iPhone 6 rumor roundup: Will the next iPhone have a 4.7-inch sapphire display, NFC, or a reversible USB cable?
Apple’s iPhone 6 press event is only a few weeks away — it’s scheduled for September 9 — so it’s no surprise that iPhone rumors are running wild right now. This time around, the rumor mill’s refrain is “bigger, stronger, faster.” The potential for larger screens, scratch-proof sapphire glass, and incredibly fast hardware specs is being widely reported by the enthusiast press and traditional news outlets alike. Unsurprisingly, Apple is going to have a lot of hype to live up to for the iPhone 6 release.
There are just too many iPhone 6 rumors floating around to count, so I’ve selected only a handful of the most intriguing examples to discuss today. Some of these are certainly more likely than others, but each one is incredibly tantalizing to gadget lovers. Whether or not you plan on buying Apple’s next smartphone, something here is bound to tickle your fancy. After all, once Apple implements a feature in its flagship product, other companies are bound to respond.
4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones
From the iPhone’s inception, there have been rumors about larger screens. Apple stuck with the 3.5-inch screen for years before finally upgrading to a 4-inch screen with the iPhone 5 in 2012. Now, the rumor mill is betting heavily on Apple releasing two new screen sizes: 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches. There doesn’t seem to be much consensus on whether or not these larger phones will be offered alongside the 4-inch models, though. If I had to guess based solely on my gut feeling, Apple probably won’t ditch its 4-inch phones any time soon. Besides, you can still buy a 3.5-inch iPhone 4S directly from the Apple Store.
We’ve been seeing these screens and miscellaneous phone parts show up frequently across the net, and these larger devices are certainly the most wide-spread rumor this time around. However, popularity doesn’t make the rumors true. Remember back when we were supposed to have a teardrop-shaped iPhone? That rumor ran rampant up until the moment the next model was actually announced with a uniform flat design. Unless you’re being told something directly by an Apple executive, take any discussion of future Apple products with a grain of salt.
Sapphire screens
The word on the street is the new iPhones will sport sapphire screens. This rumor has been very persistent, and with good reason. As you can see in the video embedded above, sapphire glass is incredibly durable and scratch-resistant, so it’s perfect for smartphone screens. Stab it, scrape it, or shove it in your pocket with your keys — it makes no difference.
Considering how often I see friends and family with jacked-up smartphone screens, this would be a huge improvement. Unfortunately, we might have to wait another generation for these super screens. JP Morgan’s Rod Hall seems skeptical that Apple will be able to push out sapphire screens in 2014. If Hall is right, we might have to wait for the iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 for these nigh-on indestructible screens.
iPhone 6 shell
So, individual parts have supposedly leaked here and there over the last couple of months, but an assembled iPhone 6 shell has just recently surfaced. These images are allegedly of a 4.7-inch iPhone 6, and it looks incredibly slick. If the real McCoy ends up looking like this, I’ll be pleased. However, Apple’s design aesthetic is constantly being aped by Chinese counterfeiters, so it’s not much of a stretch to think that something this polished could be completely fake.
Bigger batteries
With the addition of bigger screens comes the need for bigger batteries, right? According to a number of leaks, we’ll be seeing some notable bumps in the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models. One leak has the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 sporting a 1810 mAh battery while another photo shows a 2915 mAh battery for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. Considering that the iPhone 5S’s battery is roughly 1570 mAh, these are substantial jumps in power. I’d certainly like to see a longer battery life for my next phone.
TSMC’s 20nm system on a chip
A few weeks back, our own Joel Hruska explained Apple’s move to20nm chips made by TSMC. The assumption is that the iPhone 6 would use a 20nm A8 SoC. This shrink will improve performance and power consumption by about 20%, and it might give Apple the leg-up on the competition that it so desperately wants. Of course, this also means that Apple will no longer be dependent on Samsung for its SoC production, so this makes perfect sense all around. All of that said, we’ve heard similar rumors about Apple moving to TSMC before. With all of the business deals in place for Apple’s enormous production pipeline, anything could happen before the announcement.
Reversible USB cables
Back in 2012 when Apple introduced the Lightning connector as the replacement for the 30-pin dock connector, opinions were split. While some were angry that Apple didn’t use a standardized micro USB port, any poo-pooing was drowned out by how easy the Lightning connector is to use — even in the dark. Now, it looks like Apple wants to apply that same ease of use to the standard USB end of the iPhone cable.
Leaked photos of these reversible USB connectors surfaced just a few days ago, and it could make major waves among consumers and manufacturers alike. The official reversible USB 3.1 connector has been finalized, but it isn’t backwards compatible with older ports. This implementation, if the rumor proves true, is a much more elegant solution.
Near-field communication
Built-in NFC on the iPhone is a rumor that just won’t die. I remember attending the RootsTech conference in early 2011, and being told repeatedly by vendors that Apple will “absolutely include NFC” in its next phone. That didn’t come to pass, but the rumors haven’t slowed down one bit. Back in January of this year, NFC fever hit once again, and recent rumors point to the inclusion of NFC in the iPhone 6.
Based on allegedly leaked schematics, Apple will be using a chip from NXP in its newest phones. This could mean that Apple is trying to take on Google Wallet, but maybe Apple has something else in mind. After the wild success of games like Skylanders and Disney Infinity, maybe Apple wants in on some of that sweet, sweet “toys to life” money.
A chicken in every pot, and an iPhone in every hand
If the majority of these predictions are right, Apple seems to be gearing up to take on Android directly. Larger phones, cutting-edge internals, and top-of-the-line production materials sound like quite a compelling mix. Considering the supply chain wizardry Tim Cook is known for, Apple might just be in a position to outclass the competition for months if not the entire next generation.
Of course, we’ll know for sure what Apple has planned when its executive team takes the stage on September 9. As always, we’ll be covering the next iPhone as new details are revealed, so check back frequently for the latest information. The iPad and Mac lineups are likely to receive updates in the next couple of weeks as well, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
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