Although Apple won't say whether its next smartphone will be called iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S, many analysts and tech watchers are expecting Cupertino's 2013 product to be dubbed the iPhone 5S.
Seeing as that may be the case, it's probable that Apple will wait until the iPhone 6 to offer users any drastic changes in the device's actual build. According to Peter Misek, an analyst at Jeffries, the iPhone 6 release date will land sometime in June 2014, and the phone is going to sport a phablet-like screen size.
The current iPhone 5 features a 4-inch screen, and the iPhone 5S isn't expected to toy around with that specification. Still, the popularity of devices like the Galaxy Note series and the general trend of phablets indicates that people are genuinely interested in phones with screens 5-inches and larger, so it looks like Apple might just make a play for those users with the iPhone 6.
Is this likely? Well, it's certainly possible. Even if we go beyond trend spotting, you may or not remember that back in March, it was revealed that Sharp, an Apple supplier, was developing a new, ultra-sensitive touch screen. It's capable of working on screens of up to 60 inches, but it can only scale down to five. If Apple intends to incorporate that tech into the iPhone 6, it could mean that the new phone would at least sport a 5-inch screen.
And what about the iPhone 5S? According to Misek, via the Financial Post, Apple is planning to lure customers by offering the phone in new colors, with a faster processor, and a better camera. That's basically par for the course for a new phone. Outside of new colors, it's exactly what you expect with every upgrade.
Thankfully, those aren't the only features Misek expects to be announced. We already know Apple is working on a redesigned iOS 7, but apparently there will also be a fingerprint scanner incorporated into the device as well as some kind of "mobile payment platform." It'll be interesting to see if these features will be enough to keep pace with Samsung, HTC, and other Android makers.
