It’s that time of year again. Apple will most likely be unveiling the iPhone 6 later in 2014, and the collective anticipation has been building up more or less since the release of the iPhone 5s. Because the updates to the iPhone 5 and 5s weren’t exactly game changers, everyone is ready for something big this time around.
As usual, rumors and theories about the new iPhone are whizzing around cyberspace faster than Candy Crush invitations. For just that reason, we’ve gathered all the info together into one convenient blog post. Consider this your one stop shop for wild iPhone 6 speculation, and what it can mean for your business.
When Can I Get My Hands On It?
Apple is announcing the iPhone 6 release date on September 9th, and everyone is going wild trying to guess what that date will be. German carrier Deutsche Telekom recently published a blog post (written in German) indicating that the iPhone 6 could be released on September 19th.
Of course, a statement released on a blog is hardly definitive. Some Apple fans think Apple may actually release the new phone earlier. There is even a rumor floating around that there could be TWO release dates. This would involve Apple releasing a version with a 4.5-inch screen in August, and a version with a 5.5-inch screen at a later date.
How Big Will It Be?
When the original iPhone came out in 2007, it seemed huge. The original iPhone had a 3.5-inch screen before growing to 4 inches for the iPhone 5. These days that’s pretty small compared to most Windows and Android smartphones, some of which look like they could pass for flat screen TVs if mounted on a wall. As noted above, it looks like Apple is about to increase its screen size in a major way.
Australian website Macfixit.com recently posted an allegedly authentic photo of the back of an iPhone 6. The photo fits the proportions of an iPhone with a 4.7-inch screen. If the image turns out to be legit, the iPhone 6 will be slightly curved around the edges and extremely slim.
More About the Size
(skip ahead if you’re not a pixels person)
Naturally, the larger the screen size the higher the resolution, and rumors are flying about possible pixel density, retina display, and resolution for each potential screen size. Macrumors reports a respectable upgrade of 1704 x 906 for both sizes while respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts 1334 x 750 for the 4.7 inch version and 1920 x 1080 for the 5.5 inch version.
There is yet another rumor suggesting that many of the iPhone 6 prototypes feature a giant Retina and IGZO display, which would come with 1080 pixel Full HD resolution.
Considering prototypes don’t necessarily make it to market, and there is reason to believe the iPhone 6 will be more affordable than previous models, it looks like Kuo could be onto something.
In terms of small businesses, a bigger screen translates into a better display for your app (a bigger storefront, if you will) and more ease-of-use on both ends. If the multiple screen size rumor pans out, however, it also means needing to customize your app for each set of dimensions and resolution.
But Is It Klutz-Proof?
There is a certain type of person who is always dropping smartphones. We call this type of person “human.” Anybody who falls into that category might be interested to know there is a rumor that Apple is planning to manufacture sapphire crystal displays for future iPhone models. This is significant because sapphire crystal glass is incredibly tough. In effect, it has the potential to make iPhones more scratchproof and all-around tougher than ever before.
But before you go planning on having an employee run over your new iPhone with the company van while another employee films it all for YouTube, keep in mind that this rumor is a long shot. Although Apple may replace Gorilla Glass with sapphire crystal in a future iPhone, as of right now it is most likely too expensive to be practical for the iPhone 6.
It’s also worth noting that Apple recently filed a patent application titled “System and Methods for Preventing Guide Plate Scratching Artifacts.” In layman’s terms, Apple is developing a “self-healing” substance that would eliminate damage from minor scratches in its products’ displays. It really goes without saying that when running your own business you need a phone that can keep up with your hectic pace and take care of itself.
How Awesome Will It Look?
It’s Apple, so you know the iPhone 6 is going to look good. Word on the street is that the iPhone 6 will have the thinnest chassis of any model so far. Popular Chinese tech site C Technology purports to have leaked images of the iPhone 6. If the images are any indication of what’s coming down the pike, iPhone 6 will have a larger surface area than the iPhone 5s and yet be far skinnier.
C Technology offers more supposedly leaked images that also point to an extremely thin phone with a larger screen. Of course, a larger screen also means a larger battery, right? The plus side of that is the iPhone 6 should be able to better compete with the long battery life that is part and parcel of smartphones, such as the HTC One M8 and the Sony Xperia Z2.
Italian blog Macitynet recently posted photos of what they say are dummy models of the iPhone 6 next to the iPhone 5s. They even offered up a handy dandy video of their findings. Aside from the larger screen and thinner chassis, the Italian dummy model reveals that the power button has been moved to the side. 9to5Mac offered photos of similar dummy models in gold, silver, and gray.
Of course, a longer battery life and sleeker, prettier phone mean a better accessory to display your app and more time you can spend running your business on the fly.
Not Just Another Pretty Interface
Cool design aside, the nitty-gritty is all about performance—and there is a rumor flying around that the iPhone 6 will have the fastest processor yet. Apple insider Sonny Dickson predicts the iPhone 6 will feature an A8 processor that will run at 2.6GHz. Other in-the-know pundits see either an A8 processor or a souped-up A7. Either way, the iPhone 6 should have a little more kick than the iPhone 5s.
Best…Selfies…Ever
Perhaps the most exciting new feature on the iPhone 6 will be the camera. Analysts disagree on exactly how much better it will be than the cameras on previous iPhones, but they agree it will be better. According to one rumor, the iPhone 6 will have a pixel size of 1.75um compared to the 1.5um on the iPhone 5s. This will allow more light to be taken in, resulting in better picture quality. For your SMB, this translates into a better advertising tool in your hands—resulting in higher quality images to market your business. Better yet, Apple is expected to use Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) to complement iPhone 6’s slimmer body. EIS will allow for a camera that doesn’t stick out of the phone’s body, allowing for the sleek aesthetics Apple is known for.
Wireless Charging With No Strings Attached
Perhaps even cooler than the improved camera, iPhone 6 might feature a new kind of high-quality wireless charging. This particular rumor is contingent on how the whole sapphire glass angle plays out, but it’s potentially an extremely cool development. There’s even some wild talk of Apple placing tiny solar panels into the screen’s sapphire glass. This would allow you to charge your phone using nothing but the power of the sun.
Then, of course, there’s the rumor that Scarlett Johansson will be the new voice of Siri. Okay, I just made that one up. But we may as well add it to the list.
Will you be buying the iPhone 6? Which rumor are you most excited about? Share your thoughts in the comments below!