Apple has not shelved plans to release the iPhone 6c, as the latest reports coming from the Far East claim the iPhone maker will release the device sometime in the second quarter of 2016.
Two weeks ago, we reported that Apple has stopped producing a 4-inch smartphone largely believed to be the successor to the iPhone 5c. Analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company said although he saw evidence of the device in Apple's supply chain, the phone had suddenly been taken off, sparking speculation that the iPhone 6c had died even before it was born.
However, a new report from Chinese news outlet DigiTimes claims that the iPhone 6c is indeed alive and ready for an official unveiling in the most unlikely of times, next year's second quarter.
Citing supply-side sources, DigiTimes says Apple has decided to do away with the 20nm chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) it originally planned to use in the iPhone 6c. Instead, Cupertino has reportedly opted for newer 14nm and 16nm FinFET processors manufactured by Samsung and TSMC respectively. The news outlet says the new chips will allow Apple to provide better specs for the smartphone while scaling back on power consumption.
As for the iPhone 6c's specs, nothing is known about the rumored device, but early reports say it will ditch the plastic body of the early iPhone c variants for a metal build. Apple will also reportedly sell the iPhone 6c for a relatively cheaper price, as it had always done for its c models.
Meanwhile, DigiTimes also says that Samsung and TSMC have started the production of processors for the upcoming iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, a rumor that sounds much more realistic, as Apple is expected to introduce the new smartphones to the world in September.
As usual, details for the upcoming devices have leaked well ahead of time, and we are expecting to see Full HD resolution for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s and Quad HD display for the bigger iPhone 6s Plus. Both phones will reportedly run on Apple's A9 chip and 2 GB of RAM and will have a 12 MP camera in front. Both phones are also expected to have Force Touch, Apple's new pressure-sensitive technology that can distinguish between a deep press and a light tap.
Photo: John Karakatsanis | Flickr
