A customer holds an iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus after the phones went on sale
A customer holds an iPhone 6 (R) and iPhone 6 Plus after the phones went on sale at the Fifth Avenue Apple store in Manhattan, New York September 19, 2014. Apple latest phone lured throngs of gadget lovers, entrepreneurs and early adapters to its stores in New York, San Francisco and other cities around the world in the latest sign of strong initial demand for the new, larger generation of iPhones. Reuters/Adrees Latif

Apple's iPhone series moved on from the 4-inch form factor but recent estimates suggest that the tech giant may go back to the screen size along with two new iPhones in 2015. Cowen and Company's analyst Timothy Arcuri released an investors' note saying that Apple plans on releasing a new 4-inch iPhone model. The release of the new phone will be in 2015 according to AppleInsider.

Acuri also claims in the note that Apple may be planning on releasing three new iPhones in the coming year. The analyst calls the upcoming phones "iPhone 6s minis." Acuri further explains that his sources note the features of the 4-inch phone to be similar to the iPhone 5s from last year. However, the new iPhone may come with a fresh design along with curved screen edges inspired by the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus.

Nonetheless, people may have to take the analyst's words with a grain of salt. Acuri's track record recently is mixed. He did reveal several details about the iPhone 6 that is correct but he failed when he predicted the iPhone 6 Plus to have a more powerful processor than its sibling according to AppleInsider.

Should Acuri's claims be true then the upcoming 4-inch device will replace the iPhone 5c series. This may mean the device may be the low-end replacement of Apple. Specifically, Acuri says that the "iPhone 6 minis" will feature "purpose-built low cost components."

If the recent patent sighting will push through then these phones may also sport a method to camouflage apertures. In a report by Patently Apple, a patent citing suggests the company wants to remove the device housing apertures permanently. According to the report, the team headed by Jonathan Ive has been working on redesigning the form factor. Apple wants to eliminate the iDevice speaker grills by directing the sound over specialized cover glass.

Apple may change to an audio connector linked via the Lightning port to make this happen. As with any other patent, this may or may not find its way to the next iDevices. With the release dates still far ahead, however, there might be chance for realization.

Email: p.silva@ibtimes.com.au