Images widely circulated in recent weeks may not show the final design of the iPhone 6 after all.
As new photographs and video emerge, apparently revealing a slicker, curvier glass screen than the one seen in previous leaks, commentators have suggested that earlier images may have shown pre-production dummies that differ from Apple's final specification.
Japanese newspaper Nikkei says that prominent stripes on the back of the phone, said to be part of the antenna, will not be visible in their current form when the handset goes into production.
"The final iPhone 6 may not feature the 'stripes' at all," says 9to5Mac.com, translating Nikkei's report. "These simply mark out an area for glass materials to replace the aluminium frame, just like the iPhone 5s. Another possibility is that the stripe appearance is still present, but the stripes will be made out of attractive highly-polished glass."
Some Apple fans have expressed relief that what they have seen so far is not the finished article.
"For another smartphone company (Samsung, perhaps?) I could imagine this as a legitimate design decision," writes Forbes columnist Antony Wing Kosner. "But for Jony Ive with his diamond cut chamfered edges? Never!"
The most recent images (below), published by 9to5Mac, appear to show a much more accomplished device. Only the front screen could be seen, but the polished glass finish and curved edges seem more in keeping with Apple's design-led traditions.
And a video posted yesterday (see above) by technology commentator Marques Brownlee appears to show the same screen being subjected to a range of strength tests. Brownlee says the super-strong sapphire crystal display remains unmarked even after a sustained attempt to bend it, twist it and scratch it with keys and knives.
iPhone 6: Apple gears up for 19 September launch
30 June
The iPhone 6 will be unveiled on 19 September, according to reports citing "inside sources" from the Apple supply chain in China.
Deutsche Telekom has previously told customers to expect the new phone on the third Friday in September, which was also the launch date for last year's iPhone 5S and 5C.
Reports from Apple suppliers earlier this week suggested that the iPhone 6 is about to go into production, and appeared to confirm that the new device will come in two sizes – both larger than existing models.
"Apple is ramping up on two bigger devices," Bloomberg reports, quoting "people familiar with the plans". Its sources confirmed previous speculation that the iPhone 6 will be available with both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens, compared with the 4-inch screen of the iPhone 5S and 5C.
But whereas recent reports have suggested that the larger of the two new models would not be available until at least a month after its smaller sibling, Bloomberg's sources say that the "5.5-inch version is also being prepared for manufacturing and may be available at the same time".
After making relatively small changes to the iPhone last year, Apple is gearing up for a much more substantial overhaul this year.
"Hundreds of thousands of new employees have been drafted in by suppliers to meet the expected huge demand," the Daily Mail reports.
Most analysts now expect the iPhone 6 to be unveiled at an Apple event in September, with the new handsets available for purchase soon afterwards.
More iPhone 6 rumours
There's no shortage of speculation about what will be included in the next iPhone, much of which seems to be based on wishful thinking:
A Liquidmetal shell: As Apple strives to make the new handset as slim and strong as possible, some commentators have speculated that it may turn to Liquidmetal, an alloy that's stronger than aluminium. In theory that would mean the handset could be lighter and slimmer without skimping on strength or build quality, but in practice it seems unlikely. Although one of the inventors of Liquidmetal predicted two years ago that Liquidmetal cases would be possible by mid-2014, its use has so far been limited to small components.
Liquidmetal components: This is much more likely. Documents published by Apple-watching website MacRumors, suggest that the alloy could be used in buttons and switches in order to toughen up what have often proved to be weak points on previous iPhones.
A curved screen: At the end of last year Bloomberg carried a report predicting the next iPhone models would have screens that curved down at the edges. Curved screens are said to be more durable, more comfortable to use, and better suited to watching videos and playing games, according to Sky News. This would be a bold move for Apple, which usually likes to stand back and see how other phone-makers fare with new, risky technologies – and more recently a source told The Wall Street Journal that Apple has no plans to make use of curved glass. However, despite all the leaked images apparently showing the iPhone 6 with a flat screen, rumours of curved glass have resurfaced, most recently in the Daily Mirror.
Sapphire crystal screen: This seems a more likely proposition. Apple has invested more than half a billion dollars in the highly scratch-resistant material, which has previously been used in small quantities for the iPhone 5S camera lens company. According to some reports, sapphire crystal can survive undamaged even after being rubbed against concrete. Apple news site 9to5Mac.com says the company has been gearing up production in order to give the iPhone 6 a super-tough screen. "Apple just procured enough sapphire crystal furnace to make 100-200 million five-inch iPhone displays in Arizona," it said earlier this year.
Optical image stabilisation: MacRumors says the bigger of the two iPhone 6 models "may include camera improvements in the form of optical image stabilisation with modules produced by sensor company InvenSense". Camera performance is becoming increasingly important at the top end of the smartphone market, and analysts suggest that optical stabilisation, which reduces image blur, could help to justify a larger price tag for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6.
Eye-tracking: Some rumours suggested that the iPhone 5S would be eye-controlled, allowing users to scroll through pages without touching the device. When the technology failed to materialise in the last model, hopeful observers shifted their attention to the iPhone 6.
NFC: Another long-predicted feature, Near Field Communication or NFC would allow the phone to act as a payment system. Users would wave their handsets over a receiver to transfer money in shops and restaurants, or between friends. Several Android and Windows Phone devices already support NFC payments, but Apple has yet to make the leap.
Studio flash: Apple is working on a way of letting iPhones control flashes built into a range of phones and tablets in order to light a scene from multiple angles, according to Apple Insider, which unearthed a patent for the system. There's no hint about when the system might make it into production
Health monitors and apps: Apple has already unveiled its new operating system, iOS 8, and what we've seen so far suggests that Apple is turning its attention to health and fitness. Smartphone accessories such as the Fitbit and FuelBand have proven the demand for health-monitoring devices, and reports suggest that the iPhone 6 will be able to keep track of its owners pulse and body temperature, as well as other metrics. These features may work in conjunction with the long-awaited Apple iWatch.
A higher price tag: One prediction not based on wishful thinking is the suggestion that the new iPhone will be significantly more expensive. "We see the potential for the iPhone 6 price point to move higher, to avoid the profit margin erosion that occurred when iPhone 5 launched," said Chris Caso of Susquehanna Financial Group, according to Investors.com. "When iPhone 5 was launched, Apple's phone margins declined because the new features (most notably the display) added cost to the bill of materials, yet the price point of the phone remained unchanged
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