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

Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Gurman: iPhone Ultra Wows Early Testers, Except for Its Camera

Sunday August 23, 2026 11:19 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra is winning over the few people who have had hands-on time with the device, though the camera setup may leave some users wanting, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says people who have used the device – which is reportedly referred to internally as the iPhone Ultra – like how it fits in your...
iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry Feature

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: When Will Apple Event Be Announced?

Monday August 24, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
It is now late August, meaning that Apple's annual iPhone event is just around the corner. Below, we take a look at when the event might be held this year. This September, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an all-new foldable iPhone that will reportedly be named the iPhone Ultra. The regular iPhone 18, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 are not...
apple magic keyboard with glyphs 2026 refresh

Apple Quietly Refreshes Magic Keyboards

Tuesday August 25, 2026 7:22 am PDT by
Apple today quietly introduced updated Magic Keyboard models with revised U.S. English key labeling. On the new keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps are labeled with glyphs rather than edge text. On the full-size models with a numeric keypad, the change goes further, with the home, page up, page down, end, clear, and enter keys also swapping their text labels for...

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)