4-Inch ‘iPhone 5se’ Production Has Reportedly Started: Nikkei

Recent rumours have pegged a March special event coming from Apple, to reportedly introduce the iPad Air 3, new Apple Watch bands and the 4-inch ‘iPhone 5se’ or ‘iPhone 6c’.

A new report from Japan’s Nikkei (via GforGames) claims production of the device has already started. The loose Google translation says the device’s lower price point will try to target emerging markets, in efforts to continue iPhone growth, amidst recent forecasts growth may be levelling off.

The 4-inch ‘iPhone 5se’ or ‘iPhone 6c’ is said to be powered by the A9 chip from the iPhone 6s, have a better camera, more storage, support Live Photos, Apple Pay and essentially be an updated version of the iPhone 5s, but designed to look like an iPhone 6.

During Apple’s Q1 2016 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook noted the a huge base of iPhone customers still have not yet upgraded to a larger iPhone 6/6s yet, saying “the number of people who had an iPhone prior to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus announcements, so this was in September of ’14, that have not yet upgraded to a 6, 6 Plus, 6s, or 6s Plus is now 60 percent. So another way to think of that is, 40 percent have, 60 percent have not.”

Believe it or not, some people do not want a larger 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch display, because the increased physical nature makes it difficult to use with one hand.

With iPhone prices expected be more expensive locally due to our lower Canadian dollar, this device may be enticing for those seeking newer hardware, but not at the added cost of an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus.

Could the next ‘iPhone 5se’ or ‘iPhone 6c’ be the perfect upgrade for those still using an iPhone 5/5s? Would you buy one?