iPhone 2014: It's time.

[Ichinisan]

Original speculation thread:

My current assumptions based on rumors and leaks:

• Two models; both with bigger screens.
• One would be closer to the size of the Galaxy S series.
• The other would be closer in size to the Galaxy Note series.
• Maybe staggered release due to rumored production problems.
• Tightly integrated iTime (iWatch) support with HomeKit and some new-gen Apple TV. (Current rumors say iTime will be delayed, but who knows?)
• Exact same thickness and build style as iPod touch 5th gen - which would mean the camera protrudes a little bit, as it does with the iPod. To make the camera any thinner would compromise image quality.
• Sapphire displays are a big ??? right now because of rumored production issues. Apple might have to go with traditional glass and use sapphire for next year's devices. I'm pretty sure the watch will have sapphire, though.

Since leaked parts seem to confirm it will have the style of the iPad mini, and iPad Air, it makes me wonder about the possibility of embedded magnets. The iPad uses them for the Smart Cover, but would be awesome if the phone would have them for mounting on special car docks and such. I have the magnetic Mountek kit with my current phone and it's absolutely excellent.

Rumors say there could be a revised Lightning cable with a reversible USB A connector. There are some Apple patents confirming they have such a prototype, but I think there could be problems and it wouldn't surprise me if this never materializes from Apple (there are some non-Apple versions you can buy right now).

To keep accessory partners happy, Apple will probably wait until the next product cycle to release cases for the new phone.

I'm sure some of this will not come to pass, but I still wonder if there will be any actual surprises at the official announcement...

Water resistance would be a pleasant surprise. Galaxy S5 is pushing that pretty hard. I haven't heard any rumors about iPhone getting that.

 

[CZroe]

It will have an auxiliary tank for increased range.
Top speed will also increase, though no one knows how much.
It will have a photo-thermal coating that mimics the background on the other side for stealth.
Find My iPhone will get an upgrade to Fetch my iPhone. Using drone technology, your iPhone will now come to you.
Ion thrusters will receive an experimental modification or expansion (Q drive?).

They'll probably be forced to leave some of that out of this iteration.

 

[Ichinisan]

I'll be happy if the standard capacity is increased from 16GB.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Pure speculation:

4.7" The only one with 16GB @ $199
5.5" 64GB @ $299
5.5" 128GB @ $399

 

[CZroe]

Pure speculation:

4.7" The only one with 16GB @ $199
5.5" 64GB @ $299
5.5" 128GB @ $399

Sounds somewhat reasonable. They do want the profit margins to be higher on the larger model, but I doubt that they will get rid of the more expensive smaller models at the same time.

While I agree that if 16GB is even offered, the 4.7" will be the only one available with that capacity, but I also think it will be available in 32 and 64GB and that the minimum could be bumped up. The 5.5" will likely start at a higher capacity and will have a 128GB option. It will also cost more than the 4.7" version with the same capacity.

4.7" 032GB: $200
4.7" 064GB: $300
5.5" 064GB: $400
5.5" 128GB: $500

We might also stop seeing ridiculous price differences between capacities, since there is so much more to differentiate and more incentive to by a larger capacity device (larger screen and battery).

4.7" 016GB: $200
4.7" 032GB: $250
4.7" 064GB: $300
5.5" 064GB: $400
5.5" 128GB: $550

$350 more for a larger screen, larger battery, and 112GB more storage = much easier up-sell to a higher-margin phone, which is why all the Android device makers flocked to the phablet market. I think the second device/price chart is more likely than the first. If it turns out that the 4.7" is released without sapphire and they solve the production issues for the 5.5" launch then we might have yet another bit of differentiation driving sales of the higher-margin device. It's very possible that the 5.5" will be seen as a "Pro" device and the 4.7" one will be seen as an "Air," device, especially with the rumors of the 12" iPad Pro. And what does that make the current 4" iPhones? iPhone mini. Actually, that name would make more sense for a 3.5" phone, especially considering that devs still design for 3.5" iOS7 devices (iPhone 4/4S). I'd hate to see them go back to that though.

Speaking of 4" iPhones, SOMETHING will occupy the "$100 iPhone" slot for the next year and it won't be the iPhone 5S or the current 5C. Yes, the iPhone 5S has already dropped to $100 at some places, but the same thing happened to the iPhone 5 last Summer as they made room for the iPhone 5C. My guess? The iPhone 5C is getting a spec bump but it will still be plastic and lack TouchID.

On a related note, I love having 196GB in my Note 3.

 

[gorcorps]

Speaking of 4" iPhones, SOMETHING will occupy the "$100 iPhone" slot for the next year and it won't be the iPhone 5S or the current 5C. Yes, the iPhone 5S has already dropped to $100 at some places, but the same thing happened to the iPhone 5 last Summer as they made room for the iPhone 5C. My guess? The iPhone 5C is getting a spec bump but it will still be plastic and lack TouchID.

On a related note, I love having 196GB in my Note 3.

I stand by my belief that they will not update the C phones every year. I think we'll see a 6C when the 6S is out, so the 5C will be free with new contract when the iPhone 6 comes out.

 

[CZroe]

I stand by my belief that they will not update the C phones every year. I think we'll see a 6C when the 6S is out, so the 5C will be free with new contract when the iPhone 6 comes out.

So you think the 5S will occupy the $100 on contract price slot? The 5C has already dropped to basically free on contract. I doubt they want will replace a metal phone with plastic in that slot next year so I was expecting a plastic version of the 5S there in the mean time (5SC?), possibly without TouchID. Granted, there haven't been any rumblings or leaks about it, so it's more likely that Apple is just going to drop the 5S in that slot and leave the 5C as free with contract. Eventually the 5C may be the affordable off-contract value phone it was originally rumored to be.

 

[gorcorps]

So you think the 5S will occupy the $100 on contract price slot? The 5C has already dropped to basically free on contract. I doubt they want will replace a metal phone with plastic in that slot next year so I was expecting a plastic version of the 5S there in the mean time (5SC?), possibly without TouchID. Granted, there haven't been any rumblings or leaks about it, so it's more likely that Apple is just going to drop the 5S in that slot and leave the 5C as free with contract. Eventually the 5C may be the affordable off-contract value phone it was originally rumored to be.

Yeah I haven't been keeping up with the prices, so if the 5C is already free then it'll stay there. The 5S dropping in price is a given, so I don't see the point in releasing another phone at the same price point. Releasing 2 different sizes of phones is already new for Apple. I just don't see them releasing two different sizes AND a budget version of the smaller size all at the same time.

Then next year they'll release a 6C, and you'll have your choice of either the most modern plastic phone or a year old metal phone (which will be the iPhone 6) at the same price point.

 

[CZroe]

Yeah I haven't been keeping up with the prices, so if the 5C is already free then it'll stay there. The 5S dropping in price is a given, so I don't see the point in releasing another phone at the same price point. Releasing 2 different sizes of phones is already new for Apple. I just don't see them releasing two different sizes AND a budget version of the smaller size all at the same time.

Then next year they'll release a 6C, and you'll have your choice of either the most modern plastic phone or a year old metal phone (which will be the iPhone 6) at the same price point.

"A given?" Everyone thought the 5 dropping in price was a given too, especially when it dropped unofficially at exactly the same time the 5S did this year. Instead, as we found out, it was discontinued when the successor launched. The same might happen to the 5S.

 

[gorcorps]

"A given?" Everyone thought the 5 dropping in price was a given too, especially when it dropped unofficially at exactly the same time the 5S did this year. Instead, as we found out, it was discontinued when the successor launched. The same might happen to the 5S.

You never know. I would have figured we'd see something leak about it by now, so it's just a little odd we haven't heard anything. A number of us thought they wouldn't waste annual R&D on a budget device, and given the lack of any news about a new one that might be what's happening. Obviously we're all just speculating here and they'll do what they feel is best. I don't see much point in refreshing your budget model every year, but I'm also not a business owner.

 

[Sattern]

I think the prices will be more reasonable for the newer iPhones to try and draw in the Samsung crowd.

I knew about the screen sizes and heard that the larger one might be released later than the smaller ones due to manufacturing delays.

 

[Eug]

After screen size, my biggest concern for the iPhone 6 is the amount of RAM. Although I'm not buying, I'm hoping for 2 GB RAM.

Base 32 GB storage would be nice, but at least it's already an option.

 

[GWestphal]

What about the existing 3.5" devices? A lot of people like a small phone.

 

[Eug]

What about the existing 3.5" devices? A lot of people like a small phone.

I'm thinking Apple wants to end-of-life 512 MB iOS devices sooner rather later. That's why I'm predicting in this thread that as of fall 2014, all Apple iPads and iPhones will have at least 1 GB RAM and an Apple A6 SoC or better. That leaves out all of the current 3.5" iPhones, and I'm pretty sure Apple won't release another 3.5" iPhone.

4.0" will become the new "small" which I think is reasonable. I have small hands myself, and I prefer the 4.0" form factor over the 3.5" form factor. (I also prefer 4.0" over 4.7", at least from what I've seen of 4.7" phones.)

 

[gorcorps]

I think the prices will be more reasonable for the newer iPhones to try and draw in the Samsung crowd.

What does this mean? The latest 16gig iphones and Samsungs have been the same price for years (both go for $200 w/ contract). You think they're going to be even cheaper than that? I don't see that happening.

 

[CZroe]

What does this mean? The latest 16gig iphones and Samsungs have been the same price for years (both go for $200 w/ contract). You think they're going to be even cheaper than that? I don't see that happening.

He's not talking about the flagships. Samsung sells a lot of phones that aren't flagships.

 

[mmntech]

Forbes says they've received a leak from a "credible source" that the next iPhone is indeed called the iPhone 6, and will come with a 128GB model. It will be announced on Tuesday, September 9th according to the rumour.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthony...-6-quick-start-guide-confirms-128gb-and-date/

I think we can take this verbatim as there's no real shocking news here.

 

[Eug]

Yeah, no surprises there:

The rumour that if true would annoy me a bit more would be this one:

If I were forced to upgrade to 4.7" in an iPhone, I would not use a case with it, which would make the protruding camera lens ring more annoying. With a case it'd be fine though, if the phone plus case wasn't too big for your hands that is.

 

[CZroe]

Yeah, no surprises there:

The rumour that if true would annoy me a bit more would be this one:

If I were forced to upgrade to 4.7" in an iPhone, I would not use a case with it, which would make the protruding camera lens ring more annoying. With a case it'd be fine though, if the phone plus case wasn't too big for your hands that is.

The iPod 5G has a protruding lens, as does my Galaxy Note 3. You can't shrink the optics without compromising the imaging components, so we know it will protrude.

Now, as to how much, rumors are that the protrusion has been reduced compared to the earliest leaks.

 

[Ichinisan]

The rumour that if true would annoy me a bit more would be this one:

If I were forced to upgrade to 4.7" in an iPhone, I would not use a case with it, which would make the protruding camera lens ring more annoying. With a case it'd be fine though, if the phone plus case wasn't too big for your hands that is.

Put a sticker on the other corner near it. Done.

My iPod touch 5g has a protruding camera, but I use an Incipio Frequency TPU case and I've never had any issue.

 

[Eug]

Put a sticker on the other corner near it. Done.

That's what I'd do - a small bumper. A bit cheesy looking though.

 

[gevorg]

There might actually be 3 sizes, if 6C will keep the current 4" screen. Or maybe there is no 6C and Apple will just continue selling 5C with a slashed price or something.

 

[Eug]

There might actually be 3 sizes, if 6C will keep the current 4" screen. Or maybe there is no 6C and Apple will just continue selling 5C with a slashed price or something.

I think they will keep the pricing tiers similar. What occupies the lowest tier I don't know, but I could see them selling a 5c or else something like a cut down 5s (5sc?)in a new plastic case and without TouchID.

 

[mmntech]

If I were forced to upgrade to 4.7" in an iPhone, I would not use a case with it, which would make the protruding camera lens ring more annoying. With a case it'd be fine though, if the phone plus case wasn't too big for your hands that is.

It's a weird design choice for Apple if it's true. I'm due for a new phone so if I get one, it's definitely getting Otter Boxed.

 

[Ichinisan]

Looks like we got a weiner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34T80iLYojk

The new case is amazing!