iPhone 6 rendering by MacRumors.comBy Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

When the iPhone first came out in 2007 (hard to believe its been that long) it had one of the largest touchscreens in the market at 3.5-inches. That size was perfect for the time given we were still on 2G networks and the app ecosystem didn’t even exist yet.

Apple finally bumped up the iPhone’s screen size to 4-inches two years ago with the iPhone 5, and that’s how big it’s been since. Looking at the competition today, 4-inches isn’t even considered the standard in cheaper mini-versions of larger flagship smartphones, many of which sport 4.3-inch to 4.5-inch screens. The larger flagship devices start at 4.7-inches and push the limit of one-handed use with 5-5.2-inch screens. 

There have been various part leaks pointing to larger 4.7-inch and possibly 5,5-inch iPhones coming this fall, and in many ways, the time is right for larger iPhones. Here’s why.