The smartphone was previously rumored to arrive in early 2015

Sep 9, 2014 10:04 GMT  ·  By

While everyone focuses on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 that’s supposed to be the only smartphone Apple will launch later today, the Cupertino-based company may have something bigger to share with its fans.

The long-rumored 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is expected to make an appearance today during Apple’s launch event. Even though previous rumors claimed that the larger iPhone 6 might have been delayed to early 2015 due to lack of components, Apple may introduce the 5.5-inch model today, along with the smaller one.

Some sources in the supply chain even claimed that Apple didn't want to launch both iPhone 6 models at the same time to avoid any competition between each other.

However, seeing the leaked specs sheets of both iPhone 6 versions, it does not make sense for Apple to delay the larger version for fear of competing with the 4.7-inch model given the fact that they clearly have different targets.

The gap between 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch is too large to make them appealing to the same customer base. There are people who prefer phablets and others who will want just a slight upgrade from their previous iPhone.

Not to mention that the hardware specs of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 are far superior to those of the 4.7-inch version. First of all, the 5.5-inch model will be equipped with 2GB of RAM, while the smaller model will only feature 1GB of RAM.

The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is Apple's real flagship smartphone

Another major difference between the two iPhone 6 models is the battery. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is said to be powered by a 1810 mAh battery, whereas the 5.5-inch version will be equipped with a high-capacity 2915 mAh battery.

However, we believe that actual usage times for both iPhone 6 versions will be similar due to the huge specs differences. All in all, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will be Apple’s real flagship smartphone, which will be able to compete with other brands like HTC, Samsung, Motorola, Sony, and LG.

The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is less likely to be seen as a competitor for phablets like Samsung Galaxy Note 4, LG G3, or even Xperia Z3.

This is why we believe Apple let everyone think that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 might not be introduced this fall, but rather early next year. Let’s hope though that these rumors were inaccurate and that Apple will offer its fans the option to choose from two tiers.

The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is Apple’s big size surprise for Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG and other handset manufacturers. Hopefully, it will hit shelves sooner rather than later.