A recent survey of US smartphone users has revealed that roughly 20% of consumers prefer a smaller handset in the 4-inch range as opposed to the current-sized models. This potentially signals the market size for a refreshed entry-level iPhone from Apple. Responding to the recent rumors suggesting Apple is working on a revamped 4-inch handset, the investment firm Piper Jaffray polled 1,077 US consumers to find out what their preferred screen size was. Of those who surveyed, roughly 20.3% said they would prefer a 4-inch handset, which for those of you who didn’t know is the size of the Apple’s current iPhone 5s.
The larger screened offerings proved to be more popular in the poll with 31.2% saying that Apple’s 4.7-inch form factor found in the iPhone 6s is ideal while 27.2% said they prefer the larger 5.5-inch size of the iPhone 6s Plus. The remaining 21.2% said they would prefer a different screen size outside of 4, 4.7 and 5.5 inches. Gene Munster feels that the poll suggests that a new 4-inch iPhone won’t have a major effect on Apple’s sales. He predicts that most consumers will find that they prefer the larger screen sizes once they become accustomed to them. Munster wrote the following regarding the matter:
We believe that part of the reason that over 20% of smartphone users still say they prefer a 4" screen size is they still have older model iPhones. When they upgrade to a 4.7" screen with an only slightly bigger footprint in the pocket, we expect those users would be converts to the larger screen size.
Most of these analyst predictions were aligned with current rumors sans the timing. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities believes that Apple could launch its new 4-inch iPhone in early 2016 but Munster believes that the company wouldn’t launch a new handset so soon.
We’ll have to wait and see if the Cupertino California company does end up going this route by being patient.
Source: Piper Jaffray via AppleInsider
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