All indications point to a busy 2015 fall for Apple Inc. (AAPL) as the company prepares for a series of release dates starting with its flagship device that likely will unbox as the iPhone 6S. The handset is set to be joined by the jumbo iPhone 6S Plus and later on by the iPhone 6C and iPad Mini 4, reports said.
The 4.7-inch iPhones 6S and 5.5-inch 6S Plus are set to replace the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus of last year but according to Business Insider, a third model with a 4-inch screen profile remains likely. The smallest of the new iPhones, which will look and function like the scaled down iPhone, has been in the development stage early this year and was originally planned to launch with the 6S and 6S Plus.
But Apple reportedly changed its mind. The 4-inch iPhone 6C appears in limbo at the moment, analyst Timothy Arcuri told Business Insider. It turned out that the iPhone maker had a sudden realization that in releasing a budget model, the iPhone 6 sales this 2015 could be negatively impacted.
Apple plans to continue selling the iPhone 6 following the release of fresh models, repackaging it as the more affordable option hence with a lower sticker price. But the iPhone 6C might defeat the purpose of the iPhone 6's continuing presence on Apple Stores, the report added.
The iPhone 6C "would essentially cannibalize a price-reduced iPhone 6," Arcuri was reported by the publication as saying.
At this stage, the small iPhone is either cancelled or merely delayed. If the latter is the case, the likely outing could be in the first quarter of 2016, the report added.
And there will be two iPads to unpack this year, which a BGR report said will take place around the holiday season. Apple fans can get hold of the iPad Air 3 and the main headliner of the device is the duo that is the A9 application processor and iOS 9. Build-wise, not much will change but the tablet is faster, snappier and more powerful than ever, the report said, pointing to Japanese blog MacOtakara as source.
The 9.7-inch Air 3 will have a smaller twin in the 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4 that will be noticeably thinner and lighter than the Mini 3 of last year. The Mini 4 specs and features, including the general design, are based on the iPad Air 2. Under the hood, the main engine could be the A8 chip though there is a chance that Apple will use A9 processor.
As mentioned, release date of the two iPads will be right in the middle of the 2015 holiday season or a few months after the iPhone 6S release date in September.