Rumor: Apple field testing 'iPhone 6' with 4.9-inch display
Apple has begun field trials of a next-generation iPhone sporting a larger, 4.9-inch display, according to new information from one popular tech-focused Far East website.
The report, from hit-and-miss Chinese blog C Technology, conforms with prior assertions from well-connected Taiwanese analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. Kuo had previously predicted that 2014 would bring an Apple-branded handset with a 4.5-inch to 5-inch display.
Kuo does not believe the Cupertino, Calif.-based company will extend the iPhone display beyond the 5-inch diagonal mark due to their "unwavering principle of one hand use."
Not much is known about the so-called "iPhone 6," with Apple just two months removed from the release of its newest flagship iPhone 5s and mid-range iPhone 5c. Speculation has thus far centered mainly on the display, with Bloomberg reporting earlier this month that two new models featuring larger displays and cover glass that curves around the device's edges may be in the offing for a late 2014 release.
The Bloomberg report came on the heels of a September missive from Japanese magazine Mac Fan which claimed Apple's next-generation handset would feature a 5-inch display with a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution. That report also tipped thinner bezels for the smartphone.
Many industry observers believe that Apple must increase the size of the iPhone's display in order to better match up with larger-screened devices from competitors like Motorola and Samsung whose displays routinely exceed 5 inches, with some as large as 6.3 inches on the diagonal. Apple is known to take a cautious approach to changes such as these in order to avoid the ecosystem fragmentation that plagues rival mobile platform Android.
The report, from hit-and-miss Chinese blog C Technology, conforms with prior assertions from well-connected Taiwanese analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. Kuo had previously predicted that 2014 would bring an Apple-branded handset with a 4.5-inch to 5-inch display.
Kuo does not believe the Cupertino, Calif.-based company will extend the iPhone display beyond the 5-inch diagonal mark due to their "unwavering principle of one hand use."
Not much is known about the so-called "iPhone 6," with Apple just two months removed from the release of its newest flagship iPhone 5s and mid-range iPhone 5c. Speculation has thus far centered mainly on the display, with Bloomberg reporting earlier this month that two new models featuring larger displays and cover glass that curves around the device's edges may be in the offing for a late 2014 release.
The Bloomberg report came on the heels of a September missive from Japanese magazine Mac Fan which claimed Apple's next-generation handset would feature a 5-inch display with a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution. That report also tipped thinner bezels for the smartphone.
Many industry observers believe that Apple must increase the size of the iPhone's display in order to better match up with larger-screened devices from competitors like Motorola and Samsung whose displays routinely exceed 5 inches, with some as large as 6.3 inches on the diagonal. Apple is known to take a cautious approach to changes such as these in order to avoid the ecosystem fragmentation that plagues rival mobile platform Android.
Comments
Or at least, don't make the phone itself bigger. Do whatever you want with the display, just don't have it running down the sides as well.
Wasn't there already a rumour about a 12.9" iPhone? I know the article read iPad, but it was a rumour, right?
The current iPhone design has too much top and bottom bezel for a large-screen phone. It would be almost as long as that Android with a 5.5 in screen.
Honestly who would want such a large cell phone? I'm still using my iPhone 4 because it is significantly smaller than the current offerings. If I need a big screen I can grab an iPad, for something to slip in ones pants small is beautiful.
Different people like different stuff. I've messed around with my brother's Note phone and it may not be for everyone, but it's a nice phone.
What's the big deal about these rumors? Of course Apple is testing phones with different screen sizes. I'm sure they have been for years. And no it won't be a shock if next year Apple releases a new iPhone with a bigger screen.
Best post on this topic! If nothing else it's about choice....and what's wrong with that?
I bet ya it won't be that large. 4.6" or 4.7"
I think this rumor, factual or not, stems from an assumption Apple will use their 9.7" iPad display panels and still use the same resolution as the iPhone 5.
I won't be surprised if the next iPhone takes iPad mini/Air cues in terms of design. Basically an iPod touch that's only as thick as needed for camera and battery life.
It's going to be interesting to see where Apple goes with this. The first time I picked up an iPhone 5, I was amazed at how light it was compared to my 4s. I just went to the Apple store yesterday to hold an iPad Air and a RMini. Just two beautiful machines...I want to get both! I'll most likely get the RMini just for max mobility!
Best
I don't want a bigger phone, but a bigger screen is always nice. The only way they can do this (and I've been saying this for at least since the iPhone 5 rumors) is to make the thing ALL SCREEN. This would be a crazy achievement if they can do it since they would have to embed the TouchID, speaker, camera, and proximity sensor into and behind the screen, or possibly on the very edges of it. That would be pretty amazing though.
I'm not sure if such technology exists, but how about piezo pixels within the matrix that not only changed color but also vibrated to create sound? Heck, do away with the normal speakers at the bottom, and use the whole screen as a big speaker. And also embed Touch ID to the bottom half of the screen for good measure.
I think this rumor, factual or not, stems from an assumption Apple will use their 9.7" iPad display panels and still use the same resolution as the iPhone 5.
If that created a good product then yes, but I don't see 4.9" is a good size for an iPhone. Going from 3.5 to 4" made a huge difference, going from 4 to 4.6 or 4.7" would make an ever bigger difference (yes I know they'll be keeping the 4" iPhone around, and that it will remain the more popular model).
I have my doubts that using the same resolution on a display that is slightly over 50% more area would be a good experience. Perhaps if they were going to scale the iPad to a higher resolution down the road and this was something they did first on a smaller display scale then I could see it happening, but it all seems very doubtful to me.
What's really amazing is that you notice the weigh and thickness difference going to the lighter and thinner design but it's nothing compared to how much you noticed how heavy and thick the 4/4S after using the 5/5S for a couple weeks. It's almost shocking.