Apple moved to larger screens with its latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s lineup, but a smaller 4-inch iPhone 6c is reportedly in the cards for next year.
Rumors of a new 4-inch iPhone from Apple have been making rounds recently, but most reports so far have been rather vague. New information, however, reignites the iPhone 6c rumors and adds more details on the matter.
Kevin King, IHS Technology Research director for China, posted some iPhone 6c details on his Weibo account, as spotted by GforGames. The information is brief and doesn't offer any spec details, but it does note that the iPhone 6c will make its debut mid-2016.
This would mark a departure from Apple's usual launch cycle, as the company typically launches new iPhone models in September. Nevertheless, the rumor mill was already churning in anticipation of the next-generation iPhone 7, suggesting that it may launch sooner than expected, possibly accompanied by the iPhone 6c.
The upcoming iPhone 6c will reportedly bring back the classic 4-inch display size, likely replacing the iPhone 5s in Apple's lineup. However, unlike the previous iPhone 5c (pictured above), the new iPhone 6c is not expected to feature a plastic build. Instead, the upcoming 4-incher will allegedly sport a metal build like the iPhone 5s.
At the same time, the iPhone 6c is also rumored to pack an Apple A9 processor, which currently powers the latest iPhone 6s models. On the other hand, the iPhone 6c will likely not feature the 3D Touch technology of the latest iPhones, as Apple's pressure-sensitive display technology is said to be reserved exclusively for the top-end models.
Even without 3D Touch, however, the iPhone 6c could still attract plenty of buyers if it comes at an attractive price. The plastic iPhone 5c was not exactly a hit because many thought it was too expensive for what it had to offer, and Apple may have learned something from its past mistakes.
No additional details are available at this point, and there's no official information to attest the accuracy of such claims. As always in such cases, a healthy dose of skepticism is advised.
