This is a guest post by Rod Tolentino to share with us his speculation about the next iPhone.
Half a year since the iPhone 4S was released, I am already seeing plenty of speculations about the sixth generation iPhone. Techies and Apple lovers both await the announcement for the 2012 release of the new iPhone, as Android is already proving itself to be a stiff competition in the smartphone industry.
Speculated Specs
The release of the iPhone 4S in October 2011 was a deviation from their usual June/July launch period. However, seeing as Apple recorded a total sale of 37 million iPhones in December 2011, I am quite positive that the pre-holiday release will continue in the coming years.
Compared to other mobile phone creators, Apple only introduces a new model once a year. This effectively builds up more anticipation for the new model and what it has in store for everyone. The official announcement for the sixth generation iPhone (dubbed as the iPhone 5) would probably come this September.
What does Apple have up its sleeve this time? The multinational corporation would have to up the ante of its new phone if it wants to keep its hold on its smartphone customer base. Here are a number of speculated specs that the new iPhone would feature:
Screen
I?ve been seeing quite a number of concept designs sporting the new screen look for the sixth generation iPhone. According to rumor mills, the iPhone 5 would have:
- A larger screen size than the 4S, from 3.5 inches to 4 inches;
- An edge-to-edge screen, either by mixing the home button on the display or completely rendering the home button obsolete (similar to the Nokia N9); and
- A polysilicon (p-Si) touchscreen on Gorilla glass, with a display that will eat up less of the battery life. The glass is also rumored to be lighter, thinner, and a lot more resistant to breakage.
Upgrades
Of course, it would disappoint everyone if the new iPhone will not give them better upgrades, be it hardware- or software-wise. Speculations are high that the new iPhone would knock up the smartphone line several notches higher on the performance meter, instead of simply providing a phone with just the bumped-up specs of the last version (read: iPhone 4S to the iPhone 4). Here are some of the rumoured specification upgrades:
- Faster chip/processor, with theories ranging from a dual-core A5X (which third-gen iPads use) to a Qualcomm MDM9615 LTE chipset (which would allow for voice and data connections through LTE networks)
- Upgraded operating system, from the iOS5 to the iOS6
- More storage capacity of up to around 128GB
- Better camera features, such as an upgrade from 8 megapixels to 10 megapixels
- Enhanced battery quality, from lithium ion to the organic radical battery (ORB) technology, which is more environment-friendly and has a faster recharge time
- Improved case material made from Liquidmetal, which can be injected into plastic but can resist breakage like metals
- Thinner and lighter body. Rumors around the blogsphere speculated it’s 7.6mm thin.
New features
While it may be nearly impossible to hope for these new features, one can still shoot for the sky, right? A lot of Apple fans out there are hoping for the following features to be included in the iPhone, be it in the sixth generation or in the coming versions:
- Projector features, where videos or photos can be projected on a flat surface even from a short distance
- Face or thumb recognition for better security features
- Near field communication (NFC) technology, which would allow the iPhone to function as a mobile payment system between customers and merchants
So far, so good. I have been a fan of Apple products since the first iPhone release in 2007. With these speculations, the world would undoubtedly continue to sit in anticipation of the official announcement from the technology giant itself.
Rod Tolentino is a marketing consultant for Repair Labs. An industry-recognized specialist in iPhone accessories, iPhone and iPad repair.
