Mac Rumours has reported that Apple is planning to launch a 4-inch iPhone in 2016, which will sport an A9 chipset and come with Apple Pay and a colourful metal casing.
The report is based on research from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who predicted that the new iPhone will resemble an upgraded iPhone 5s.
In his research, Kuo said there are many reasons for Apple to launch the new iPhone, including:
  1. Still-existing demand for 4-inch smartphones. “We estimate the new 4-inch model will account for 8-9% of total iPhone shipments in 2016.”
  2. Expected price of $400-500, with the aim of penetrating emerging markets and consumers on smaller budgets.
  3. Adoption of NFC will support Apple Pay, benefiting the ecosystem