Although the iPhone 5c is one of Apple’s newest smartphones, the company may cut it out of the lineup completely in favor of the iPhone 6. A new report from the South China Morning Post says that Apple will discontinue its colorful handset when it introduces two new smartphones in September.The Chinese publication claims to have spoken with “two insiders” who have seen prototypes of Apple’s forthcoming handsets. Apple will reportedly stop selling the iPhone 5c and will continue selling its current flagship, the iPhone 5s. although it will be made from cheaper materials. This isn’t too different from Apple’s strategy when it launched the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s in September and axed the iPhone 5 from its lineup.
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Despite Apple’s aggressive marketing efforts, from its colorful New York City billboard campaign to its homepage redesign, the iPhone 5c hasn’t been a hot seller. During Apple’s most recent quarterly conference call, CEO Tim Cook said that demand percentage “turned out to be different than we thought.” The Wall Street Journal also previously reported that Apple will cut the iPhone 5c from its lineup later this year.
The report continues to echo rumors we’ve heard in the past about Apple’s future plans for the iPhone line. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company will supposedly roll out two new iPhones, one with a 4.7-inch display and another with a 5.5-inch screen with 426 ppi. Apple is also expected to outfit its next smartphone with a sturdy scratch-resistant sapphire glass display.
Apple has been rumored to enter the phablet market since before it launched the iPhone 5s last September. Back in June, Reuters reported that Apple was experimenting with 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch displays for future mobile devices.
The jump in display size would pit Apple’s handsets directly against its biggest competitors, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, which come with roomy 5-inch and 5.7-inch displays compared to the iPhone’s 4-inch screen. The Galaxy S5 is also rumored to get a 5-inch screen.
“There probably will be a larger screen iPhone at some point,” said Avi Greengart, research director for consumer devices at Current Analysis, when we asked about Apple’s future plans several months ago. “The speculation is really simple. We’ve seen that there is concerted consumer demand for larger displays.”
Apple is expected to announce its iPhone 5s successor in September 2014, but we should hear about Apple’s next mobile platform, iOS 8, this June.
via The South China Morning Post
Lisa has been reporting on all things mobile for Laptopmag.com since early 2013. When she’s not reviewing gadgets, she’s usually browsing patent databases or interviewing experts to track down the hottest tech trends before they even happen. Lisa holds a B.A. in Journalism from SUNY Purchase and has contributed to The International Business Times, The New York Daily News and Guitar World Magazine.From Laptopmagazine. Product reviews and advice for best reference
