Apple Drops Plans to Release a Smaller iPhone 6C

Apple’s iPhone 6 has been one of the most popular products in the company’s history. Pre-orders for the phone exceeded four million units within 24 hours of its release. Over ten million of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus handsets were sold in the first three days. In fact, the iPhone 6 has remained the top-selling smartphone for every quarter since it was released over ten months ago. It is perhaps due to the incredible sales of the iPhone 6 that Apple is reportedly scrapping the idea of a releasing a smaller, more budget-friendly handset in September.

iPhone 6C Concept Art by Martin Hajek

Rumors of an iPhone 6C hit the web as far back as last December. The idea was that the 6C would follow in the footsteps of the 5C – a slightly cheaper phone featuring many of the same internals of the previous flagship iPhone model with a polycarbonate casing. The 6C would, theoretically, utilize the same internal components and features of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but would return to the 4-inch screen size of previous versions of the iPhone. Intended to target budget-conscious users as well as those who were put off by the larger screen size of the 6 and 6 Plus, rumors of the 6C were quite popular around the internet.

iPhone 6C Concept Art

According to Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri, Apple was previously considering manufacturing and releasing an iPhone 6C, but has likely scrapped the idea. Arcuri claimed that information gathered from several sources as well as supply chain research indicated that Apple was looking to produce the 6C, but that evidence of the phone has disappeared from Apple’s supply chain. According to Arcuri, the product may have been scrapped due to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus’s popularity. “I think one of the reasons is because the iPhone 6 has sold so well”, Arcuri told Business Insider. “If [Apple] came out with an iPhone 6C, [they] would essentially cannibalize a price-reduced iPhone 6.’”

Although Arcurci has a bit of a spotty track record when it comes to iPhone predictions, highly accurate KGI Security Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in April that the release of a 4-inch iPhone model in 2015 was “unlikely”. However, in a note to investors, Kuo did claim that a 4-inch iPhone model in 2016 will “be key to extending momentum” for users preferring the smaller form factor of previous iPhone models. It is a possibility that the iPhone 6C was not scrapped, but was put on hold until a later date.

Apple is expected to launch a new iPhone, the 6S in September. The phone is said to feature a faster A9 processor, as well as Force Touch technology, increased RAM, and an improved camera among other features.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]