THE new iPhone 6, expected in the second half of this year, will come in two sizes – both larger than the current model – according to the latest reports.
The smaller of the two will have a 4.5-inch screen, half an inch bigger than that of the iPhone 5S, while the larger model will have a 5-inch screen, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Quoting "people familiar with the situation", the paper also suggests that the multi-coloured plastic exterior will be dropped for the new models.
"Both new models are expected to feature metal casings similar to what is used on the current iPhone 5S," it reported, "with Apple expected to scrap the plastic exterior used in the iPhone 5C."
At least one iPhone 6 will feature a full-width frameless screen, according to an “industry source” quoted in the Korea Herald.
Doing away with the bezel surrounding the screen would let Apple match the screen size of its rivals while minimising the overall size of the handset.
“The display is also thought to feature integrated fingerprint sensing capabilities,” according to AppleInsider.com, “[which] Apple has previously detailed in patent filings.
The current iPhone 5S includes a small fingerprint sensor, but technology outlined in these patent documents would allow the screen itself to read fingerprints. This would eliminate the need for a separate sensor module underneath the screen.
Korea Herald’s source says that fingerprint scanners would initially be embedded into specific parts of the screen.
“Scanning fingerprints on the entire screen, which was much talked about recently, will be available in the latter half of this year as there are still technological hurdles to overcome,” he said.
More iPhone 6 rumours
There's no shortage of speculation about what will be included in the next iPhone, much of which seems to be based on wishful thinking:
A Liquidmetal shell: As Apple strives to make the new handset as slim and strong as possible, some commentators have speculated that it may turn to Liquidmetal, an alloy that's stronger than aluminium. In theory that would mean the handset could be lighter and slimmer without skimping on strength or build quality, but in practice it seems unlikely. Although one of the inventors of Liquidmetal predicted two years ago that Liquidmetal cases would be possible by mid-2014, its use has so far been limited to small components.
Liquidmetal components: This is much more likely. Documents published by Apple-watching website MacRumors, suggest that the alloy could be used in buttons and switches in order to toughen up what have often proved to be weak points on previous iPhones.
A curved screen: At the end of last year Bloomberg carried a report predicting the next iPhone models would have screens that curved down at the edges. Curved screens are said to be more durable, more comfortable to use, and better suited to watching videos and playing games, according to Sky News. This would be a bold move for Apple, which usually likes to stand back and see how other phone-makers fare with new, risky technologies – and last month a source told The Wall Street Journal that Apple has no plans to make use of curved glass.
Eye-tracking: Some rumours suggested that the iPhone 5S would be eye-controlled, allowing users to scroll through pages without touching the device. When the technology failed to materialise in the last model, hopeful observers shifted their attention to the iPhone 6.
NFC: Another long-predicted feature, Near Field Communication or NFC would allow the phone to act as a payment system. Users would wave their handsets over a receiver to transfer money in shops and restaurants, or between friends. Several Android and Windows Phone devices already support NFC payments, but Apple has yet to make the leap.
Studio flash: Apple is working on a way of letting iPhones control flashes built into a range of phones and tablets in order to light a scene from multiple angles, according to Apple Insider, which unearthed a patent for the system. There's no hint about when the system might make it into production
Launch date: Some reports have suggested that the iPhone 6 could be with us as soon as May, but most analysts now predict a late summer or autumn release date, fitting in with Apple's yearly product cycle. The iPhone 5S and 5C came out in October last year.
A higher price tag: One prediction not based on wishful thinking is the suggestion that the new iPhone will be significantly more expensive. "We see the potential for the iPhone 6 price point to move higher, to avoid the profit margin erosion that occurred when iPhone 5 launched," said Chris Caso of Susquehanna Financial Group, according to Investors.com. "When iPhone 5 was launched, Apple's phone margins declined because the new features (most notably the display) added cost to the bill of materials, yet the price point of the phone remained unchanged.
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