Apple reportedly considering 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone launch


Apple is giving serious thought to releasing a large-screen iPhone, according to recent reports.


Rumours of a large-screen iPhone have been doing the rounds for some time now, but a new report from Reuters adds an extra dose of credibility.


The report claims to have learned from "four people with knowledge of the matter" that Apple will launch two larger form factor iPhones within the next year.


One of these new devices will have a 4.7-inch display, like the HTC One. The other will have a 5.7-inch display, which carries it into Samsung Galaxy Note 2 territory (slightly beyond, in fact).


It's felt that this is a response to the threat of Samsung, which has overtaken Apple in terms of smartphone market share with its range of large-screen - and predominantly Android - smartphones and phablets.


It's claimed that manufacturers have been approached with Apple's plans for large-screen smartphones, although these do not necessarily represent the company's final plans.


Just last week at the AllThingsD conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook left the door open to larger iPhones, stating that the company simply hasn't made the move "so far. That doesn't shut off the future."


The report also backs up rumours of an all-new cheaper iPhone model being released in five or six colours this year. Apparently the cost of the device - presumably on contract - would be $99, which is currently the subsidised cost of a brand new iPhone 4S.


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