It’s only July and we still have a few more months before the sixth-generation iPhone becomes a reality, but that hasn’t stopped countless publications from getting scoops on the expected features. Rumors about the upcoming iPhone started shortly after Apple released the iPhone 4S last October. Since then, just about every feature imaginable has floated around the Internet. Some are plausible, others are just plain wacky. Let’s just take a pit stop in the middle of the journey to Apple’s next smartphone to review the rumors shaping up to be all but confirmed at this point.
4-inch Display
For a while it seemed like the rumors about a 4-inch display were circulating only because all the latest Android smartphones have displays at least four inches or larger in size, but now there’s just far too much smoke for there not to be a fire. I wrote up a long piece questioning if a 4-inch iPhone display is even necessary, but it’s probably coming anyway regardless of necessity. If Apple were to make the iPhone with a larger screen, the device itself shouldn’t get much bigger if at all. Apple is expected to increase the number of pixels to retain the same “retina” pixel density, but this strategy might give developers some extra work to do to optimize their apps.
Redesigned metallic casing
9to5Mac received some leaked images at the end of May that essentially proved the theory that the iPhone would get a redesigned casing incorporating some sort of metal, which is typical in most of Apple’s product lines. Plus, the 3G and 3GS both had the same external design as did the 4 and 4S, so the iPhone is due for a makeover. The images suggest that the next iPhone will be slightly thinner, keep the flat back that started with the iPhone 4 in 2010, but instead replace most of the glass with metal.
Smaller 19-pin dock connector
It’s noticeable in the leaked redesign that the dock connector on the bottom is smaller than ever before. Indeed, a report later surfaced that Apple would be replacing the 30-pin dock connector with a new 19-pin connector in the next iPhone. The decision to shrink the port would add a little extra space inside the phone and allow the company to focus on filling that up with other, more important hardware parts. On the other hand, consumers won’t be happy when they find out their old docking accessories most likely won’t work with their new iPhone.
1GB of RAM, quad-core processor
Deep within iOS 6 beta, 9to5Mac found code referencing 1GB of RAM in the next iPhone. It’s the logical next step, since the iPhone 4S has 512MB. More RAM means more multitasking power for the user and more power for storing processes within apps. Just last week DigiTimes added to the hardware upgrade rumors by claiming that the new iPhone will also feature a quad-core processor, which would provide a significant speed increase over the dual-core processor in the iPhone 4S.
4G LTE
Not that it should be much of a surprise since the latest iPad model has it and pretty much every other credible smartphone on the market does too, the sixth-generation iPhone should have 4G LTE connectivity to bring faster data speeds. Verizon hinted at it earlier this year as well.
September announcement and release
Contrary to earlier reports and the release date of the iPhone 4S last year, it appears the sixth-generation iPhone won’t see a debut in October. Instead, Apple’s obviously too excited so the device should get confirmation in September. Apple should release it that same month.
Keep in mind that since we have at least a couple more months before the next iPhone sees the light of day, anything can change. In fact, it’s a safe bet that rumors will reach a fever pitch in the coming weeks, so be on the lookout for IntoMobile’s coverage.