It may be some time off, but rumours about the next iPhone are already circulating. We bring you the latest information on the iPhone 6S - or should that be iPhone 7?
When will it be launched?
New iPhone launches have settled into a regular schedule which sees new models each September. For several years we have seen a major update every other year, with an incremental model number, with gaps filled by minor updates that carry an appended “S”. For instance, in September 2012 we got an all-new iPhone 5, followed by the updated iPhone 5S and 5C in September 2013.
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were launched this September, potentially making September 2015’s launch the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.
What will it be called?
Going by the above pattern, and assuming that Apple keeps a small and large version, designating the latter "Plus", we'll have the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. However, there are rumours that this convention will be dropped: the "S" models apparently giving the impression of a less-radical update - not good if your aim is to convince people to upgrade their handsets. If this is true then we could instead see an iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
What new features can we expect?
The Taptic Engine and Force Touch from the new MacBook and Apple Watch are rumoured to be making an appearance on the new iPhone, giving users new ways of interacting with their handset. Force Touch detects how hard the user is pressing and allows different actions to be carried out accordingly. Press the fast-forward button in a video player, and you can vary the speed at which it skips by pressing lighter or harder, for instance.
The next version of the iPhone will see the “biggest camera jump ever”,offering quality to rival a DSLR, according to blogger John Gruber. He reported in November that the new device would include a "weird two-lens system where the back camera uses two lenses and it somehow takes it up into DSLR quality imagery.”
An upgrade is certainly due: the current versions are still using an eight megapixel camera when rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 have a 16 megapixel sensor. But what exactly the “two lens” system refers to is unclear, and is likely to remain so until the launch.
Another likely feature is wireless charging. This has already been announced as part of the Apple Watch so it's likely that it'll be rolled-out to phones as well.
Sapphire glass - a scratch resistant material used in screens - is another likely feature. It was widely slated for an appearance on the iPhone 6 butmanufacturing problems reportedly got in the way.
There could also be a new processor - the A9 - produced by Samsung. It will be smaller, faster and use less power, just as you'd expect from a new chip. The current A8 series use a 20nm process and the new ones would use 14nm.
One unusual update could be a safety feature that uses the vibrating motor, "air foils" or ejecting batteries to spin the handset in mid-air if it's dropped and ensure that it always lands screen-up. The company claims that this will reduce the chance of cracked displays, and has been granted a patent on the idea.
What will it look like?
Again, going by the pattern seen in recent years, the iPhone 6S will be outwardly similar to the current models - all upgrades will be internal. However, Apple has surprised us many times in the past. Designer Steel Drake has published concept images of his take on the new modelwhich go in a radical new direction (see above).
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook