A clerk arranges Apple's iPhone 5C phones on racks bearing the logo of China Mobile, at a mobile phone shop in Beijing December 23, 2013. Apple Inc said it has signed a long-awaited agreement with China Mobile Ltd to sell iPhones through the world&
IN PHOTO: A clerk arranges Apple's iPhone 5C phones on racks bearing the logo of China Mobile, at a mobile phone shop in Beijing December 23, 2013. Apple Inc said it has signed a long-awaited agreement with China Mobile Ltd to sell iPhones through the world's biggest network of mobile phone users. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Even though Apple fans are buying the new iPhone 6 models that come with bigger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens, the company still offers smaller iPhone models. The iPhone 6C is a purported 4-inch handset rumoured to feature metal chassis. It will come out to succeed the iPhone 5C.

The iPhone 5C from 2013 featured plastic chassis. However, the newer iPhone 6C is going to wear metal chassis, states a market analysis firm called Jefferies, reports Barron’s Asia. It adds that the stocks of Foxconn, the major manufacturing partner of Apple, have grown by 3.2 percent. Hence, speculations suggest that around 50 per cent of the metal casings order for iPhone 6C will go to Foxconn. It further reports that Hon Hai Technologies will be assembling the 4-inch iPhone 6C

Ming-Chi Kuo analyst from KGI Securities has revealed that Apple will not be releasing the iPhone 6C in this year, claims Mac Rumors. It indicates that the smaller iPhone 6C’s release is slated to happen in 2016. The iPhone 6C will be featuring a 4-inch Retina display. It also claims that the iPhone 6C release date is set for the first half of 2016. A report from GSM Dome published in May this year suggest that the iPhone 6C will be featuring a camera sensor from Sony.

The Jefferies have also reported that the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S that are slated to release later this year will also come housed with metal casings. The report form Barron’s Asia claims that Jefferies are calling the iPhone 6C as an extend version of the iPhone 5. However, it does not reveal what “extended version” refers to.

Apple has not made any official announcement on the iPhone 6C and if the handset is surely going to arrive next year, the Cupertino tech giant will probably reveal official information in 2016. Also, it is yet to release official information on the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus that are predicted to release in September this year.

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