Apple was planning to release a smaller version of the iPhone 6, but the company has scrapped plans for a new 4-inch iPhone for now, says one analyst.
According to Timothy Arcuri, an analyst at Cowen and Company, the rumored device was supposed to have been the iPhone 6c and was reportedly to have the same hardware as the flagship iPhone 6.
As with the c variants of Apple's iPhones, the rumored iPhone 6c was supposed to be a low-cost alternative for people interested in owning an iPhone without breaking their budget. Earlier reports have indiciated that the device would have been priced considerably lower than the flagship models, making it accessible to a wider target market.
Arcuri tells Business Insider that he has seen of evidence of the iPhone 6c in Apple's supply chain from January through March, but the phone has apparently disappeared which led him to speculate that Apple could have stopped the project.
"I think one of the reasons is because the iPhone 6 has sold so well. And they said, 'Look, why would we want to cannibalize? If we came out with an iPhone 6C, we would essentially cannibalize a price-reduced iPhone 6,'" Arcuri says.
This isn't the first time rumors of a smaller version of the iPhone 6 has arised. Analysts at Jeffries wrote back in June about the possibility of Apple releasing a 4-inch display iPhone in 2016, but they did not mention whether the phone would have the same components and features as the iPhone 6.
The reports are conflicting, and though there could be a grain of truth to the predictions from Arcuri and the analysts at Jeffries, like many technology companies, Apple tests different products all the time before deciding if it wants to actually create and launch a product. There is a possibility that products seen at a supply chain won't make it into production.
As of now, there are no confirmations from Apple. To know for sure what the company has in store for iPhone fans, we can look forward to Apple's expected iPhone unveiling in September.
Photo: Matt Buchanan | Flickr
