Customers look at Apple iPhone 5C and 5S at an Apple store in Beijing's Sanlitun area, September 30, 2014. The iPhone 6 will be sold in China from Oct 17, after rigorous regulator scrutiny led to Apple Inc reassuring the Chinese government that the smartp
Customers look at Apple iPhone 5C and 5S at an Apple store in Beijing's Sanlitun area, September 30, 2014. Reuters/Jason Lee

In this year, Apple is rumoured to launch at least three iPhone models, a flagship iPhone 7, an upgraded edition of iPhone 6 called the iPhone 6S and lastly a budget smarpthone called the iPhone 6C. Fresh renders of the iPhone 6C concept model has surfaced that shows that the forthcoming budget phone from Apple would feature metal chassis instead of plastic.

The iPhone 5C that came out in September 2013 is slated to get discontinued this year, states the International Business Times report from Dec 2014. 3D Future has published few concept renders of the iPhone 6C based on the designs of the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 5C.

3D Future says that the Cupertino company prefers to use a new design for at least two seasons and this is what it expects to happen this year too. From the iPhone 6C concept renders, it can be known that the handset will sport slimmer chassis, a fingerprint sensor and rounded edges, states Mac Rumors.

On one of the sides of the device, a pill-shaped volume button can be seen. The bottom edge shows the presence of circular speaker grilles. It also houses a protruding rear camera. On the basis of the iPhone 6C renders, Mac Rumors further predicts that the handset will feature a 4.7-inch screen as the device can be seen with the iPhone 6 in one of the concept renders.

According to Phone Arena, the iPhone 5C featured the same hardware specs as the iPhone 5 that was released in 2012. However, it came with the iOS 7 operating system instead of the iOS 6 present on the iPhone 5C. The major difference between the two models is that the iPhone 5C sports a full plastic exterior instead of all-aluminum chassis. It adds that Apple’s move of discontinuing the iPhone 5 in 2013 and replacing it with the iPhone 5C received negative reception from the iPhone fans.

What do you think about the new iPhone 6C concept renders? Will Apple launch an affordable edition of the iPhone 6 aka the iPhone 6C this year? Do let us know your thoughts by posting comments.

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, email a.sivanandan@ibtimes.com.au