The Next iPhone Will NOT Be Called “iPhone 6″
Posted by Michael Nace on Saturday Jan 28, 2012 Under iPhone 6 OpinionIf you are reading this, then it probably means that you are convinced that the next iPhone — the one that will be released sometime in 2012 — will not be called “iPhone 5,” but rather “iPhone 6.” I know, I know — you have facts on your side: the next iPhone will be the 6th generation iPhone. Hence: iPhone 6.
And for as much as your logic and taxonomy is 100% correct, I am sorry to say that the 2012 iPhone will not be called “iPhone 6.” It will be the iPhone 5.
First off, Apple has already twice bucked the trend of naming their iPhones based on their generations. Cases in point: the second generation iPhone was called the “iPhone 3G,” and the fifth-generation iPhone was the “iPhone 4S.” The simple fact that Apple was willing to call their fifth-generation iPhone the “4S” — especially considering that it comes equipped with iOS 5 and the A5 chip — proves that their numbering and naming process has nothing to do with the iPhone’s generation. Think about it: last year’s iPhone was “555″ — that would have been a marketing slam-dunk. Apple passed on it.
However, even though Apple passed on the “iPhone 5″ name in 2011 doesn’t mean that they will squander it in 2012. We’ve learned through all of the iPhone iterations that Cupertino doesn’t change the number unless they are ready to seriously overhaul the iPhone from the outside in. And this time around, it appears that they will be dramatically changing the form factor and screen size; it will be an iPhone with a completely different look and feel.
In addition, there is so much pent-up iPhone 5 buzz in the media and consumer circles that Apple would be crazy to skip over the “iPhone 5″ name. Heck, an entire subculture has risen up around the dream of a groundbreaking iPhone 5. Apple will not squander the opportunity to channel the excitement and anticipation that comes with that name.
If Apple were to skip the “iPhone 5″ name and go directly to the “correct” iPhone 6, it would be confusing and disconcerting for the average iPhone user. Sure, you understand why the 2012 iPhone should be called “iPhone 6.” But you are not the average iPhone user; you are here, on the iPhone 6 News Blog, searching for the latest-breaking stories about it. But the majority of average Joe customers would think that they had black out for a year of their lives, and somehow managed to miss the release of the iPhone 5. Apple would never try to confuse the general public to that degree, just to keep true with the proper generation of iPhones.
So, how about another name other than “iPhone 5″ or “iPhone 6?”
That possibility is actually much more plausible — especially the suggestions that the next iPhone could be called the “iPhone 4G” or “iPhone 4GS,” thinking that Apple may want to include “4G” in its iPhone name in order to promote their first LTE smartphone. The question is, would Apple name a third iPhone with a “4?” In marketing terms, the “4″ is most likely spend by this point. And although the “iPhone 5″ name would be available down the line, it would have fizzled by then.
Chances are, we will see an “iPhone 5″ in 2012. In the meantime, we’ll use this blog to look ahead to some of the next-generation technology that could find its way onto the iPhone 6.
By Michael Nace
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February 2nd, 2012 at 2:40 am
Worst post about the next iPhone I’ve ever read.
Who’s to say it will “for sure” be the iPhone 5 or say ” apple would never try to confuse the public” ?
You’re taking it way to far about the reasons they will call it that, but realistically they won’t name it the iPhone 5… It’s common sense.
But no one for sure knows the real name… Obviously. But you are too obsessed with the fact that you just want it to
Be called the iPhone 5
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February 20th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
They named it the iPhone 4, cos it was the 4th. The upgrade wasn’t different enough, so they added an S, like the 3GS. If it is the 6th gen. iPhone, then it will not be iPhone 5. I don’t know what they’ll call it, but it’s the 6th version, and therefore quite simply will not be iPhone 5. It’s common sense, and Apple has plenty of that.
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February 21st, 2012 at 12:03 am
Who the hell cares what it’s called? Who even says it’s going to be called a number? It might be the iPhone Vision or something, does it even matter? If there’s no news, there’s no news, articles like this are worse than no articles at all.
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February 24th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Naming it the iPhone 5 makes no sense whatsoever. If you look at Apple’s naming conventions over the history of the iPhone you will see this. Here is the pattern so far: Gen 1: iPhone, Gen 2: iPhone 3G (due to 3G radio upgrade), Gen 3: iPhone 3GS (Still 3G radio, upgraded internals), Gen 4: iPhone 4 (still 3G radio, upgraded internals and new design), Gen 5: iPhone 4S (still 3G radio, upgraded internals).
Looking at this, iPhone 5 doesn’t even make sense and when has Apple bowed to public expectation? Following convention, it will be either iPhone 6, iPhone 4G (if they upgrade the radio) or iPhone LTE (again, if they upgrade the radio). The latter probably won’t fly as it looks too much like LITE and that’s not what they will be going for.
Even though Apple usually doesn’t follow convention (think different), iPhone 5 makes no logical sense in any realm of thinking.
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March 1st, 2012 at 11:37 am
The iPhone 6 i probably first released in 2014 if Apple is continuing the boring trend of making 2 iPhones with the same design.
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April 4th, 2012 at 11:24 am
I think you are all wrong. Apple will not stick with the iPhone 4 form factor for a 3rd year and hence the iPhone 4G or iPhone 4 LTE names are out. iPhone 5 or 6 are confusing and not as hyped in the market after the last few years of 4G buzz. Most consumers still think the model numbers have something to do with the wireless speed. There is no 5th Generation wireless tech anywhere on the horizon so the 4G marketing cash cow has been milked and most US consumers will come to know LTE support = actual 4G by next year.
Apple will do what they did for the new iPad and drop the model numbers entirely. It will simply be The New iPhone and be known informally as the 6th generation iPhone. The remaining market share of late smartphone adopters will have a choice between the “iPhone” and a slew of Android devices with names like “Samsung Galaxy S™ II Skyrocket™ HD”. Which one sounds easier to use? To own an iPhone is more important than what model it is, especially since Apple supports the devices for three years. The tech bloggers will cry foul but everyone will accept it since the 6th Gen re-design really does fell “New”. I fully expect Samsung to do the same version-less marketing with their Galaxy line by mid 2013. What will they call the 7th Gen iPhone to differentiate it? I guess we will find out when the 4th gen iPad is announced next March.
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April 5th, 2012 at 11:44 am
I believe they’ll do what they did to the 3rd Gen. iPad, called it “the new iPad”. They might name the 6th Gen. iPhone “the new iPhone” and from there on out name all new iPhone’s “iPhone”.
Just a thought.
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April 18th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Im sorry but I agree with the comments, the next iPhone will NOT be called the iPhone 5 simply because the 5th generation is already out under the banner of the 4S. Here is more to help with this side of the debate.
http://www.theappleupdate.com/2012/03/the-next-iphone-will-definately-not-be-called-the-iphone-5-heres-why/
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May 20th, 2012 at 8:46 am
I think the next gen iPhone will most probably be called “The New iPhone” like “The New iPad”. It just makes sense. It becomes kind of dumb when when you wait for the iPhone 11 to come out or the iPhone 22 S.
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May 31st, 2012 at 8:41 am
For the record Michael, I agree with you on this one. This is apparently a hot topic, but keep up the good work.
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