According to the well-informed AllThingsD, Apple will hold a launch event on September 10th to unveil a new generation of iPhones. In addition, there have been widespread rumors about a "low-cost" version of the iPhone, suggesting that this could be an unprecedented event where Apple releases two new phones at once.
Now, with less than a month until September 10th, based on various leaks and clues from before, we can attempt to speculate on what to (not) expect from the new generation of iPhones.
A design largely consistent with the iPhone 5
Based on photos leaked by multiple media outlets and Apple's product iteration patterns, the new iPhone is likely to retain the same design as the current iPhone 5, much like how the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S shared similar appearances. The overall design remains largely the same, with only minor adjustments in details that are hard to spot unless you look closely.
One advantage of this approach is that accessories for the iPhone 5, including cases, can still be used. Regarding the rumored "low-cost" iPhone, it seems almost certain that this phone will exist. However, a point worth pondering is whether the shocking colorful cases in the style of Huaqiangbei (a tech market hub in Shenzhen) will appear? After these color case leaks, most of the subsequent spy photos of the "low-cost" iPhone reverted to white, casting doubt on the authenticity of the earlier leaked color cases which seemed to lack premium quality.
As for the name of the new iPhone, the likelihood of it being called the iPhone 5S is higher than the iPhone 6.
Apple may reduce its production lines
With the release of the new generation of iPhones and the "low-cost" iPhone, the positioning of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S becomes quite awkward, with their configurations gradually becoming outdated. It can be anticipated that after the release of the new phones, these two models will inevitably face discontinuation.
A more radical thought is that even the iPhone 5 might face discontinuation. According to reports from the South Korean website ETNews.com, Apple’s future production line may only include two models: the new generation iPhone and the "low-cost" iPhone. The reason cited is that the in-cell screen of the iPhone 5 is not suitable for small-scale production.
Same 4-inch screen, but a different 4-inch screen
As mentioned earlier, the new iPhone will maintain a similar appearance to the iPhone 5, meaning the original 4-inch screen size will remain unchanged, and there seems to be no intention to upgrade the 1136 x 640 resolution. This makes the statement of "the same 4-inch screen" reasonable.
"Different" might refer to changes in screen material. According to ExtremeTech, the new iPhone may adopt Sharp's IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) screen. Compared to traditional screens, this type offers better battery life and lower costs.
Better battery life
The battery life of the new iPhone could see improvements, not only due to the new screen mentioned above but also potentially due to the new A7 chip that could enhance battery performance.
Based on internal photos and information disclosed by MacRumors, the A7 chip will be manufactured by Samsung, offering enhanced computing power. The new battery's performance will improve by around 8%, with the capacity increasing to 1560mAh.
Similar to the new MacBook Air, we have good reason to expect that the new iPhone will offer better battery life than the iPhone 5 without changing its volume.
12-megapixel camera and dual LED flash
The 8-megapixel camera has been carried over for two generations. According to EXPReview, the new iPhone will feature a stacked 12-megapixel camera, and the added dual LED flash will provide better lighting to help improve photo color saturation and brightness.
The slow-motion camera function is also highly likely to appear on the new iPhone. 9to5Mac revealed that the Mogul new camera function allows the new iPhone to record 120FPS video.
Fingerprint sensor
The fingerprint sensor is a feature consumers eagerly anticipate. Coincidentally, in iOS 7 Beta 4, there was a code related to the fingerprint sensor. If it does appear, then this new biometric sensor will be integrated into the iPhone's Home button.
Currently, we know little about this feature. However, besides unlocking the phone, fingerprint recognition should also play a role in mobile payments. Additionally, it is unclear whether Apple will develop an API for the fingerprint sensor for developers.
Another point is whether the time has come for Apple to showcase the acquisition of AuthenTec, a hardware security sensor manufacturer they acquired last year?
"Low-cost" iPhone
There have been enough leaks about this model, but most previous news focused on proving its existence and appearance rather than its specifications, which we still know very little about. Even regarding its appearance, the news has been mixed between true and false.
It is highly possible that Apple will release such a "low-cost" iPhone, but will it be unveiled alongside the new generation iPhone? What will its specs be?
A bold guess is that the "low-cost" iPhone might adopt configurations similar to the iPhone 5, replacing its position in the market.
Finally, here are several spy photos of the new and "low-cost" iPhones from the Vietnamese website Tinhte. Given the accuracy of their previous leaks, these seem highly credible. However, the exact appearance and specifications of these new models will only be known on the day of the launch event. The aforementioned speculations are all based on the current available information and cannot be entirely guaranteed for accuracy.
Images within the article are from: Tinhte, MacRumors