While the iPad gets smaller with each generation, the iPhone is rumored to still be growing in size. Several analysts are predicting that Apple will announce a 4.7- to 6-inch screen for the newest iPhone that may also include a higher resolution.
But that's not all. Other rumors range from the possibility of two simultaneous iPhone 6 products, a curved screen, the loss of the home button, and even a screen made of sapphire. Let's run down the list of the most important current rumors:
Larger Screen
The current smartphone trend weighs heavily in favor of Apple releasing a larger screen for the iPhone 6 to follow in the footsteps of the 5+ inches of screen on the most popular Samsung smartphones. Wall Street Journal reporter Ian Sherr claimed back in September that Apple is testing 6-inch screens.
Higher Resolution
Sonny Dickson, who has accurately leaked Apple product details in the past, says that the next iPhone will have a pixel density of 389ppi, which would allow 1080p resolution at around 5.6 to 5.7 inches of screen.
Researchers at Taiwan's DisplaySearch are predicting a 312ppi density on a 4.7-inch screen while Chinese analyst Sun Changxu predicts 280 ppi.
Curved Screen
A Bloomberg report in November says that Apple is developing curved glass on its next generation of iPhone. This glass screen would curve downward at the edges, allowing more sensitive pressure input from the user.
Sapphire Screen
While precious gems aren't exactly the most cost-effective way to make a smartphone screen, manufacturer GT Advanced says that it would be a possibility if produced at a large enough scale. Interestingly enough, Apple has built a new facility in Arizona that lists sapphire as a product manufactured by the plant. Project Cascade is said to be utilizing a "High-tech manufacturing process to create a critical new sub-component of Apple Products to be used in the manufacture of consumer electronics."
Slimmer Body
The screen may be getting larger but the smartphone's body itself is said to be slimming up to only 6mm thick. Korean news source ETnews.com states that rumors are buzzing about the possibility of Apple shaving 1.6mm off of the iPhone 5S' thickness, resulting in an ultraslim 6mm. But Sonny Dickson is saying that 5.5mm is the magic number, which would make the phone tied with the world's slimmest smartphone, the Gionee Elife S5.5.
Better Camera
A report from MacRumors speculates on a new camera for the iPhone 6 that will be at least 10 megapixels with an improved aperture and upgraded lens.
Of course, it's always important to note that these are merely rumors and until we hear it from Apple CEO Tim Cook himself, we can only speculate on what we'd like to see. Apple has consistently announced its new iPhone around September or October each year and it would be unlikely that they'd release anything so soon after the iPhone 5S came out in September of last year.
