We generally try to stay out of the iPhone rumour game these days, as there seems to be no end to the number of “legitimate” tidbits of “leaked information” that surface every single week. However, once the eventual launch of a new iPhone seems visible on the horizon it can be fun to indulge in just a little speculation.
As usual we have rumours surrounding screen size, case design, release dates, price points and more. We’ll do our best to put each rumour in to perspective for you in order to leave you with some kind of idea as to how likely certain bits of gossip are to be valid in an effort to assist in the creation of a more
A Not-So-New Design
As always there are countless “leaked images” of new case designs for the iPhone 5/New iPhone. However, interestingly enough most of the attention has fallen on just one design. This is because there are numerous examples of “real” cases that have been creatively obtained by their owners.
This now almost famous design has sparked a lot of discontentment in iPhone fans, as it’s very similar to the iPhone 4 and 4S.
The case boasts a 4 inch screen, lending credence to that rumour, and an aluminium rear plate. Despite these changes it really does like look like a longer iPhone 4 or 4S with some alterations to the back.
For Apple’s sake and the sake of iPhone fans we hope this one turns out to be fraudulent. Considering the backlash that surrounded the release of the iPhone 4S, partly because of its almost identical design to the iPhone 4, it would be a mistake for Apple to release yet another device that looks so similar to previous generations.
Might not be Called iPhone 5
With the iPad 3 turning out to be at first the “New iPhone” and eventually just “iPad” it’s possible that the next iPhone may follow suit. As a result many bloggers have taken to calling it “The New iPhone” rather than “the iPhone 5”. At this point it’s really anyone’s guess and we don’t really care to speculate on the matter.
Our preference would be for Apple continuing with its number-centric naming scheme. But ultimately a rose by any other name would small as sweet, so “New iPhone” would be fine by us, too.
A 4-Inch Screen
This is a rumour that has been circulating for some time now and has only grown more popular in recent months. With the standard size of smartphone displays getting bigger every generation, the paltry 3.5 inch screen of the iPhone line is beginning to seem a little on the diminuitive size.
It would seem to make sense, then, for Apple to up the size of its iPhone displays. Currently 4 inches seems to be the most popular measurement going around. Of course the new display size is expected to sport a retina-style pixel density of around 330ppi (pixels per inch) and we’ve also heard talk of a 16:9 aspect ration. 16:9 is becoming increasingly common in smartphones, as it allows for HD videos to be watched without losing screen real estate to letterboxing.
It’s important to note that similar rumours were circulating before the announcement of the iPhone 4S. Obviously those rumours never came true, so it’d be wise to learn from experience and not put too much stock in this rumour, no matter how much we think that Apple really needs this one.
September Release
This one is probably the most likely rumour to come true. It’s almost set in stone now that the New iPhone/iPhone 5 will be announced some time in early September and hit sales by the end of the same month. It may take a little longer to see an overseas release, maybe a week or two, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the iPhone’s global fanbase.
Nano SIM
Now that the smartphone world is finally embracing the Micro SIM made popular by the iPhone line, it seems that Apple will be migrating to a new, smaller form of SIM.
While it’s unknown whether it will be the iPhone 5/New iPhone that is the first to sport the smallest SIM yet, or if we’ll not see it till the generation after is up in the air. One this is for certain and it’s that Apple will definitely be making this transition sometime soon.
A Smaller Dock Connector
Apple’s famously annoying 30-pin connector is apparently going the way of the dodo and we say good riddance. The 30-pin connector was always just a little bulky and needlessly annoying for our tastes.
The unfortunate news is that instead of going for a Micro USB standard, like everyone else, Apple will instead be employing a new, smaller Apple-specific port. Opinions range from a 16-pin to a 9-pin connector on this. It doesn’t really matter which one is correct, just that we’ll likely be seeing a new USB/charging port standard in future iOS device.
4G LTE (Both US and Globally)
This is one more of those rumours that we really hope comes true. Of course it just makes perfect sense that, with the increasing 4G LTE coverage both in the US and aroudn the world, Apple would finally release a 4G iPhone.
However, it’s still possible that Apple will not make this move for another generation. There’s also the chance that, much like Samsung did with the Galaxy Nexus, there will be both 4G LTE and 3G HSPA+ versions of the New iPhone/iPhone 5 released depending on geographical location.
That’s it for Now
That’s all we’re particularly interested in discussing for now. Of course there’s a myriad of rumours out there that we haven’t mentioned, but we feel as though we’ve covered most of the important/potentially valid claims. In any case we won’t have to wait very long to find out what’s true and what’s not, as we’re putting a decent amount of stock in the September announcement. Who knows? This time next month we could be excitedly reporting the official specifics of the New iPhone.
Check out iPhone 4S plans and iPhone 5 plans once they’ve been announced