the previous 4in handsets, such as the iPhone 5S. That means a resolution of 1,136x640. By today's standards that resolution seems a little low, but that's a pixel density of 326ppi: the same as on the higher resolution iPhone 6S. In other words, the screen still looks plenty of sharp enough and, as it's a well-defined iPhone resolution, apps will run well on it. It seems unlikely that the iPhone 6C will have the 3D Touch display, either, due to space and price constraints.
Performance
According to the latest rumours, the iPhone 6C will have performance somewhere between the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6S. In my mind, that makes it sound as though this handset will have the Apple A8 SoC, which is the chip used in the iPhone 6. Of course, it's possible that this handset will get the brand-new A9 chip as used in the 6S models, which would make the 6C a seriously quick handset.
Camera
The camera is one of the most important parts of a smartphone and Apple usually upgrades with each new iPhone model. This has led some to speculate that the iPhone 6C will carry the same 12-megapixel sensor as used in the 6S models; however, other rumours point to this phone having an 8-megapixel sensor. The latter sounds more realistic: giving a clear distinction between the flagship models and this more budget offering.
Price
A smaller phone made out plastic should be cheaper than the metal iPhone 6S, but how much? It's hard to work out at the moment, but Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at KGI securities, believes that the iPhone 6C will cost somewhere between $400 and $500, making it a true budget alternative to the flagship models. He also believes that it will have a TouchID sensor and NFC for use with Apple Pay.
