Apple apparently plans to launch a new 4-inch iPhone with a metal body early next year, a well-connected KGI Securities analyst predicts.
For many years, Apple refused to give in to the phablet trend and maintained a compact size for its iPhones. The company ultimately joined the trend in 2014, when it launched the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, and followed up with the same strategy this year with the launch of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
Nevertheless, the company may plan a return of the popular 4-inch form factor. Trusted KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple is gearing up to mass-produce an upgraded iPhone 5s version with a 4-inch display and an A9 SoC, among the highlights.
Unlike the iPhone 5c, which came with a plastic body, this alleged iPhone 5s refresh will reportedly sport a metal casing.
"As there is still demand for a 4-inch iPhone, we believe Apple will upgrade this product line. Because the iPhone 5s is more popular than the iPhone 5c, we think Apple is likely to launch an upgraded iPhone 5s," Kuo notes in a research note obtained by Apple-centric publication MacRumors. "We predict Apple will mass-produce this new 4-inch iPhone in 1H16 with metal casings. In order to make the current iOS 9 or next-generation iOS 10 run smoothly, Apple may adopt an A9 chip for this new phone."
At the same time, Kuo notes that this purported 4-inch iPhone 5s upgrade will not come with the Force Touch technology found on the latest iPhones. The decision not to support 3D Touch reportedly aims to differentiate this upcoming 4-inch iPhone from the latest high-end iPhones. According to the analyst, Apple could ship around 20 - 30 million units of this new 4-inch iPhone 5s refresh by the end of 2016.
The next-generation flagship iPhone 7, meanwhile, is expected to launch in accordance with Apple's usual launch cycles, which sees new iPhone iterations released in the third quarter of the year.
Kuo has a great track record when it comes to anticipating Apple's plans and schemes and several of his predictions so far turned out to be spot on. Regardless of Kuo's track record, however, take everything with a grain of salt until official confirmation.
