Apple’s much-rumored iPhone 6C smartphone may indeed arrive in early 2016. Rumors about the device have been doing rounds for months. The latest report coming out of Asia claims that the new smartphone aimed at mid- to lower-end of the market will enter mass production in January 2016. Apple may unveil the iPhone 6C at a special event in March alongside the Apple Watch 2 and iPad Air 3.
The new phone to have Apple Pay capabilities
Citing “inside Foxconn employees,” Chinese tech publication MyDrivers (Google Translate) claims the 4-inch device will feature a 1,642mAh battery, slightly bigger than the iPhone 5S’ battery capacity of 1,570mAh. Previous reports suggested that it would simply be a slightly enhanced iPhone 5S. But the new report points to a more powerful device. The 4-inch phone will be aimed at emerging markets and consumers who don’t like larger displays.
The iPhone 6C will feature 2GB RAM, 16GB of base storage, and A9 processor, the same 64-bit chipset that powers the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. Sources told MyDrivers that it will also feature Touch ID and the same 2.5D curved glass that Apple has used in the iPhone 6 and later models. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said the iPhone 6C would also likely feature an NFC chip. That means you can look forward to the Apple Pay capabilities with this phone.
iPhone 6C to have aluminum body
Another major change will be the use of aluminum body instead of the much-maligned plastic used on the iPhone 5C. However, it won’t be as good as Apple’s flagship iPhone 6S because the iPhone 6C is unlikely to feature 3D Touch and advanced camera technologies. The new report comes just days after the world’s largest telecom carrier China Mobile’s leaked 2016 phone roadmap revealed that Apple’s 4-inch smartphone will hit the Chinese store shelves in April.
Foxconn sources told MyDrivers that the device will look similar to the iPhone 5S. The new handset will likely have a display resolution of 1,136 x 640 pixels. It is rumored to be available in three colors: gold, silver and space gray.
