Speculation pertaining to the possibility of Apple releasing a new 4-inch iPhone 6c will just not go away. A number of industry insiders and well-placed analysts have consistently predicted that the Cupertino-based company will launch a 4-inch iPhone in early 2016 to appease those iOS fans who prefer a more budget option and simply do not want to make the move to a device that is 4.7-inches or bigger at 5.5-inches. Now, a new report, albeit a very difficult to swallow one, is suggesting that the new 4-inch phone or “iPhone 6c”, could hit the market as early as February 2016, packing a vibrant colorful metal design.

Called iPhone 5s Mark II and coming in early 2016, the specs of Apple’s rumored 4-inch iPhone are said to be based on the existing iPhone 5s model but with Apple’s A8 chip, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 and a FaceTime HD camera with improved ƒ/2.2 aperture. Here are the full details.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, Apple will launch a new 4-inch iPhone early next year featuring the A9 chip while the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus with 3GB RAM are on track for Q3 2016 release.

Apple is widely expected to launch two new iPhones next month, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. But what about the speculated iPhone 6c that would appeal to the more cash conscious consumer? A number of reports have suggested that the Cupertino company will introduce a third device alongside its revamped iPhone 6 range. This rumor has yet to be officially put to bed by a representative of Apple, but a number of entries in a set of developer logs have given the clearest indication yet, that an iPhone 6c doesn’t exist.

A lot has been happening in the Apple world these past few days, and if you’ve been keeping track of all those developments, here’s one more to catch on to; a purported iPhone 6c with Touch ID image on Apple’s own website.

The first alleged 4-inch iPhone 6c photos have been leaked. There have been rumors about the 4-inch iPhone going around the Web since after the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but lately the device’s existence has been sketchy at best. The new photos however seem to suggest otherwise, so head over the jump for more on this news.

Apple’s iPhone has been a continued success story, with sales improving as each new version arrives. One model that does stick out a little is the iPhone 5c, which was the company’s attempt at a more affordable handset, and although it has divided opinion, continues to retail alongside the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. In the run-up to last September, it was reckoned that colorful, plastic-clad 5c would be scrapped, but having been thrown out for a second run, it may well be here to stay. One concept maker seems to agree, and as such, has come through with some impressive renders of what the next version – should it ever manifest itself – may look like.

Scarcely a day goes by without some kind of update on the state of the so-called iPhone 6, and one of our favorite designers has come through with an interesting concept that, based on various leaked info, shows how an “iPhone 6s” might stand up against an “iPhone 6c” if both current devices were upgraded.

The iPhone 5c mightn’t have taken off in the manner that Apple would have hoped, but this hasn’t stopped the concept makers from trying to dream up designs for its would-be successor. Based upon sketches leaked out into the wild, designer Ferry Passchier mocked up some renders of the so-called “iPhone 6” a short while back – and beautiful they were. Now, he’s gone back to the drawing board, so to speak, and re-created the same concept but with plasticky, iPhone 5c-like overtones.

Even though we’re quite a long way from a release, it’s hard not to get just a little bit excited about the iPhone 6, particularly given the reports of two new, decidedly larger devices arriving later this year. The speculation pertaining to a duo of new devices boasting 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch display sizes has been incessant, but in a twist, some new sketches appear to suggest that a couple of lower-end, ‘iPhone 6c’ devices will also arrive with similar display size configurations. What?

With the recent announcements of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and the HTC M8 well on the way, it’s fair to say that the Android boys have muscled in and dampened the rumors of Apple’s next big thing. At present, we’re under the impression that there will be two new, significantly larger devices hitting the scene later on this year, but while it looks like the iPhone 5c will be scrapped and forgotten about, one concept designer has come through with an interesting take on what we might end up seeing if Apple does decide to stick with the polycarbonate finish. Check it out after the leap!

It’s a sad fact of the fast-moving tech world that a device doesn’t even need to have released nowadays before we deem it acceptable to begin talking about its eventual successor, and despite the iPhone 5s being lauded by many as the best thing since sliced bread, we’ve already heard reports of the next iPhone boasting a larger display. Until we have any solid evidence, though, everything we hear or see is more than likely the figment of somebody’s imagination, and the concepts below, which are most certainly conjured from deep within the creative minds of one design agency, show us what a curved iPhone 6c, alongside an iPhone Air, may look like.