2012 iPhone to feature larger-display design that Steve Jobs worked on

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Apple is set to introduce a new iPhone with a larger screen and an overhauled design that late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs "worked closely on" before he died, according to a new report.

Bloomberg is the latest outlet chiming in with a report that Apple will make drastic changes to its 2012 iPhone. According to people familiar with Apple's plans, the Cupertino, Calif., company has ordered from suppliers screens that are "bigger than the 3.5-inch size" that the iPhone has sported since its debut in 2007.

"Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had worked closely on the redesigned phone before his death in October," the report noted one person as saying. Another source said that Jobs had played a "key role in developing" Apple's next-generation iPhone.

If Apple were to perform a major redesign of the iPhone, it would be the device's first since the iPhone 4 arrived in mid-2010. The previous design, that of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, was also kept for two years before the current form factor was introduced.

With three mainstream media outlets reporting similar claims in the same week, the likelihood that Apple will expand the screen on its best-selling handset appears high. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal said that LG Display, Sharp and the newly-created Japan Display are readying production lines for 4-inch displays bound for Apple's sixth-generation iPhone. Reuters then noted that production of the new screens could begin as soon as next month, ahead of full production of the next-generation iPhone in August.

iPhone 4S


Pundits have suggested that Apple's interest in a larger-screen iPhone comes in response to pressure from ever-increasing screen sizes of competing Android handsets. For instance, Samsung's Galaxy S II, the most popular Android phone according to one recent study, has a 4.8-inch screen. The Galaxy Note, also by Samsung, is a hybrid smartphone and tablet with its 5.3-inch display.

Apple is widely expected to bring a new iPhone to market this fall, roughly one year after the iPhone 4S went on sale. Sources have disagreed, however, on whether the device's launch will come in September or October.

Multiple reports have also suggested that the 2012 iPhone could make the jump to 4G LTE. Apple is expected to make use of new LTE chipsets from Qualcomm with improvements to power consumption over the previous generation.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 93

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post

    For instance, Samsung's Galaxy S II, the most popular Android phone according to one recent study, has a 4.8-inch screen.


    I think this should be the Galaxy S3 and not the S2 because the S2 has a 4.3-inch screen, the S3 is the 4.8-inch screen.

  • Reply 2 of 93


    Can't wait to read all those who renegade on their "But 3.5" is perfect" stance as they attempt to grasp with their cognitive dissonance.

  • Reply 3 of 93
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by redbarchetta View Post


    Can't wait to read all those who renegade on their "But 3.5" is perfect" stance as they attempt to grasp with their cognitive dissonance.



     


    Both sizes work. Is there room for improvement? Of course. Nothing is perfect because people have wildly differing psychological and physical metrics. A Smart car is perfect for a 4 ft. tall woman, but not so for a 7 ft. tall man.

  • Reply 4 of 93
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by redbarchetta View Post

    Can't wait to read all those who renegade on their "But 3.5" is perfect" stance as they attempt to grasp with their cognitive dissonance.


     


    Or maybe we'll stick to our convictions because we're not mindless Jobs-sheep.

  • Reply 5 of 93
    Larger iPhone is fine with me, of course I'll need several new cases for the various camera lense adapters I have that use the iPhone 4s size, just as long as its not the size of that gigantic Note... That think reminds me of me of the parody iPad videos on youtube where people answer the phone with an iPad..

    I'm also not supposed to a smaller and a larger iPad. There are times I'd like either a smaller one or even a larger one... Just for that, please put a,flash on the iPad like the iPhone... Seems like an idiotic mistake that it's not on the iPad 2 or the new iPad...
  • Reply 6 of 93
    And I meant LED FLASH for the camera, not adobe flash, for christsake.
  • Reply 7 of 93
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Chris Powers View Post

    And I meant LED FLASH for the camera, not adobe flash, for christsake.


     


    Well, yeah. image

  • Reply 8 of 93
    suddenly newtonsuddenly newton Posts: 13,819member


    This. Again.

  • Reply 9 of 93
    scotty321scotty321 Posts: 313member


    I really hope they don't increase the size of the iPhone. The 3.5" iPhone is the PERFECT SIZE to hold in one hand, and still have your thumb touch all the corners of the screen. 


     


    Have you ever tried to use one of those larger Samsung phones? Not only are they impossible to fit into your pocket, but they are completely unwieldy to use because you have to constantly be using two hands to do everything. No one-handed anything.

  • Reply 10 of 93
    bikertwinbikertwin Posts: 566member
    Wasn't the rumor back in October last year that the new iPhone 5 design had to be scrapped at the last minute and that's why we had the iPhone 4S?

    Remember the cases that were actually produced for the new, thin but slightly wider form factor (basically fitting a 4" screen on a very slightly stretched iPhone 4 structure)? Remember the mockups? The wedge/teardrop shape?

    That's what it'll be. Why would they change it? They won't.

    Someone please relink those mockup images again. Think 4th gen iPod touch crossed with iPhone 4.
  • Reply 11 of 93
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bikertwin View Post

    The wedge/teardrop shape?

    That's what it'll be.


     


    Right, okay, are there any Android or Windows Phone 7 phones on the market with a wedge shape?

  • Reply 12 of 93
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Can't wait to read all those who renegade on their "But 3.5" is perfect" stance as they attempt to grasp with their cognitive dissonance.

    Pretty much everyone with a brain has said they are open to a larger display providing it doesn't negatively affect usability like in some smartphones.
  • Reply 13 of 93
    gs turngs turn Posts: 30member
    scotty321 wrote: »
    I really hope they don't increase the size of the iPhone. The 3.5" iPhone is the PERFECT SIZE to hold in one hand, and still have your thumb touch all the corners of the screen. 

    Have you ever tried to use one of those larger Samsung phones? Not only are they impossible to fit into your pocket, but they are completely unwieldy to use because you have to constantly be using two hands to do everything. No one-handed anything.

    A 4" screen would only add 1/4 th inch to the width.
  • Reply 14 of 93
    jonyojonyo Posts: 117member


    As long as it fits ok in my pocket, a larger sceen would be fine with me. How big could it be and still fit in my pocket ok? Hard to say, I'd honestly have to feel one in my hand before deciding. Even it were a little too big, it'd still probably just be a matter of time until I ungraded to an iphone 5 or 6 or 7 or whatever, whenever the other newer features and changes become compelling enough. I use an iphone4 now, and the Siri thing on the 4s is cool, but not cool enough to make me upgrade when my iphone 4 is still getting it done for me. As with all tech stuff, eventually enough new features and/or positive changes happen that you go ahead and spend the money to upgrade.

  • Reply 15 of 93


    It seems to me that Apple will use the "Steve worked on this" for the next few years of new products.

  • Reply 16 of 93
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    gs turn wrote: »
    A 4" screen would only add 1/4 th inch to the width.

    1) Not if they reduce the thickness of the device and the thickness of the bezel of the sides of the display.

    2) Not if they retain the same PPI and just elongate the height thereby alteringthe aspect ratio. Whilst alien at first since the UI scrolls up and down in most apps and non-comforming apps could just be centered in the display until adjusted it wouldn't negatively impact the user experience.
  • Reply 17 of 93
    There will be some Disapointed folks when the device still has a 3.5 inch device lol
  • Reply 18 of 93
    Jobs said a smaller iPad wouldn't work because people's fingers aren't that small.
    Why, then, is the even smaller display on the iPhone considered adequate?
    I'm 2 1/2 years on a 3GS. My next phone will definitely have a larger screen. I'm more than happy to leave Apple for another brand that gives consumers what they want.
  • Reply 19 of 93
    timbittimbit Posts: 331member


    I don't want the phone to be any wider, as it is the perfect width right now. And I don't want a teardrop shape as I find this difficult to hold, especially as a phone. 


    I'm really hoping they remove the bezel and take the screen right to the edges of the device (or as close to them as possible). This would only increase the size a small amount if it is a 4" screen. 


    I am content with the 3.5" though. It fits perfectly in my hand. They just need to make it lighter! (Though I do prefer glass over aluminum)

  • Reply 20 of 93
    gwlaw99gwlaw99 Posts: 134member
    Can't wait to read all those who renegade on their "But 3.5" is perfect" stance as they attempt to grasp with their cognitive dissonance.

    It will be the opposite. As soon as Apple announces a 4" screen, that will be the perfect size. Until the moment before, 3.5 will be the perfect size.
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