Apple Rumored To Be Working On 4 Inch iPhone

Rumors about Apple making a return to the 4-inch form factor for future iPhones have been doing the rounds since late last year.

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While they seem to have quietened down as of late, however, a new report injects some life into the story by claiming that Apple display panel maker AU Optronics is one of several companies involved with manufacturing 4-inch iPhone panels - for a device which could ship as early as Q1 2016.

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However according to rumors, he new 4-inch device could be a replacement for the iPhone 5c, which currently occupies the low end of Apple's smartphone lineup. According to Arcuri, the new 4-inch "iPhone 6s mini" may include "purpose-built low cost components" from Qualcomm to keep the price down.

The existence of the 4-inch iPhone is a bit contentious at this point in time. This is not the first time that AUO has been named as the supplier for the 4-inch display panels.

Apple touted its smaller screen sizes as an advantage over competitors, as the 4-inch form factor allowed users to operate the device easily with one hand. But with consumers showing a preference for larger displays, Apple made the change this year to larger screens, and included a new "Reachability" feature to aid in one-handed use.

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We are skeptical that such a device exists, after all why would Apple want to release a 4-inch iPhone when they've already increased its screen size?

In any case as is the case with all rumors, especially Apple-related ones, do take it with a grain of salt for now.