Where Is The 'Normal' Sized iPhone 6?

Apple unveiled the new iPhones—plural—earlier this week. The larger iPhone 6, and the phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus. Those devices fill a niche demand, and will do well with those who crave a larger smartphone, but it seems Apple is neglecting the millions upon millions of loyal iPhone users who like it just the way it is.

I have argued for years that Apple should not pander to the demand for larger smartphones. I agree with the logic attributed to Steve Jobs—that the device should be easily navigable using one hand—and the popularity of the iPhone models seems to suggest that the general population agrees as well. There are already larger devices available. They’re called tablets.

Recently, I backed off my more militant and condescending position regarding larger devices. I recognize that the demand does exist. While the success of the iPhone in its current size is undeniable, there are people who want or need the larger display, and who would prefer an iPhone, but have opted for an Android or Windows Phone because there are larger options available. Apple could capture that market and sell millions more iPhones just by offering larger sizes that meet that demand. I get it.

That doesn’t, however, change the fact that millions of iPhone users like it just the way it is. Unfortunately, the way it appears right now is that iPhone users have a choice between up-sizing their smartphone, or using dated, legacy technology. Apple will continue to sell the existing model, but it will still be the existing model—a plain old iPhone 5s that lacks the updates and features (like Apple Pay) that grace the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s.

There are some potential benefits to a larger iPhone aside from the display itself—like more space for a larger battery. Even with that in mind, though, I stated in a recent blog post, “I’m still adamantly opposed to Apple simply replacing the existing iPhone with a gargantuan model. I like the current size. It fits in a pocket nicely.”


When Apple decided to cater to demand for a smaller tablet with the iPad Mini, it didn’t subsequently phase out the original iPad size. It offers both, and continues to update the hardware and features of both the iPad and the iPad Mini. It seems reasonable to expect the same for the iPhone.

I’m giving Apple the benefit of the doubt for now. Perhaps it is too much to expect that Apple would conduct the research and development to create two new, larger iPhone models, and also re-engineer the existing iPhone model at the same time. It’s possible that Apple will update the iPhone 5s with the improved features and updates of the iPhone 6 models in a future release, or develop a third iPhone 6 model the same size as the current iPhone 5s.

I’ve got my fingers crossed, but I’m not holding my breath. Apple called the new, larger iPhone 6 the iPhone 6. I would assume that if Apple plans to continue to offer a device the size of the iPhone 5s as a new iPhone 6 model at some point, it would have given the new models different names like iPhone 6 Plus, and iPhone 6 Plus XL. If Apple does update the current size and offer it as a new iPhone 6 model, what would it call it? The iPhone 6 Minus?

I’m still not interested in the phablet edition iPhone 6 Plus. I will get the iPhone 6 because I want the new features and capabilities that exist in the new smartphone that my iPhone 5s lacks. But, it will be somewhat reluctantly, and with the hope that Apple will offer a new iPhone 6 model in the “normal” iPhone size at some point in the future so I can downsize back to the smaller device while still being able to take advantage of all the iPhone 6 has to offer.

-forbes