Apple's 4in iPhone 6c will arrive in September 2016 ahead of the iPhone 7 launch, sources claim
Anyone who's shown even a passing interest in pre-launch rumours of a forthcoming phone will know that there does tend to be a fair bit of back-and-forth, see-sawing, if you will, over specific details about Apple’s plans for an iPhone 5c refresh.
To date there have been a plethora of articles about the return of a 4in iPhone, starting with talk of the iPhone 7c, which then turned into the iPhone 6c. Nowadays, however, it is being referred to as the iPhone 5se — i.e. an evolution of the iPhone 5s, meaning TouchID and a new CPU.
Regardless of the name, there are two alleged launch dates for the iPhone 5se (or is it the iPhone 6c!?): April 2016, so, just around the corner, or September, which is a bit further away and also Apple’s usual date for launching new iPhones.
From now on, for the sake of brevity, we will be referring to the smaller, 4in iPhone as the iPhone 5se, as this is likely what it will be called when it eventually launches.
“The new device is internally codenamed ‘N69,’” reports 9to5Mac, “but the launch name will likely be the “iPhone 5se.” The “se” suffix has been described in two ways by Apple employees: as a “special edition” variation of the vintage 4-inch iPhone screen size and as an “enhanced” version of the iPhone 5s. Indeed, the upcoming “5se” features a design similar to 2013’s flagship but upgraded internals, software, and hardware features that blend the old design with modern technologies from the past two iPhone upgrades.”
Sources have provided the following list of “iPhone 5se” upgrades over the 5s:
- The chamfered, shiny edges have been replaced with curved glass like on the iPhone 6 and 6s lines
- The same 8 megapixel rear camera and 1.2 megapixel front camera systems from the iPhone 6
- Support for larger panoramas and autofocus for video recording
- Barometer for tracking elevation in the Health app
- An NFC chip for Apple Pay
- The A8 and M8 chips from the iPhone 6
- Bluetooth 4.2, VoLTE, and 802.11ac WiFi chips from the iPhone 6s
- Live Photos from the iPhone 6s
- Same Silver, Space Gray, Gold, & Rose Gold color options as the 6s line.
Word of Apple’s BIG Q1 reveal first surfaced last month and since then things have developed pretty quickly with talk of a new Apple Watch, a new iPad Air and a reboot of the iPhone 5c, apparently called the iPhone 5se, appearing at the event.
And this is pretty significant. Apple doesn’t usually do stuff like this, like, ever. 9to5Mac got the initial scoop way back when and had this to say earlier this week:
“Apple is currently aiming to unveil the new 4-inch the iPhone 5se, the iPad Air 3, and new Apple Watch band options at an event on Tuesday, March 15th, according to sources. We previously reported that Apple was on track to launch the new products during the week of March 14th. As the scheduled event is still a month-and-a-half away, the date could conceivably still shift or turn into an online announcement. The media event would be Apple’s first since September, and much like the fall event, is planned to touch on three major product categories for the company.”
First iPhone 6c/iPhone 5se Photos Surface - Confirms TouchID Home Key
The first live photos of the iPhone 6c or iPhone 5se have emerged online, and brace yourself because you might be taken aback by how underwhelming it is! You see, the photo shows the new model side-by-side with an iPhone 5 and the differences are subtle enough that you've gotta be paying attention to spot them - otherwise it basically just looks like a pair of iPhone 5 phones.
The photo, which comes via Dutch Apple site onemorething.nl, shows an iPhone 5 on the left, and the new 4in model on the right. At first glance it does just look like the same phone, but we can just about discern is slightly smaller, and a bit wider - it's hard to be sure from this angle but it may be a bit thinner too. You can also see the controls are in a different location, with the right-hand model exhibiting the recent iPhone 6 series control layout, and the same goes for the front-facing camera position. If you look at the power key you'll also see a design that appears to be the TouchID Home key with an integrated fingerprint scanner, while the iPhone 5 has the old Home key with a square motif.
iPhone 5se Renders Emerge
There have also been a bunch of colourful mock-ups published online by China Mobile that aim to show how the iPhone 5se will fit in with Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus lineup. Once again, colour and price will be the driving factor behind iPhone 5se adoption — and no, we do not believe it will be called the iPhone 7c. This is a reboot to 2013’s iPhone 5c, so the 5se makes perfect sense. Even more so when you consider the handset is based on the iPhone 6’s design just with iPhone 5s specs and hardware inside it.
Here’s what The Mail Online had to say about the iPhone 5se: “Apple is reportedly planning a March event for the Apple Watch 2, and it is believed the new handset will be unveiled at the same time. The firm will then save the launch of its rumoured iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus until its traditional September event. Given the fact that the iPhone 7c could be released before the official iPhone 7, it is more likely the phone will be called iPhone 6c.”
Apple reportedly sold in excess of 20 million iPhone 5c units which is a HUGE amount of sales for a handset that many labelled a failure. HTC, Sony, LG and Samsung would all love sales that large for their respective, non-flagship handsets and for this reason we do have to take the iPhone Xc series seriously.
Consumers loved the iPhone 5c, you see the handsets everywhere — just look around you next time you’re out. The idea of Apple releasing three handsets in 2016 might sound odd to many, but the reality is much simpler: Apple is a business and it will do all it can to dominate the mobile space.
The reintroduction of a more affordable iPhone, but, importantly, one that costs more than this year’s models next year, alongside two new handsets would generate a lot of additional revenue for the company — particularly if the iPhone 7c is based on the iPhone 5s, as sources suggest.
Why? Simple: Apple can sell old technology at modern prices and that, dear readers, is excellent business if you can get away with it!
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