(PCM) It’s getting closer. The big screen iphone. Don’t let the rumor mill be your source, Apple itself is now pushing supplies for two larger screen iphones for the fourth quarter of 2014. The proposed sizes are 5.5 inch and 4.7 inch.
Could this mean the iphone 6 with a larger screen will hit in usual month of September? Don’t get too excited, the 4.7 inch model will arrive in September with the 5.5 inch following later. As for rumors, some indicate the 4.7 inch iphone 6 could enjoy an early release date in August of 2014 with the even larger 5.5 inch screen being released during the traditional month of September.
Other rumors that seem more plausible considering how close we already are to August, that the 5.5 inch big screen iphone 6 won’t be released until early 2015.
Apple may have innovated the smart phone experience back in 2007 with the iphone, but despite consumer demand only once did Apple increase the iphone screen size from 3.5 to 4 inches with the iphone 5. Meanwhile the android market has made screen size a major reason users upgrade year-after-year. In many cases some users upgrade inside a year of ownership if for no other reason than to enjoy a larger screen size.
Here’s some fun history of the previous iphone release dates:
- iphone 1st Generation: June, 2007
- phone 3G July, 2008
- iphone 3GS June, 2009
- iphone 4 June, 2010
- iphone 4s October, 2011
- iphone 5 September, 2012
- iphone 5s/5c September 2013
Larger screen sizes drive most purchases according to Counterpoint Research. A 2014 study revealed that 98 percent of all android phones purchased over $400 featured a screen at 5 inches or greater. Don’t ask if the research was skewed because it didn’t include the iphone. Remember, the iphone’s don’t yet feature a screen at 5 inches. Apple’s big screen iphone 6 won’t rely on size alone as a selling feature, like the iphone 5 series there will be a metal cases and colors.
Apple is requesting from suppliers an inventory of 120 million units by the end of 2014. Does this mean they are expecting a huge expansion of market share? The answer is no. The change to a larger screen will most likely not result in new customers for Apple which is generally never a concern to the company. They rely on existing customers to upgrade. The added inventory is a safeguard in preparing for the unknown of screen failure.
One attractive selling feature in Apples big change to a larger screen is the use of a sapphire crystal case. It’s known to be more durable but comes with increased cost which will be passed onto the Apple consumer.
