New report points to different name for 4-inch iPhone

Jan 11, 2016 18:22 GMT  ·  By

Apple is working on a 4-inch version of the iPhone, and rumor has it that the device could see daylight in March, several months before the public unveiling for the iPhone 7.

Since the debut would take place before the next-generation iPhone sees daylight, many thought this new model could be called iPhone 6c and be a direct successor to the 5c. But according to a new report coming from Chinese publication MyDrivers (Google Translate version), this isn't the case, and Apple is actually planning a different name for this particular handset.

Citing people with knowledge of the matter, the aforementioned source says the upcoming model will be called iPhone 5e, and instead of the A9 chip, Apple will actually go for the A8 processor. Additionally, only 1 GB of RAM will be offered on this device, as the company wants to keep the price as low as possible, so it's very clear that it will be marketed as a more affordable version of the premium models.

Only two storage versions

Additionally, the Chinese claim that Apple will offer only two different storage versions for the 4-inch iPhone, namely 16 GB and 64 GB. No 32 GB version will come to shelves, and obviously, microSD card support won't be among the included goodies.

On the other hand, some of the premium features available on the more expensive iPhone will continue to be available, such as Apple Pay, as the Cupertino-based company is pushing hard for this feature to grow in adoption numbers in the United States.

Word has it that the iPhone 5e will be priced at approximately $500 (€460) while previous rumors pointed to a starting price of $400 (€380).

It's believed that the 4-inch iPhone would feature a metal case and come in a variety of colors, just like the 5c.

Obviously, nothing is confirmed so far, so take everything with a healthy pinch of salt until Apple takes the wraps off the new model. This is expected to happen in less than a couple of months.