Apple Acknowledges Consumers Want Larger and Cheaper Phones - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Acknowledges Consumers Want Larger and Cheaper Phones

The latest internal documents coming out of the Samsung/Apple trial show some candid insight into Apple's analysis of the future of the smartphone market.

The documents posted by Re/code include an Apple slide deck from April, 2013 for 2014 planning. The document includes graphs showing that Apple's growth rates are slowing quarter after quarter. The main reason for the decline amongst consumers? Consumers want less expensive and larger screen smartphones:

whatsgoingon
In a further breakdown, Apple acknowledges that "consumers want what we don't have" -- which shows that the majority of smartphone growth is in both >4" screen sizes and <$300 markets. donthave
Apple has been heavily rumored to be introducing a larger iPhone 6 this fall. The size of the new iPhone has been thought to be 4.7" or 5.5" with the 4.7" model coming first. While rumors have been consistent, Apple's own insights from 2013 explain why such a move is likely to happen.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27 Feature 1

50 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27 - Out Now!

Monday September 14, 2026 10:48 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 27 this week, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features to explore, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. Which iPhones Support Every iOS 27 Feature? This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though,...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...

Top Rated Comments

Dave.UK Avatar
163 months ago
Good. Nobody wants a obscenely large iPhone screen just because a few novelty Android devices have them.

This quote makes me chuckle even more now!
Score: 98 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
I personally just like using one hand to do everything on my iPhone 5.
Score: 80 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
Apple Acknowledges Consumers Want Larger and Cheaper Phones

Breaking news: MacRumors fanboys still won't acknowledge this.
Score: 70 Votes (Like | Disagree)
penter Avatar
163 months ago
I think we're beginning to see the era where Apple is no longer an innovator, but a mere competitor...
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
"...Apple acknowledges that "consumers want what we don't have"..."

HELLO.
Score: 55 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
What Apple Needs is New Innovative Products. The iPhone this June will be almost 8 Years old. The iPhone Gravy Train is almost over. Its time to invent some new products. Just like the iPod had its run, The iPhone run is coming to a close soon.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)