While Apple may be quite busy for its new high-end iPhone and for its cheaper version release next week, the company is said to be working on something bigger, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
According to reports, Apple has already begun evaluating the possibility of launching larger iPhones with screens ranging from 4.8 inches to as high as 6 inches, a big leap from its 4-inch screen iPhone 5 that may have been outwitted by other large competitors in the market.
The said plain was said to have been developed out of the company's move to invest in a new smartphone strategy that would enable the growth of its new engines as well as provide competition with Samsung Electronics Co.
Earlier reports stated that the Korean rival has taken a commanding lead in market share ever since it began offering a wide range of devices at different sizes and prices.Samsung reportedly announced on Wednesday its Galaxy Note 3, a phablet that features a 5.7-inch screen with several S-pen enhanced capabilities.
However, the idea of ultimately releasing a 6-inch and other multi-size iPhones is still unclear since the company has begun shipping a new lower-cost model for the first time since it launched the high-end mobile device. But Apple has been reportedly testing several prototypes and configurations prior to choosing a new course.
Experts said that the company's internal deliberations and plans signify Apple's will to move ahead in the market competition.
Component suppliers have already confirmed that the company has been testing larger screens for iPhones for several months now, adding that Apple is particularly interested in launching a 4.8-inch screen display anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the new installments that will be unveiled next Tuesday will not stray from the current size of iPhones Apple has been manufacturing as of late.
A spokeswoman to the company declined to comment on the rumor.
It can be noted that Apple released an iPhone with a larger screen size in its iPhone 5 installment; however, analysts claimed that the change in size was not enough for the company to keep up with the tight competition, adding that the pricing for its products has also lead to a lag on its sales.
The new iPhone that will be launched next week is expected to start at $650 without subsidy while the low-priced versions will be below $100 in several countries including: China, Indonesia, and India.
According to a market research firm Gartner, Apple's share of worldwide sales fell to 14% in the second quarter from 19% while Samsung's share rose to 32% from 30%.