Op-Ed: Two 'iPhone 6' models, one Apple event
July 24, 2014
This is silly season in the world of Apple. It’s an exciting time because history tells us that new products are about to launch. Unfortunately, the closer we get to the new iPhone and iPad launch announcements, the more the rumor machine churns.
The latest “iPhone 6” rumor says that Apple is planning on launching its bigger, 5.5-inch iPhone handset after the 4.7-inch model in order to avoid competition between the two devices. As Joe White noted earlier on Thursday this is being done because “Apple is concerned about repeating ‘the mistake it made in 2013 when it launched the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c simultaneously.’”
I don’t put a lot of stock in this report, which came from the often unreliable DigiTimes. Apple will not unveil a 4.7-inch iPhone, and then a larger model just a few weeks or months later.
Yes, in doing so, it would help avoid competition between the two handsets. It would also cause a lot of blood to boil among Apple product users.
Most still buy a cellphone with a two-year contract. In other words, if you buy a 4.7-inch iPhone in September, you can’t then buy a 5.5-inch model later in the year, or in early 2015.
If there are two new iPhones coming, Apple will almost certainly announce them both at the same event. In doing so, Cupertino could still delay the launch of the 5.5-inch model — by a few weeks, anyway. That way, buyers could make a more informed choice.
I’m still not convinced Apple is planning on launching a 5.5-inch iPhone this year. Instead, I think this could be Apple's 2015 model. Hopefully, we'll know Apple's plans soon.
In summary, if there is a larger iPhone model in 2014, it will be announced at the same time as the smaller handset. Otherwise, it won't be unveiled until next year.
See also: Case-maker Spigen has cases ready for Apple's bigger, 4.7-inch 'iPhone 6,' Preorders for Apple's 'iPhone 6' are now being offered by online sellers in China, and Apple preparing up to 80 million 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch 'iPhone 6' units, says WSJ.
