Apple Facing Pressure to Make 'Bigger iPhone'

[Michael Essany]

As Wall Street continues to climb back toward heights not seen since October 2007, shares of Apple aren't caught up in the momentum. As of this writing, shares continue to hover at or around $450 - an abysmal price considering where the stock was trading (north of $700) just a few short months ago.

"The big question we get from investors is whether the greatest turnaround and growth story of the past decade is over?" asks Sterne Agee's Shaw Wu in a note to investors released this morning. Wu, however, didn't wait long to answer his own question.`

In short, Wu doesn't believe Apple's best days are over, but that more needs to be done for the company to recapture its lost "mojo." For starters, Apple needs to creatively modify some of its leading products.

"We believe AAPL is leaving money on the table by not participating in larger touchscreen form factors," Wu writes. "But more importantly, we believe AAPL needs to reclaim high-end leadership as that is what brand is about. Sure, iOS, iTunes and the App Store are great, but it is clear that many customers want larger screens."

"In many markets, the 4.8- inch (Samsung Galaxy S III) to 5.55-inch (Galaxy Note II) form factors are the new high-end of the market where the iPhone 5 is viewed as mid-range but with a high-end price."

Pressure has, unquestionably, mounted in recent months on Apple to expand its iPhone line - either with a cheaper, entry-level model or with a larger so-called "phablet" style iPhone. But the Cupertino, California-based tech giant isn't giving any indication as to whether this "pressure" may actually be influencing the company's plans.

Source: Fortune

[ThatOneProfile]

I doubt this will happen.

[steve-z17]

I don't think the phone needs to be bigger. My guess is with Ives working on the software and the hardware now the next iPhone will be incredible!

[Fbpsidan]

i doubt this will happen.

i second that!

[rukavuda]

Doesn't need to be bigger
I had an s3 and found it too big personally

[wolverinemarky]

I doubt this will happen.

i agree apple tends to march to the beat of their own drum and what they want to do. the only one that presssures them one way or the other is themselves. they have always shown us what they think we need and its has worked for millions of us in the past so im sure they know what their doing. and with Johnny Ive running the show on the whole design end im sure we will be impressed once again when the next iphone is announced

[Tperry]

Doesn't need to be bigger
I had an s3 and found it too big personally

Doesn't have to be a 4.8+ size. An ideal size would be around what the Motorola RAZR line is.

. they have always shown us what they think we need and its has worked for millions of us in the past so im sure they know what their doing. and with Johnny Ive running the show on the whole design end im sure we will be impressed once again when the next iphone is announced

More and more people are being exposed to the larger screen size and are finding that they prefer it. For reading news, etc. the larger screen is preferable. I hate having to carry my tablet with me to comfortably read.

[kcsims]

i agree apple tends to march to the beat of their own drum and what they want to do. the only one that presssures them one way or the other is themselves. they have always shown us what they think we need and its has worked for millions of us in the past so im sure they know what their doing. and with Johnny Ive running the show on the whole design end im sure we will be impressed once again when the next iphone is announced

While I like my iPhone 5, I haven't been really impressed since the 4 came out. The 4s was just a processor refresh and the 5 wasn't as impressive as the S3.

[SAVAGE5]

I don't feel like a holding a book up to my ear personally. Or having a notebook on my hip, much less a notepad in my pocket.

[mbeezy81]

I don't need a bigger screen, I would rather see a change in the UI. It's been pretty much the same thing since 2007 besides the Icons becoming crystal clear with the retina display.

[Truckinlow]

the 4s had siri..... unless the 5s has something that is really cool that they dont give the 5 i dont see myself getting it.

[barryson77]

Doesn't need to be bigger
I had an s3 and found it too big personally

i think 4,7 would be the perfect iPhone

[trialnterror]

I don't think the phone needs to be bigger. My guess is with Ives working on the software and the hardware now the next iPhone will be incredible!

I do think it needs to be bigger and so does everyone I talk to at work! Especially the galaxy s3 owners are always clowning!
I do agree about the software though!

[politicalslug]

You guys are missing the point. Have any of you actually used an Android phone? Sure, some of the hardware out there is really nice and I personally would love a huge full-HD OLED screen on my phone. Regardless, the real point to consider is the OS. Android is not intuitive, at all. As an example, my parents are both older and they couldn't tell Android's head from its tail. Both, on the other hand, were able to figure out the iPhone in short order. That's why the screen doesn't matter.

[SAVAGE5]

Samsung is garbage and plastic. Android is annoying and ugly UI. Trying to hold a Note/Note2 is like trying to hold a bible and texting one handed is almost impossble.

[Nyyankees]

the problem with apple is that they dont care what the consumer thinks and now they are getting a backlash just look at their stock they are turning people off themselves

[atorres062]

i think 4,7 would be the perfect iphone

agreed!!!!

[bigboyz]

Not sure why Apple is feeling anything. They are still at the forefront of mobile technology. It wasn't too many years ago that they rocked us with the iPhone. Now that competition has heated up, making a bigger iPhone is the answer? NOPE..i don't think so. I like being able to pull my phone out of my pocket and answering it in time..haha. I mean those Androids are huge..for no other reason than to have something "different" to offer than the current iPhone's. Bigger is not always better. We all want small laptops but huge smart phones?? Go get a tablet and stop the tears. I like my 3.5" screen and did not upgrade to the iPhone 5 cause of its size. Its NOT NEEDED.

[Chalty669]

the problem with apple is that they dont care what the consumer thinks and now they are getting a backlash just look at their stock they are turning people off themselves

Didn't realize there was a problem with Apple. They always release things we didn't know we wanted and their sales have just increased year over year. The problem is that Record sales or profit don't determine stock price, but people who have no clue about the future products a company releases or blind expectations on what a company should do because they think their an expert in the field. I recall the day everyone everywhere was saying the iPhone, and iPad were jokes because they were too expensive and or just a larger iPod. Every time they are doubted they seem to prove their point with record sold devices, sales and profit. Doesn't matter what apple does because their stock price is determined by people that don't know what they want.

[Feanor64]

if they come out with a bigger phone then samsung should sue them according to apples own logic...