The very reliable Reuters (can’t say the same about Digitimes) is reporting Apple is set to exploring the option of adding larger screen iPhones to the current line up.
“The moves, which are still under discussion, underscore how the California-based firm that once ruled the smartphone market is increasingly under threat from its aggressive South Korean competitor,” Clare Jim, Reiji Murai and Poornima Gupta report for Reuters. “Samsung has overtaken Apple in market share through the popularity of its bigger-screen Galaxy “phablets” and by flooding the market with a range of products at different prices.”
The report went on to suggest that Apple will be launching two larger screen iPhone.
“Apple is looking at introducing at least two bigger iPhones next year – one with a 4.7-inch screen and one with a 5.7-inch screen – said the sources, including those in the supply chain in Asia. They said suppliers have been approached with plans for the larger screens, but noted it is still unclear whether Apple will actually launch its flagship product in the larger sizes,” the report explains.
“They constantly change product specifications almost to the final moment, so you’re not really sure whether this is the final prototype,” said one person with direct knowledge of the matter.
The introduction of these new sizes in attributed to strong competition rival smartphone maker – Samsung.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook recently pointed to unsatisfactory trade-offs as one of the reasons the company has not entered this market. Avid readers of Apple related news would remember this was the same line given for not bring LTE to the iPhone sooner.
Here is an excerpt from AllthingsD conference in 2013:
Walt: Let me help you. There seem to be people that like much larger screens. There are people that like “phablets” that are between phones and tablets.
Cook: A large screen today comes with a lot of trade-offs. People do look at the size. They also look at things like do the photos show the proper color. Battery life, brightness, etc.
What our customers want is for us to weigh those and come out with a decision. At this point, we’ve felt the Retina display that we are shipping is overwhelmingly the best.
