iPhone: Is there still a need for a “C” Model?

(Photo credits: Phone Arena's Phone Size Comparison Tool)

Last year with the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the iPhone lineup for the first time offered consumers the ability to choose the screen size of the iPhone they want. Consisting of the smaller, cheaper, but still very capable iPhone 5S at 4", the iPhone 6 at 4.7", and the iPhone 6 Plus at 5.5". But this year come September, the iPhone 5S would be 2 years old, and no longer a viable candidate as a cheaper and smaller option due to its age.

To me it presents an interesting problem, which is “What about consumers who love the one-handed ease of use of the iPhone 5/5S?”

If Apple would to maintain the same practice this year, launching the tentatively named iPhone 6S, and 6S Plus, they cannot simply push the iPhone 6 down as the lower tier model. (Assuming of course that Apple keeps the tradition of the “S” model being the upgraded version of the iPhone 6.) Because then, there would be no viable option for consumers who wants an iPhone with a smaller form factor. It makes little sense to buy an iPhone 5S that is already 2 years old, especially for those who get their phones from their carrier with a 2 year contract.

In an article by iMore about the potential of the iPhone 6C fulfilling the market demand for a smaller and cheaper iPhone,

“More likely, Apple wants to keep 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone models exclusive to the high-end, a 4-inch iPhone 6c could make a lot of sense.”

I agree with the article. That is if Apple wants to keep the 4.7” and 5.5” exclusive to the higher end models. But personally, I would prefer to see an iPhone 6S Mini, rather than an iPhone 6C. I for one would love to see a smaller sized iPhone (perhaps 4.2”) with the same premium build quality of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, and with as little compromise as possible when it comes to specifications. Much like the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact.

Then from then on, Apple could do a 3 model refresh each year for 3 different phone sizes, and then position 3 model from the last generation as the cheaper alternatives. Fulfilling the needs of consumers looking to buy a cheaper iPhone, and best of all, they still get the ability to choose the screen size they want.

In a sense, it is pretty much back to the way it was before the iPhone 5C came along. With the last generation device being the cheaper alternative, like the iPhone 4S was when the iPhone 5 came along.

While the 5C did performed well in terms of units shipped in comparison to other manufacturers, it did not performed as well as new iPhones normally do. Personally I would rather the “C” model gone entirely.

Where I live, even after the 5C came out, I still see people preferring the iPhone 5 over the 5C for a couple of reasons.

• When the 5C came out, it was still cheaper to get a used iPhone 5 in mint condition. And in fact it still is the case now for used devices.
• The iPhone 5 was the flagship device with premium materials. The 5C will always be the lower-end model with plastic build, no matter how good the plastic is.
• After the warranty has expired, it is much cheaper, and easier to repair the iPhone 5 due to parts availability. I am talking about third party service providers of course. A trusted service provider near where I live does not even repair the 5C, with such little amount of users, it makes little sense to stock parts for the 5C.
• It is also easier to find accessories (not to mention more choices) for the iPhone 5 as it is the more popular model.

Despite really liking the iPhone 5C when I used it, I still think it makes more sense to get the iPhone 5 even today.

But as Rene Ritchie from iMore so aptly put,

“Either way, unless and until Apple gives it all up for hot tubs, there are new iPhones coming our way this fall. And it will be fascinating to see how Apple arranges the rest of the product lineup around them."