Apple has apparently given up on the idea of launching a brand new 4-inch follow-up to the iPhone 5C.
It’s been rumoured for a while that Apple was planning a return to the 4-inch display size in 2015. Some have referred to this new device as the iPhone 6S mini, others the iPhone 6C.
Back in December, Timothy Arcuri of analyst firm Cowen and Company claimed that such a low cost iPhone 5C follow-up was possible.
However, a fresh report from the same source claims that this is no longer on the table. Arcuri (via Business Insider) claims that Apple was indeed all set to produce an “iPhone 6-looking version of the iPhone 5C,” with a similar look and feel and even the same internal components as the current flagship, but with a 4-inch display.
There was apparently supply chain evidence of such a device as recently as March, but all trace of the phone has since disappeared. This seems to suggest that Apple has killed the project off.
The analyst speculates that Apple might have feared cannibalisation of the existing iPhone 6, which will likely continue to sell at a reduced price point after the inevitable launch of the iPhone 6S in September.
Related: iPhone 6S release date
It’s not uncommon for Apple to have devices made by suppliers that never go to market. There’s also the chance that Apple will revisit the idea of a 4-inch iPhone at some point in the future.
Watch what we thought of the iPhone 6 in our video review:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.