Things are looking up for Apple iPhone enthusiasts as 2015 fast approaches its second half. Rumors have broken out that Apple will be releasing three different Apple iPhone models this year–alongside iPhone 6’s successors iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, the industry is reportedly unveiling a budget-friendly iPhone 6C.
While Apple watchers are looking forward to the next-generation iPhone “S” models, Digitimes dropped the bombshell Wednesday that the company will release a third model this year. Previous talks have suggested that the “C” iPhone lineup, lower-cost versions of the posh phones first launched in 2013, will be phased out by the giant company after the launch of the iPhone 6, but the latest buzz claimed that a 4-inch display iPhone 6C will also be debuting as part of the 2015 refresh cycle.
In addition to the span of colors of the current iPhones, including silver, gold, and space gray, there has also been circulating rumors of a pink (rose gold) colored model, like that of the Apple Watch Editions, being part of the next-generation lineup. However, it is speculated that it may only be available for the iPhone 6C.
Now considered as the successor the iPhone 5C, the rumored model is likely to be equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass like the “S” models, indicating that Apple may have put on hold its shots at sapphire smartphone displays as of the moment, 9to5mac stated. All three next-gen devices will also be sourced from Japan and LG Display, with addition production at Sharp for the screens of the Plus and “C” units.
Moreover, the “S” models are believed to ship Samsung-made A9 processor, while the 6C with A8 chips. All three, however, will come equipped with Apple’s new Force Touch technology, NFC support for Apple Pay, and will stick to an 8 MP camera.
No hardware differences were additionally stated, although the Plus will boast a larger display when in landscape mode, and will include optical image stabilization. On the software basis, Apple will also be working on a massive stability release that will eradicate bugs and optimize performance, and will ship as iOS 9.
There has been no confirmation whatsoever on all these iPhone buzz, but Macworld stated that a Chinese-language website claims that “no such device exists at present; and that Apple has not made any new production tasks related to a 4-inch device,” with Apple’s supply chain cited as sources. However, many are still optimistic about the release of a 4-inch iPhone, thinking that it’s the “perfect size,” and analysts say that a lower-cost phone offered to “people who haven’t yet owned an iPhone is a great way to get them into the ecosystem.”
Apple has chosen to release new iPhones twice a year in an attempt to curb their ever-growing and improving competition with rivals Samsung, HTC, LG, and Sony, among others.
