In recent months, the internet has been filled with rumors that Apple has lost its edge and the iPhone is no longer as “cool.” Maybe some of the rumors are true, maybe not, but former Apple advertising executive Ken Segall predicts that the iPhone’s best years are yet to come.
In a recent blog post, Segall predicts that the iPhone will follow a similar development cycle to the iPod. In the early years, Apple worked to evolve and perfect the device, but in 2013, according to Segall, Apple will release an iPhone Mini, iPhones in various colors, and perhaps even a big iPhone.
When the iPhone was first released, many believed that the iPhone would follow the path of the iPod. The first year or two would be dedicated to developing and perfecting the device, and then the iPhone line would expand to appeal to a wider range of consumers.
The iPod's best years came after it expanded into a product family.
Given this history, and given the growing demand for certain variations on the theme, there's a good chance the next iPhone will be a family of iPhones.
Segall then talks about the different iPhone variants we might see. For a more affordable iPhone, Segall says Apple would never go the “cheap” route, but would simply use a smaller screen, a plastic back like the iPhone 3GS, and perhaps a weaker processor.
We've heard rumors that the iPhone will be sold in a variety of colors, and Segall agrees. Apple has used color in the past to refresh a number of products, including the iPod, MacBook, and iMac. Segall believes Apple will give consumers more color choices this year, making the iPhone feel like a more personal device.
However, what is striking about Segall's predictions is that Apple will offer an iPhone Max or simply an iPhone with a larger screen.
The fact is that many people are responding positively to the larger screens offered by Samsung and others. Apple can sit back and watch its competitors gain a large share of the market, or it can make a quality product by giving consumers a choice of different sizes.
The release of the iPhone 5 and iPad mini last year proves that Apple isn't afraid to make screens bigger or smaller to satisfy its customers. We doubt we'll see an iPhone Max in 2013, but if Segall is right, could 2014 be the year of the iPhablet?
Dimitrios Georgoulas @ GreekAppleNews
