Analyst: new 4-inch iPhone will support Apple Pay, could be priced under $500

posted by Florin T. / Dec 03, 2015, 12:33 PM

Analyst: new 4-inch iPhone will support Apple Pay, could be priced under $500

Apple is reportedly planning to release a new 4-inch iPhone next year. We already heard quite many things about this alleged upcoming iPhone, and now KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has more to share on what we should expect from it.

Reportedly, the new 4-inch iPhone should enter production in the first quarter of 2016, so it might be released well ahead of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus - both of which will likely be available starting September next year. Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple may want to sell the 4-inch iPhone for prices between $400 and $500 - just as previously rumored (we assume that $400 will be the price for a 16 GB model).

The upcoming compact iPhone should be made out of metal, while being powered by an Apple A9 chipset (we also heard that it would use the older A8 chipset, but that may not be the case after all). The new handset should also feature NFC in order to support Apple Pay, and a camera setup similar to that on the iPhone 5s: 8 MP rear camera, plus 1.2 MP front-facing camera.

Apple could ship 20 million new 4-inch iPhones by the end of 2016, making them available in at least two or three color versions. The name of the new device is currently unknown - it might be iPhone 6c, though that may not make too much sense if the device is made out of metal, not plastic (like the iPhone 5c).

Not long ago, designer Martin Hajek created a 4-inch Apple iPhone concept to let us see what it would look like next to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus:

4-inch iPhone concept by Martin Hajek

View more + 1 image

via: MacRumors

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68 Comments

1. arsenaljimenez

Posts: 198; Member since: May 03, 2012

Could be priced for under 500? They're acting like that's a deal for a FOUR inch phone U_U

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 12:42 PM 12

2. SamsungPhanboy

Posts: 765; Member since: Mar 31, 2015

Right. That s**t better be priced under 500. And I do mean s**t.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 12:43 PM 10

3. mrochester

Posts: 975; Member since: Aug 17, 2014

It's good deal for an iPhone.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 12:43 PM 1

20. French_Toast

Posts: 98; Member since: Sep 02, 2015

the most expensive low-end mobile phones!

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 2:09 PM 4

66. ninja_master

Posts: 306; Member since: Feb 27, 2015

Low-end?

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 1:19 AM 0

25. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

If they put a A7 processor on in it, then it's not that bad of a deal. Compared to other Android models yes it's a little more expensive, but iOS really doesn't need much hardware for it to run smoothly. A7 processor, Touch ID, support for 20+ LTE bands, and color finishes for $449 would sell.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 2:46 PM 2

29. Well-Manicured-Man

Posts: 670; Member since: Jun 16, 2015

And users would receive the latest iOS for four years. No Android handset maker will offer this for its mid-rangers. That alone is a great selling argument. I think that such an iPhone could shift the last 5% of profits that Android is standing for in the smartphone market to Apple.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 3:14 PM 4

51. iusshpandeh

Posts: 250; Member since: Jul 23, 2014

Lumia 520 , a $50 phone from 2013 is NOW getting Win10! So, phones don't need to be expensive to get future updates!

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 7:54 PM 0

67. ninja_master

Posts: 306; Member since: Feb 27, 2015

If you read his comments. He says no ANDROID handset maker not windows handset maker

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 1:22 AM 1

61. engineer-1701d unregistered

it would be bricked on 2nd year incompatibility phase out , its a nice deal but people dont have a problem getting a iphone from price they just dont see the value or worth and no android user would switch to that because its simple a step down and no tech person would ever buy that,. its like be trading my Audi a6 in for a geo metro or toyota corolla

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 12:21 AM 0

69. NonFanBoy

Posts: 180; Member since: May 28, 2015

Who cares about the processor, support, blah blah. Its the logo at the back that matters.

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 5:02 AM 0

41. wildfiregt

Posts: 179; Member since: Jun 10, 2013

if you need a phone that runs facebook smoothly you don't play $500

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 4:40 PM 0

57. strudelz100

Posts: 646; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

If it has an A7 and the same density as the iPhone 5S than it has the same onscreen graphics performance as the Galaxy S6. I didn't stutter.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:51 PM 0

60. engineer-1701d unregistered

they will never do it t id would not be on that takes money away apple works off the principle give them stock basic nothing for one price had a $2 piece and charge 100 more more people will buy it with a finger print scanner than without 7 to 1 ratio

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 12:18 AM 0

39. ThePython

Posts: 902; Member since: May 08, 2013

$499.99

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 4:28 PM 11

44. zeeBomb

Posts: 2318; Member since: Aug 14, 2014

Gimme an A8 (basically the specs of an iPhone 6) then I'll declare it worth for an APPLE device.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 5:26 PM 0

59. engineer-1701d unregistered

$499.99 for 4 inch screen no fingerprint no 3d touch 16 gb internal and 1200mah battery with 4mp camera. 64gb 599 i bet thats how it will go

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 12:15 AM 0

64. engineer-1701d unregistered

sorry i mean $100 for 32gb and $200 64gb just to force people to buy 32 or 64 because no one will get a 16 it cant even do updates with a few items on it

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 12:32 AM 0

4. Heisenberg

Posts: 373; Member since: Feb 11, 2015

Crap specs for a 2015 device talk more of 2016 buh gullible sheeps would still buy it

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 12:47 PM 8

6. Wiencon

Posts: 2278; Member since: Aug 06, 2014

I wonder when will kids like you realize that iPhones are just comfortable to use and are great all-rounders. That's why people will buy it and it's not your business at all what those people are spending money on

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 1:03 PM 14

9. UglyFrank

Posts: 2193; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

The majority of the buyers want it is a status symbol, it is a known fact.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 1:41 PM 17

12. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

A known fact where? Nobody that I know, nor have seen online, uses their iPhone as a "status symbol." If anything I've seen Android users flaunt their phones as a "status symbol" more.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 1:57 PM 6

45. bur60

Posts: 981; Member since: Jul 07, 2014

Because many studies have proven that people say "I buy Apple because everybody has it" or "because it's Apple"

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 6:22 PM 5

26. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

Even if they did, that should not be a concern for you. If people are buying it for a status symbol, that is not stopping you from going to buy you favorite Android device. I will never for the life of me understand why people like you are so bothered about another company selling products.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 2:54 PM 0

14. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

We do understand. We also understand stupid when we see. Here is why it isn't worth $500. Go and look at phones that cost $500. Most have a 5" screen, are at least 800p/1080p, have 5/13MP cameras, have quadcore cpu and at least 2/3GB RAM and some have 32GB storage and more. Considering this device is likely going to be using leftovers from the iPhone 6 sales and those specs are several years old consider 1.2MP/8MP and 8/16GB storage and has no advanced features at all, it's not worth $500. Not just for Apple, any brand. It's not about wanting just a simplistic experience and yes many people don't want advanced features they will never use, so since the phone doesn't have them, then it shouldn't cost as much as one that does. That what kids like you don't see to understanding. Example, are you old enough to by a car? Would you $40,000 for a base Camry? Which won't have power windows or doors? Won't have nothing more than a 4 speaker AM/FM radio? And have the cheapest seats? If no than why would you pay $500 for a $250 phone. Think about this. The top iPhone models cost Apple about $280 for the Plus and 240 for the one below it. So what do you think the C model costs them when it's using leftover parts they've already paid for? Probably $150 tops. Please explain how a phone that will cost them $150 or less is worth $500. Considering when it comes out you can get a Galaxy S6 for $500 and the Edge for $50 extra and even if u don't use or need the fancier features you still have better cameras, more storage and advanced capabilities and a phone that will charge faster for the same price. That's where stupidity comes in. At $500 for a c, you may as well just get on a payment plan for the other models.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 2:01 PM 12

18. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

...because that is what Apple wants you to do anyways is buy through fancier models.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 2:06 PM 1

19. TBomb

Posts: 1388; Member since: Dec 28, 2012

TechieXP 2016!

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 2:08 PM 0

27. Hexa-core

Posts: 2131; Member since: Aug 11, 2015

Ahahha, but Techie is right though!

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 3:06 PM 1

22. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

"Why spend $40,000 for a base Camry?" This is why car analogies don't work and are terrible when applied to smartphones. Nobody's spending $40,000 on a smartphone. They're spending $600. The difference between a low end phone and a high end phone is a few hundred bucks. That's NOTHING compared to the difference between a low end car and a high end car, which is on the order of tens of thousands of dollars. Nobody's life is going to be effected by spending a couple hundred bucks more on a phone. Heck, I'd spend a couple hundred bucks more on a phone if I liked the design just a bit more. I'm pretty sure spending a few bucks for something they like doesn't make them a complete uttered moron, as you say below...