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

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Thursday August 20, 2026 8:00 am PDT by
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern. As usual, the iPhone event is expected to take place in the first half of September. Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The last time the holiday was on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Sunday August 16, 2026 8:24 pm PDT by
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern. As usual, the event is expected to take place in the first half of September. Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The last time the holiday was on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to the...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Accidentally Leaked More Than 10 New Products in macOS Update

Wednesday August 19, 2026 8:02 am PDT by
Apple on Monday seeded the macOS 26.7 Release Candidate, and the upcoming software update has seemingly leaked more than 10 new Apple products. macOS 26.7's code contains references to AirPods with infrared cameras for Visual Intelligence, the long-rumored foldable iPhone, an all-new Apple smart home hub, the first-ever MacBook and iPad mini models with OLED displays, an updated Siri Remote...

Top Rated Comments

Dave.UK Avatar
162 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)
162 months ago
I personally just like using one hand to do everything on my iPhone 5.
Score: 80 Votes (Like | Disagree)
162 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
162 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)
162 months ago
"...Apple acknowledges that "consumers want what we don't have"..."

HELLO.
Score: 55 Votes (Like | Disagree)
162 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)