We do a lot of rumor reports, but nothing compares with the mass of reports that spew out about each new iPhone. Though last year was pretty tame, this year the gloves have come back off. Everything from fancy colors, to huge screens, to multiple iPhone models are again in the rumor mill.
If Apple’s typical naming scheme is to be trusted, the next iPhone will carry the title of 5S. Though some say this will only be one of three models set to launch in 2013. Most signs indicate that the 5S will look nearly identical to the 5. But the rumors don’t end there.
There is no official release date on the iPhone 5S, but AllThingsD believes it’s coming Sept. 10. The site says it got its information from “sources,” but doesn’t go into any further detail. If true, this would put the iPhone announcement almost precisely a year after the iPhone 5 event, which was held on Sept. 12 last year. That event was a Wednesday last year and is a Tuesday this year. This means that pre-orders could start on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 and it could ship sometime around Sept. 19 or 20 (the following Thursday or Friday).
This isn’t a rumor, but when you see iOS 7, you might think it is. At WWDC in June, Apple unveiled iOS 7, which is the first big design shakeup for iOS since the iPhone debuted in 2007. The new version is flatter, brighter, and full of white screens. You can learn all about the new design in our iOS 7 Preview. Or read why we think it will succeed despite those criticizing it.
A smaller, cheaper version of the iPhone has been talked about for the past few years. Now, leaked pictures and reports indicate that this cheaper version may be called the iPhone 5C, have a plastic shell that comes in multiple colors, and will be priced between $300 and $400. Users on the WeiPhone forums have posted pictures showing a supposed box of iPhone 5C packaging and phones in a variety of candy colors, like a red-ish pink, bright blue, Slimer green, white, and pale yellow. These colors do appear to fit the colorful palette of iOS 7, but they are not confirmed (nor is anything in this article). BGR has also obtained images of the 5C.
The iPhone 5C looks like it’s about the size of a standard iPhone, but the iPhone 5S may see a size increase. Original rumors teased a larger 4.8-inch iPhone as the Math. The Math would be one of three iPhone versions announced under such a scenario, though Apple spreading out its brand that quickly seems far fetched.
There are a couple problems with a 4.8-inch iPhone. Apple chooses screen sizes very, very carefully and only recently upped the iPhone 5 to a 4-inch screen, which forced developers to modify existing apps to work with the new size. It seems odd that Apple would force another screen size change so soon.
More plausible is a slight increase to a 4.3-inch screen size. A Bloomberg report from mid-July indicated that Apple could delay the introduction of the iPhone 5S to increase its screen to 4.3 inches. In our experience, 4.3-inch screens are a sweet spot. The Droid Razr M (and new Droid Mini) hit this size perfectly and are some of the most comfortable phones to hold and use for everyone.
Or, maybe not. Tim Cook is on record saying that a bigger screen will not happen. But it wouldn’t be the first time Apple has denied something that later came true.
Reports in late July indicate that Apple could break from tradition and stop selling the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S when the iPhone 5S and 5C come out. Usually, when Apple releases a new iPhone, the price of older models is cut, but they continue to be sold for about two years. This strategy has allowed Apple to hit multiple price points on its iPhone line, while continuing to solely focus on high-end devices each year. Demand for older iPhones is so strong that it’s reportedly a catalyst for stronger-than-expected iPhone sales in the past three months.
According to a rumor from Korean site Etnews, Apple may stop producing the iPhone 5 once the iPhone 5S and 5C go into production. This rumor makes some sense. If the iPhone 5C exists and targets a lower price point, then it would end up competing with the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S for customers. Apple hates producing two things when it can make one – it’s more profitable and less confusing to make one thing. However, analysts like Goldman Sachs don’t think Apple will cancel old iPhones. Of course, Apple is facing a ban on the sale of all iPhone 4S and earlier models of the iPhone due to a patent dispute with Samsung. Perhaps that could have something to do with this rumored strategy.
Way back in December 2012, photos of the next iPhone showed up online. This confirmed suspicions that the newest Apple hardware would be a bump up for the 5, rather than a radical design change. Think 4S, not 4. Though the outside may stay the same (or similar), the internals looked a little bit different. The images also prompted speculation of a dual-SIM iPhone.
At WWDC, Apple unveiled “iOS in the Car,” which will integrate aspects of the iPhone and Siri into some cars. This may not be all, however. In last week’s earnings call, Tim Cook said that “having something in the automobile is very, very important.” A recently published patent shows that Apple is toying around with ways to further merge the car dashboard with iOS, or even enhance car functions alone. The patent shows some standard car dashboard controls being routed to a haptic touchscreen, or one with vibrating feedback when you touch it. This means you could perform basic functions from a touchscreen on the dashboard, and maybe your phone. Maybe your phone could dynamically change your entire dashboard? Either way, a huge touchscreen in our car dashboard could be very cool.
“It’s something that people want, and I think that Apple can do this in a unique way and better than anyone else,” said Cook July 23. “So it’s a key focus for us.”
Apple’s purchase of AuthenTec in early 2012 may finally result in an iPhone with a fingerprint sensor. Perhaps similar to designs we saw at MWC this year, the next iPhone could have a Home button that also doubles as a fingerprint sensor. This could up authentication and security in the phone, removing the need to constantly login or deal with pins or lockscreens. A swipe or touch of your finger could do all the authenticating you need. That is, if it works. According to DigiTimes, early models are having issues.
This rumor is pretty minor and won’t make much of a difference to you, but Apple is reportedly looking for an alternate display technology. The old tech, which combined display and touch sensor for a thinner screen, is thought to be causing interference problems and also may be behind the shortage a few months back. The new technology, called “touch-on display,” is similar to the old, but will offer better touch sensing with less issues, said to be provided by Chimei Innolux.
This one originated with iLounge, which published information pointing to an upscale camera being included in the iPhone 5S. The update would hit the rear camera and bump it up to 13-megapixels while tossing in a heftier flash.
Megapixels are nice, but the next iPhone camera may have a few more tricks up its sleeve. 9to5 Mac reports that the next iPhone camera may be able to record at 120 frames per second, enabling slow-motion photography.
The BGR Boy Genius himself, Jonathan S. Geller, speculated on July 17 that Apple is encaseing the iPhone 5S in LiquidMetal and may use a sapphire screen to cover it. If true, this would make the iPhone 5S one of the most durable phones out there. LiquidMetal is supposedly twice as strong as titanium alloys. And if you’re wondering about sapphire screens, we saw first hand how awesome those are at MWC this year. You can check out our sapphire screen hands on here.
In late 2012, an Apple patent was published that describes a new wireless charging technique. The technique would allow someone to create a wireless charging field on their desk or in their house of about 1 meter in diameter. If you own a bunch of Apple products, this sounds like a very cool idea.
According to the oft-mistaken China Times, Apple may also give in to the pressure and include NFC in the latest iPhone.
That’s everything we know right now, but the rumors never stop. We will update this article many more times before the iPhone 5S and 5C are shown off later this year.
What fancy features would you want to see in the next iPhone?
Updated on 8-11-2013 by Jeffrey Van Camp: iPhone 5 event date rumor has been added and a picture of the iPhone 5C from BGR.
Rewritten on 7-29-2013 by Jeffrey Van Camp: Overhauled all the rumors here. The iPhone 5S and now-called iPhone 5C are looking pretty interesting. All the latest rumors have been added.
Article originally published 4-5-2013.
As the Mobile Section Editor for Digital Trends, Jeffrey Van Camp is responsible for the content and direction of coverage on smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and other mobile gadgets and software. Jeff has been writing about tech, video games, and movies on the Web for more than a decade. Before joining DT, he spent several years working with mobile app/game developers and wireless carriers. You can reach him @JeffreyVC on Twitter or Facebook.
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