Could an 'iPhone 7c' handset launch in April 2016?
Apple could be planning on launching a new "iPhone 7c" handset in 2016, according to China Mobile's product roadmap, at least. The Chinese carrier seems to think that such a handset is due to launch from Cupertino in April, and it'll reportedly be the four-inch device we've already heard so much about.
For folks with smaller hands
The news comes from MyDrivers, a Chinese-language website that claims China Mobile's product roadmap indeed features an "iPhone 7c" launch in April (take a look at the above image, if you don't believe us).
This all seems a little odd, however. Although we'd previously heard that a new four-inch iPhone was in Apple's product pipeline, reports had more sensibly assumed that the smartphone would be a "6c" model, rather than "7c." It would be curious for Apple to release a handset in the "7" line before the anticipated flagship "iPhone 7" itself, though another publication, MIC Gadget, made a similar claim regarding the "iPhone 7c" name recently, too.
Before now, we'd heard that a four-inch "iPhone 6c" could launch from Apple in either February or March, and that the device would indeed be smaller but also colorful, too. It isn't expected to offer customers a 3D Touch display, but it should include a Touch ID Home button.
Earlier this month, we also heard that around 20 percent of U.S. customers would prefer an "iPhone 6c," rather than a larger 4.7-inch iPhone 6/6s or, dare it be said, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus (a handset which I use and love, I might add).
Although most respondents (31.2 percent) prefer the size of the iPhone 6/6s, and 27.2 percent like the larger 5.5-inch display of the iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus, a significant portion of the people surveyed nevertheless prefer the four-inch display of Apple’s iPhone 5/5s handsets.
So, if the aforementioned reports are true, we don't have long to wait until a four-inch iPhone from Apple launches. Though whether the anticipated device will carry the "iPhone 6c" or "iPhone 7c" title remains to be seen. As always, we'll keep you posted.
