Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S5 release date news rumours specs and price updated
The eagerly awaited Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is growing near, with a number of recent Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours pegging the handset for a pre-MWC 2014 unveiling.
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With Samsung spokespeople having officially confirmed to TrustedReviews that a Samsung Galaxy S5 release date will be held in Q1, further reports have looked to narrow down the phones arrival, with a February 23 launch the most recent to be tipped.
Away from the phoness arrival, a senior company exec recently stated that the Samsung Galaxy S4 successor will have a focus on the screen and "feel" of the smartphone, while a selection of leaked photos suggest the S5 could even feature a brand new UI.
Although one of the most frequently repeated Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours is the phones move to an all new, premium metal body, the company has informed us that this might not be the case after all. In a recent interview, Kyle Brown, Head of Technical Product Management within Samsung’s IM division which covers smartphones, tablets and wearables, told us: "I don’t believe Samsung will go down the route of making a metal device just because other manufacturers are.”
To keep up to date with all the latest Samsung Galaxy S5 release date, news, rumours, specs and price details, bookmarket this page as we will be updating it regularly with all the latest details.
Samsung Galaxy S5 News
While a number of recent Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have claimed the phone will become the first handset to run the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, the chipset manufacturer has hinted that this might not be the case.
With the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date tipped for Q1, speaking with TrustedReviews, Qualcomms Vice President of Marketing has revealed he does not expect the first Snapdragon 805 device to land until "mid-2014".
Giving an insight into the phones upcoming abilities, in late 2013, claimed Samsung Galaxy S5 benchmarks appeared suggesting that, despite making a jump to a rival 64 bit processor, the S5 will be slower than the iPhone 5S.
While reports have suggested that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 clocked a score of 3303.88 in a Rightware Browsermark test, the recording is slower than both the iPhone 5Ss score of 3669.91 and even the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 which clocked 3353.07.
While the leaked Samsung Galaxy S5 benchmarks have suggested the phone will be less powerful than the iPhone 5S, further reports suggested that in a bid to save money on production costs, Samsung will drop the flagship phone from its usual AMOLED panel to a cheaper LCD offering.
However, fresh reports have suggested that the Galaxy S5 will abandon AMOLED technology in fabour of an LTPS LCD display, due to production difficulties with the 2K resolution AMOLEDs.
This is supported by the fact Samsung recently purchased a 3 per cent stake in Sharp, meaning it isnt out of the question for Sharp to manufacture screens for the next Samsung flagship.
Recently, it has been suggested that the Korean manufacturer will hold a Samsung Galaxy S5 release date in March 2014. Now, a Samsung Mobile exec has confirmed that the S5 is on target for a March/April release date alongside the second-generation Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
There are also rumours that the Galaxy S5 could launch with a premium Samsung Galaxy F handset, offering specs at the very top of those currently available.
Elsewhere, Samsung recently teased a range of potential Samsung Galaxy S5 features. Speaking at its annual Analyst Day in Seoul, South Korean, the manufacturer has suggested that its 2014 phones (i.e. the Samsung Galaxy S5) will boast impressive 2560 x 1440 pixel displays as well as 16-megapixel ISOCELL camera sensors and as much as 4GB of RAM.
Whats more, while recent Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have pointed to the device trading in its less than impressive plastic build in favour of a new metal option, Samsung itself has stated the phone will support a 64-bit processor. While it might copy the iPhone 5S CPU, Samsung has stated the S5 will not feature an integrated fingerprint scanner.Ensuring it is not left behind, latest Samsung Galaxy S5 news has once again seen the upcoming handset tipped to run a 64-bit processor, similar to that found in the new iPhone 5S.
While Samsung’s CEO of Mobile Shin Jong-Kyun recently stated that "yes, our next smartphones will have 64-bit processing functionality," reports of production issues had hinted this feature might not drop until later in 2014 aboard the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Now, however, the Samsung Galaxy S5 looks set to be on the receiving end, of the PC-esque processor.
“According to the latest bits of information coming from Samsung’s homeland, the company is pretty much done with developing its in-house 64-bit CPU,” tech blog GforGames has reported. They added: “From our understanding, Samsung went past the more difficult parts of creating the CPU, and the chip is almost ready for its release.”
Further reports have suggested the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date will see the handset line up with 3GB of RAM in tow. A feature that has also been mooted for the imminent Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the S5s expansive RAM has been hinted at after the companys latest development announcement.
Speaking in recent weeks, Samsung confirmed that it had started mass production of the first 3GB low power DDR3 RAM chips for mobile devices. With the Samsung Galaxy S5 set to be the manufacturers new flagship phone, it makes sense that it will run the companys latest developments and most advanced components.
A chip that could spell more than increased speeds and improved multitasking capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S5 RAM improvement could result in a slimmer phone with a bettery battery life. An official spokesperson for the company stated: "Samsungs new ultra-slim memory solutions will enable thinner smartphone designs and allow for additional battery space, while offering a data transfer speed of up to 2,133 megabits per second (Mbps) per pin."
Samsung Galaxy S5 Release Date
Samsung Mobile Executive Vice President, Lee Young Hee, was recently quoted as stating the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date will lie in March or April, launching alongside the Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch.
"Weve been announcing our first flagship model in the first half of each year, around March and April, and we are still targeting for release around that time. When we release our S5 device, you can also expect a Gear successor with more advanced functions, and the bulky design will also be improved," said Lee.
Its a bit of a relief to have some concrete release date info, even if it is a little unsurprising. Like its bitter rival Apple, Samsung has become something of a fan of strict annual product cycles for its leading product lines and as such has become a little bit predictable.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 hit UK retailers on April 26 after a dedicated New York launch event on March 14. The Samsung Galaxy S3 went into stores on May 29 2012 and all the way back in 2011, the Samsung Galaxy S2 launched on May 1.
Although it is believed the Samsung Galaxy S5 will hit retailers in March, it has been suggested that the phone will be unveiled during a pre-MWC 2014 press conference on February 23.
“Samsung Galaxy S5 launch – 18.00. Barcelona. 23 February. Price the same. Launch – end of April. Specs – u know them. New touchwiz," Mobile Review editor and serial launch date tipster, Eldar Murtazin Tweeted recently.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Rumours
Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have been doing the rounds for quite some time now. The most prominent Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours to date, however, all focus on one area of the currently unconfirmed phone – its design.
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 having been widely criticised for its plastic form factor which failed to match up to the brushed metal highlights of the iPhone 5 or HTC One, Samsung is widely expected to adopt an all new finish for the S5, with new aluminium body repeatedly tipped.
The Galaxy S5 will most likely forego the flexible, curved form factor introduced with the Samsung Galaxy Round and LG G Flex, due to low yield rates and increased costs.
"The current capacity for flexible panels is not high enough for the Galaxy S5, which will be rolled out early next year," suggested Kim Jong-hyen, an analyst at Seoul-based Eugene Investment & Securities.
According to unnamed “sources close to the South Korean phone maker,” recent reports have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be used to launch a new ‘Design 3.0’ standard within the company.
The sources stated: “While we don’t have the slightest idea what Design 3.0 really means in terms of looks, we can now confirm that Samsung will start to use aluminium for its high-end smartphones, and the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be the first one to receive this treatment.”
Further hinting at a change in design and materials, Samsung recently acquired carbon fibre specialist the SGL Group, announcing in an official statement that it would be using the high-end lightweight materials in future phones and tablets.
"Lightweight materials have become an important factor not only in industrial applications but also the consumer end markets such as digital media," Yoosung Chung, President & CEO of Samsung Petrochemical said. He added: "This partnership will position Samsung as a leading player in the development and application of carbon fibre-based products.”
"The cooperation is expected to provide a stable long-term supply of carbon fibre materials for Samsung and promote its use in various Samsung products and applications such as consumer electronics, medical devices and engineering applications,"
Samsung Galaxy S5 Specs
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 having taken smartphone specs to the next level, it is widely expected that the South Korean manufacturer will continue with a similar trend with the next-generation S5. Although few areas of the phone’s features list have yet been rumoured, certain elements have already been teased.
In January, it was rumoured that the Galaxy S5 could feature a brand new UI, a 2014 edition of the Samsung TouchWiz UX that sports a whole new redesign.
Earlier this month a Samsung design patent leaked (above) showing off a new angled-edged phone which has been mooted to the be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5.
As you can see in the leaked UI screengrabs above, Samsung may introduce design tweaks with the S5 TouchWiz, offering a more mature feel to its currently slightly cartoonish UI.
This brand new UI could also run on a 5.25-inch QHD 2K resolution display that has recently entered production, stepping up the 5-inch Full 1080p HD screen of the S4.
The QHD panel would offer a stunning resolution of 2560 x 1440p with a 560ppi image density for sublime image quality and make it king of the current smartphone displays.
Based on an outed design filing, the phone will run a version of Google’s Android operating system (no surprises there then) as well as integrated cameras front and back.
Other recently emerged Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have claimed the upcoming handset will make use of a new 16-megapixel smartphone camera sensor, offing high-end snaps that could finally spell the end for the dedicated compact camera.
According to further leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S5 specs sheet will see the new 16-megapixel camera sensor further bolstered by optical image stabilisation features.The revised camera component is said to be under development in Korea to replace the 13-megapixel snapper found on the existing S4.
Recent reports have claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S5 could be wrapped within a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active esque waterproof coating.
Samsung has also developed an 8GB RAM chip, just in time for the Galaxy S5 launch. The South Korean electronics giant announced the chip at the end of 2013, calling the new chip "the industrys first eight gigbit (Gb), low power double data rate 4 (LPDDR4), mobile DRAM".
The chip should use around 40 per cent less battery power and help power higher resolution displays.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Price
Although the Samsung Galaxy S5 price is a long way from being confirmed, it has already been suggested that the S5 will cost more than its already pricey predecessor.
According to the same unnamed sources who have claimed a metal bodied design will be bestowed upon the next-gen handset, the Samsung Galaxy S5 price will be bumped up by the new premium building materials.
Stay tuned for more Samsung Galaxy S5 news and rumours as more details on the S4 follow-on continue to appear.
HTC One Mini release date news and rumours
The HTC One Mini is looking more and more likely as the rumours surrounding the handset continue to flow thick and fast.
With the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini last year, followed by the Galaxy S4 Mini this year, theres a clear market for cut price flagship smartphones.
The general rule, it seems, with these "mini" versions is they look almost identical to their big brothers but specs are slashed - quad-core becomes dual-core, full HD becomes 720p at best and cameras also take a bit of a beating.
While they may be "mini" in name, they arent exactly mini in nature with an average screen size of 4.3-inches making these handsets bigger than the iPhone 5 - so youll probably still need a decent sized pocket for the HTC One Mini.
Rumours of a One Mini handset first arose in April 2013, with early reports name checking the device as the HTC M4.
To help you get an idea of what you might be able to expect from the HTC One Mini weve rounded up all those unruly rumours into our smartphone pen for your perusal.
The trail is pretty cold when it comes to the HTC One Mini release date with no upcoming HTC event to speak of. Early reports suggesting itll arrive around the same time as the S4 mini have clearly been proven incorrect.
Bloomberg has tentatively suggested that the HTC One Mini release date may be in August, but as of yet we havent heard anything from the Taiwanese firm about a possibe event.
What we do have in the calendar however is IFA 2013 in Berlin, which could be the perfect platform for the HTC to launch its next smartphone - it might even show up alongside the HTC One Max.
If Samsungs pricing regime for its mini handsets is anything to go by then you can expect the HTC One Mini to sport a mid to high-end price tag which will see it go head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Sony Xperia SP, BlackBerry Q5 and Nokia Lumia 820.
A consistency noticeable through all the various leaks weve seen so far on the HTC One Mini is the screen size.
Back in May notable phone leaker @evleaks mentioned the One Mini would sport a 4.3-inch affair with a 720p resolution, and that news seems to have held true over the past couple of months.
While the 720p display may not sound as fancy as the full HD offering on the HTC One, at the smaller size youll still be getting a decent picture - just take a look at the Galaxy S4 Mini.
When it comes to power the HTC One Mini looks pretty unlikely to sport the quad-core processor of the One, instead having to settle for a dual-core chip instead.
Later rumours pegged the One Mini as having a Qualcomm-made 1.4GHz dual-core processor, which would put it slightly below the 1.7GHz chip in the Galaxy S4 Mini.
In terms of RAM it seems the One Mini is less likely to miss out, with 2GB quoted by several different sources.
Most reports seem to point towards Android 4.2 Jelly Bean as the operating system of choice for the HTC One Mini.
Another report went one further and "confirmed" the HTC One Mini would be running Android 4.2.2, with the firms Sense overlay obviously in play too.
Its probably unlikely that well see a Google-Edition of the HTC One Mini which runs the stock version of Android, as we reckon that makeover will be reserved for flagships only.
HTC made a big song and dance about the Ultrapixel camera on the One and its low-light performance, but even the rumour mill has been pretty quiet on the snappers that may adorn the One Mini.
Its not clear whether well see the Ultrapixel shenanigans again, or if the Taiwanese firm decides to return to the more conventional megapixel setup - but apparently the One Mini will be able to record full HD video and capture Zoes with its rear camera.
You can probably expect to see a front-facing camera on the One Mini too, as this option is becoming an almost default feature nowadays - even on cheaper handsets.
The design of the HTC One Mini is expected to mirror that of the HTC One and, with that in mind, rumours that suggest itll sport the same dual front-facing speakers are likely to be accurate.
HTC may even stuff in its Boomsound technology into the One Mini alongside the Beats Audio tech which adorns all its smartphones.
Its thought that the One Mini will also carry 16GB of internal storage, but if it sports the same metallic chassis as its older brother the chance of a microSD slot being available is pretty unlikely.
That body may prove a barrier for hardcore battery fans, as the rumoured 1700mAh power pack is likely to be sealed inside the One Mini, never to see the light of day.
The trump card the HTC One Mini may hold over its Samsung rival is its premium body, with multiple reports suggesting the cut-down smartphone will inherit the metallic chassis from its big brother.
That certainly seemed to the case in an early render of the One Mini posted online by @evleaks, which showed the handset with just a few minor differences - such as the position of the flash.
A pretty blurry image then cropped up apparently showing the One Mini sitting next to the HTC One, although the quality of the snap doesnt exactly lend itself to being trustworthy.
The design was then mooted for a third time in a couple of snaps claiming to show the HTC One Mini in black, with the layout matching that of the early render.
Read more »
With the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini last year, followed by the Galaxy S4 Mini this year, theres a clear market for cut price flagship smartphones.
The general rule, it seems, with these "mini" versions is they look almost identical to their big brothers but specs are slashed - quad-core becomes dual-core, full HD becomes 720p at best and cameras also take a bit of a beating.
While they may be "mini" in name, they arent exactly mini in nature with an average screen size of 4.3-inches making these handsets bigger than the iPhone 5 - so youll probably still need a decent sized pocket for the HTC One Mini.
Rumours of a One Mini handset first arose in April 2013, with early reports name checking the device as the HTC M4.
To help you get an idea of what you might be able to expect from the HTC One Mini weve rounded up all those unruly rumours into our smartphone pen for your perusal.
HTC One Mini release date and price
The trail is pretty cold when it comes to the HTC One Mini release date with no upcoming HTC event to speak of. Early reports suggesting itll arrive around the same time as the S4 mini have clearly been proven incorrect.
Bloomberg has tentatively suggested that the HTC One Mini release date may be in August, but as of yet we havent heard anything from the Taiwanese firm about a possibe event.
What we do have in the calendar however is IFA 2013 in Berlin, which could be the perfect platform for the HTC to launch its next smartphone - it might even show up alongside the HTC One Max.
If Samsungs pricing regime for its mini handsets is anything to go by then you can expect the HTC One Mini to sport a mid to high-end price tag which will see it go head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Sony Xperia SP, BlackBerry Q5 and Nokia Lumia 820.
HTC One Mini screen
A consistency noticeable through all the various leaks weve seen so far on the HTC One Mini is the screen size.
Back in May notable phone leaker @evleaks mentioned the One Mini would sport a 4.3-inch affair with a 720p resolution, and that news seems to have held true over the past couple of months.
While the 720p display may not sound as fancy as the full HD offering on the HTC One, at the smaller size youll still be getting a decent picture - just take a look at the Galaxy S4 Mini.
HTC One Mini processor
When it comes to power the HTC One Mini looks pretty unlikely to sport the quad-core processor of the One, instead having to settle for a dual-core chip instead.
Later rumours pegged the One Mini as having a Qualcomm-made 1.4GHz dual-core processor, which would put it slightly below the 1.7GHz chip in the Galaxy S4 Mini.
In terms of RAM it seems the One Mini is less likely to miss out, with 2GB quoted by several different sources.
HTC One Mini operating system
Most reports seem to point towards Android 4.2 Jelly Bean as the operating system of choice for the HTC One Mini.
Another report went one further and "confirmed" the HTC One Mini would be running Android 4.2.2, with the firms Sense overlay obviously in play too.
Its probably unlikely that well see a Google-Edition of the HTC One Mini which runs the stock version of Android, as we reckon that makeover will be reserved for flagships only.
HTC One Mini camera
HTC made a big song and dance about the Ultrapixel camera on the One and its low-light performance, but even the rumour mill has been pretty quiet on the snappers that may adorn the One Mini.
Its not clear whether well see the Ultrapixel shenanigans again, or if the Taiwanese firm decides to return to the more conventional megapixel setup - but apparently the One Mini will be able to record full HD video and capture Zoes with its rear camera.
You can probably expect to see a front-facing camera on the One Mini too, as this option is becoming an almost default feature nowadays - even on cheaper handsets.
HTC One Mini more specs
The design of the HTC One Mini is expected to mirror that of the HTC One and, with that in mind, rumours that suggest itll sport the same dual front-facing speakers are likely to be accurate.
HTC may even stuff in its Boomsound technology into the One Mini alongside the Beats Audio tech which adorns all its smartphones.
Its thought that the One Mini will also carry 16GB of internal storage, but if it sports the same metallic chassis as its older brother the chance of a microSD slot being available is pretty unlikely.
That body may prove a barrier for hardcore battery fans, as the rumoured 1700mAh power pack is likely to be sealed inside the One Mini, never to see the light of day.
HTC One Mini design
The trump card the HTC One Mini may hold over its Samsung rival is its premium body, with multiple reports suggesting the cut-down smartphone will inherit the metallic chassis from its big brother.
That certainly seemed to the case in an early render of the One Mini posted online by @evleaks, which showed the handset with just a few minor differences - such as the position of the flash.
A pretty blurry image then cropped up apparently showing the One Mini sitting next to the HTC One, although the quality of the snap doesnt exactly lend itself to being trustworthy.
The design was then mooted for a third time in a couple of snaps claiming to show the HTC One Mini in black, with the layout matching that of the early render.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Google Nexus 5 release date rumours news price and specs
The Google Nexus 5 is on the way and the search giant turn manufacturer has now confirmed the phone will launch the new Andoird 4.4 Kit Kat operating system.
With Google Nexus 5 release date rumours having kicked into overdrive in recent week, the next-generation flagship Android phone looks to sprinting towards an imminent arrival, with Google having slashed the price of last years Google Nexus 4 in order to clear stocks and make way for its new Samsung Galaxy S4 rival.
Set to line up alongside the recently unveiled new Nexus 7, the Google Nexus 5 will land with Android 4.4 in tow, while recent Google Nexus 5 leaks have claimed the phone will not only be manufacturered by LG, but feature a spec markedly similar to that of the LG G2. The phone has even been caught on camera at Googles HQ.
With the Google Nexus 5 release date now expected to be just a matter of weeks away, latest Google Nexus 5 rumours have suggested the phone will bring a larger screen, bumped up specs and a thinner form factor to boot.
We’ve rounded up all the Google Nexus 5 gossip for you in one place, saving you having to trawl the web for any news of the next Google smartphone. We will be updating this page too, so bookmark it now to keep up to date.
Latest reports have pegged the Google Nexus 5 release date as October 31. Although not having come from official avenues, the tipped Halloween arrival would fit with past Nexus launches and see the Nexus 5 look to capitalise on the pre-Christmas shopping rush. Whats more, it would avoid landing too close to the September 20 iPhone 5S release date.
Claimed unnamed sources have stated: “The next Nexus phone should arrive sometime in October, possibly around October 31." This would see the phone land just weeks after the LG G2 release date.
Although there has, as yet, been no official word from Google as to when the Nexus 5 will be released, this is just one of several reports which have suggested that an October arrival is on the cards, given added backing to the claims. Given the Nexus 5 could be just weeks from arrival, the recent Nexus 4 price cut would suggest the search giant is already preparing for its next flagship phone. Whats more, retailers have already started pulling the Google Nexus 4 from shelves.
In May, both Phones 4u and Carphone Warehouse reportedly stopped selling the Nexus 4, then in July the Nexus 4 disappeared from the Carphone Warehouse site entirely. Having a quick scan of all the UK network providers, the Nexus 4 is conspicuously absent, only listed as out of stock on the O2 website, and completely missing from the rest.
This could suggest a Google Nexus 5 release date may be upon us earlier than October, but of course this is just speculation on our part, especially as the Nexus 4 is still available to pruchase on the Google Play store although at a reduced price.
The Google Nexus 5 will improve on the existing specs of the Nexus 4 with recent rumours pointing to a considerable jump in performance. A 5.2-inch OLED 1920 x 1080p Full HD display is said to be making the cut, upgrading the current 4.7-inch 1280 x 768p resolution screen.
Processor-wise the Google Nexus 5 should pack a 2.3GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor with an impressive 3GB of RAM. There should also be the option of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, probably lacking microSD card expansion like the existing flagship.
With a hearty 3300mAH Lithium Polymer battery reportedly in tow, the Google Nexus 5 should also have a 16-megapixel rear camera and Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities as well. Up front there is expected to be a 2.1-megapixel snapper for video calling and all those selfies.
As with the Nexus 4, we expect the next Google smartphone to have NFC, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, but with 4G LTE compatibility added.
At the start of July, it was tipped that the soon-to-be-announced LG G2 will share similar specs with the Google Nexus 5. The official LG unveiling is occurring on August 7, so you could see a preview of the Google Nexus 5 hardware then.
Google Nexus 5 pictures have not been appearing everyday unlike the constantly leaking shots of the iPhone 5C. The phone has been caught on camera once though, with a Google employee captured taking a picture with the phone outside the companys Mountain View HQ (above).
Having worked with Google to create the Nexus 4, LG stated back in May that it wouldn’t be producing the Nexus 5, preferring to focus on promoting its own branded smartphone lines rather than stock Android devices. “The Nexus 4 was a great success despite the production problems for us and Google,” said Kim Wong, VP of LG Mobile in Europe. “However, we do not need such a marketing success again.”
The South Korean manufacturer believes that the launch of the Google Nexus 5 under the LG umbrella would detract from its own line of smartphones, especially the recently unveiled LG G2.
Despite LG stating that it would not be partnering with Google to produce the Nexus 5 despite a strong relationship, latest reports have seemingly put LG back in the picture. Whats more, LG representatives have hinted heavily to TrustedReviews that they will be in the driving seat of the Nexus 5, teasing that we will be seeing the phone "very soon."
Elsewhere, further Google Nexus 5 rumours have put production duties in the hands of Asus, which already produces its Nexus 7 tablet, or Samsung, with whom Google worked with for the Nexus 10.
The latest rumours suggest that the Nexus 5 will actually be made by Motorola, a company which is a fairly recent acquisition of Google itself. The new tip comes from a notoriously accurate leakster by the name of Taylor Wimberley, who wrote a Google Plus post stating the Nexus 5 would arrive in Q4 produced by Motorola.
"Motorola will release a Nexus smartphone in Q4 (that is not the Moto X)," wrote Wimberley.
Rather than introduced a Google Edition Moto X, it seems that Motorola will join together with parent company Google to produce the Nexus 5 this year.
However, completely contradicting these claims is the latest rumour that LG will build the Nexus 5 smartphone after all.
According to the South Korean MyDrivers website on August 13, the Nexus 5 will not only be made by LG but also be designed on the recently unveiled LG G2.
The site suggested that the Nexus 5 would land with a Full HD 1080p 5.2-inch screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 10-megapixel camera and 16/32GB of internal storage.
Although it was widely thought that the Google Nexus 5 would be the first device to run Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, especially as Google chose to launch the new Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the arrival of Android 4.4 Kit Kat has changed these beliefs.
While Android 4.3 introduced several new features like Restricted Profiles, Android 4.4 is expected to be a more comprehensive overhaul, potentially showcasing the processing prowess of the Nexus 5 when it launches later this year.
Seeing as Google chose to stay close to the price points set by the first-generation Nexus 7 with its new 7-inch slate, we expect the search engine giant to follow the same path with the Nexus 5.
Currently, the SIM-Only Nexus 4 with 8GB of storage is priced at £239, with the 16GB version offered at £279.
The Full HD screen may well push these price tags a little higher, but Google would be unwise to increase them by much in order to keep the Nexus 5 attractively affordable, especially in comparison to flagships offerings from its rivals, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 or HTC One.
Read more »
With Google Nexus 5 release date rumours having kicked into overdrive in recent week, the next-generation flagship Android phone looks to sprinting towards an imminent arrival, with Google having slashed the price of last years Google Nexus 4 in order to clear stocks and make way for its new Samsung Galaxy S4 rival.
Set to line up alongside the recently unveiled new Nexus 7, the Google Nexus 5 will land with Android 4.4 in tow, while recent Google Nexus 5 leaks have claimed the phone will not only be manufacturered by LG, but feature a spec markedly similar to that of the LG G2. The phone has even been caught on camera at Googles HQ.
With the Google Nexus 5 release date now expected to be just a matter of weeks away, latest Google Nexus 5 rumours have suggested the phone will bring a larger screen, bumped up specs and a thinner form factor to boot.
We’ve rounded up all the Google Nexus 5 gossip for you in one place, saving you having to trawl the web for any news of the next Google smartphone. We will be updating this page too, so bookmark it now to keep up to date.
Google Nexus 5 Release Date
Latest reports have pegged the Google Nexus 5 release date as October 31. Although not having come from official avenues, the tipped Halloween arrival would fit with past Nexus launches and see the Nexus 5 look to capitalise on the pre-Christmas shopping rush. Whats more, it would avoid landing too close to the September 20 iPhone 5S release date.
Claimed unnamed sources have stated: “The next Nexus phone should arrive sometime in October, possibly around October 31." This would see the phone land just weeks after the LG G2 release date.
Although there has, as yet, been no official word from Google as to when the Nexus 5 will be released, this is just one of several reports which have suggested that an October arrival is on the cards, given added backing to the claims. Given the Nexus 5 could be just weeks from arrival, the recent Nexus 4 price cut would suggest the search giant is already preparing for its next flagship phone. Whats more, retailers have already started pulling the Google Nexus 4 from shelves.
In May, both Phones 4u and Carphone Warehouse reportedly stopped selling the Nexus 4, then in July the Nexus 4 disappeared from the Carphone Warehouse site entirely. Having a quick scan of all the UK network providers, the Nexus 4 is conspicuously absent, only listed as out of stock on the O2 website, and completely missing from the rest.
This could suggest a Google Nexus 5 release date may be upon us earlier than October, but of course this is just speculation on our part, especially as the Nexus 4 is still available to pruchase on the Google Play store although at a reduced price.
Google Nexus 5 Specs
The Google Nexus 5 will improve on the existing specs of the Nexus 4 with recent rumours pointing to a considerable jump in performance. A 5.2-inch OLED 1920 x 1080p Full HD display is said to be making the cut, upgrading the current 4.7-inch 1280 x 768p resolution screen.
Processor-wise the Google Nexus 5 should pack a 2.3GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor with an impressive 3GB of RAM. There should also be the option of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, probably lacking microSD card expansion like the existing flagship.
With a hearty 3300mAH Lithium Polymer battery reportedly in tow, the Google Nexus 5 should also have a 16-megapixel rear camera and Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities as well. Up front there is expected to be a 2.1-megapixel snapper for video calling and all those selfies.
As with the Nexus 4, we expect the next Google smartphone to have NFC, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, but with 4G LTE compatibility added.
At the start of July, it was tipped that the soon-to-be-announced LG G2 will share similar specs with the Google Nexus 5. The official LG unveiling is occurring on August 7, so you could see a preview of the Google Nexus 5 hardware then.
Google Nexus 5 News
Google Nexus 5 pictures have not been appearing everyday unlike the constantly leaking shots of the iPhone 5C. The phone has been caught on camera once though, with a Google employee captured taking a picture with the phone outside the companys Mountain View HQ (above).
Having worked with Google to create the Nexus 4, LG stated back in May that it wouldn’t be producing the Nexus 5, preferring to focus on promoting its own branded smartphone lines rather than stock Android devices. “The Nexus 4 was a great success despite the production problems for us and Google,” said Kim Wong, VP of LG Mobile in Europe. “However, we do not need such a marketing success again.”
The South Korean manufacturer believes that the launch of the Google Nexus 5 under the LG umbrella would detract from its own line of smartphones, especially the recently unveiled LG G2.
Despite LG stating that it would not be partnering with Google to produce the Nexus 5 despite a strong relationship, latest reports have seemingly put LG back in the picture. Whats more, LG representatives have hinted heavily to TrustedReviews that they will be in the driving seat of the Nexus 5, teasing that we will be seeing the phone "very soon."
Elsewhere, further Google Nexus 5 rumours have put production duties in the hands of Asus, which already produces its Nexus 7 tablet, or Samsung, with whom Google worked with for the Nexus 10.
The latest rumours suggest that the Nexus 5 will actually be made by Motorola, a company which is a fairly recent acquisition of Google itself. The new tip comes from a notoriously accurate leakster by the name of Taylor Wimberley, who wrote a Google Plus post stating the Nexus 5 would arrive in Q4 produced by Motorola.
"Motorola will release a Nexus smartphone in Q4 (that is not the Moto X)," wrote Wimberley.
Rather than introduced a Google Edition Moto X, it seems that Motorola will join together with parent company Google to produce the Nexus 5 this year.
However, completely contradicting these claims is the latest rumour that LG will build the Nexus 5 smartphone after all.
According to the South Korean MyDrivers website on August 13, the Nexus 5 will not only be made by LG but also be designed on the recently unveiled LG G2.
The site suggested that the Nexus 5 would land with a Full HD 1080p 5.2-inch screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 10-megapixel camera and 16/32GB of internal storage.
Google Nexus 5 Rumours
Although it was widely thought that the Google Nexus 5 would be the first device to run Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, especially as Google chose to launch the new Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the arrival of Android 4.4 Kit Kat has changed these beliefs.
While Android 4.3 introduced several new features like Restricted Profiles, Android 4.4 is expected to be a more comprehensive overhaul, potentially showcasing the processing prowess of the Nexus 5 when it launches later this year.
Google Nexus 5 Price
Seeing as Google chose to stay close to the price points set by the first-generation Nexus 7 with its new 7-inch slate, we expect the search engine giant to follow the same path with the Nexus 5.
Currently, the SIM-Only Nexus 4 with 8GB of storage is priced at £239, with the 16GB version offered at £279.
The Full HD screen may well push these price tags a little higher, but Google would be unwise to increase them by much in order to keep the Nexus 5 attractively affordable, especially in comparison to flagships offerings from its rivals, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 or HTC One.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
iPhone 6 release date news rumours specs and price
Although an iPhone 6 release date is still months away, a raft of iPhone 6 rumours have already started circling the web.
Read more »
Despite the iPhone 5S having only launched back in September, with the flagship phone landing alongside the lower-end, colourful iPhone 5C, attention has already turned to what Apple will do next, with a number of iPhone 6 rumours pointing to a device that could change the smartphone scene once again.
According to recent reports, an iPhone 6 release date could be held as early as June, with Apple combatting reportedly low iPhone 5S sales and ongoing stock shortages by launching its next-gen flagship phone early. While we recommend these reports are taken with a pinch of salt, more likely are claims that the iPhone 6 will land with a new 4.7-inch form factor.
Helping ensure you are kept up to date on all the latest iPhone 6 news and rumours, including details on the eagerly awaited iPhone 6 release date, we will continue to update this page up until the iPhone 6 launch, so bookmark it now.
iPhone 6 News
With the HTC One follow-on and Samsung Galaxy S5 both expected to be unveiled in a matter of weeks, the iPhone 6 will face renewed competition by the time it launches later this year.
As such, it is expected that the handset will mark a considerable step forward over past Apple handsets, with recently leaked Apple patents suggesting the phone will feature everything from a curved display to a larger form factor and a sapphire glass home button.
Although the phone currently remains shrouded in mystery, one iPhone 6 rumour that has surfaced on a number of occasions, is the suggestion that the phone will benefit from an increase in screen size as part of a total redesign. With the likes of the LG G2 having already pushed flagship Android phone displays to 5.2-inches, Apple is likely to make another jump in size, having moved from 3.5-inchs to 4-inch with the iPhone 5.
“The electronics giant has begun evaluating a plan to offer iPhones with screens ranging from 4.8 inches to as high as 6 inches,” claimed “people familiar with the matter” have been quoted as stating in recent reports.
Component suppliers have added that: “Apple has been particularly interested in recent tests for a 4.8-inch screen.”
With latest reports suggesting the iPhone 6 will line up with a 4.7-inch display, it is believed that the handset will still be smaller than many of its leading Android-based competitors, instead lining up similar in size to the Motorola Moto X.
iPhone 6 Release Date
Although an exact iPhone 6 release date is currently unknown, it has been suggested by reported Chinese insiders that the phone will be unveiled as part of Apples annual WWDC conference in June. While early iPhones were unveiled around this time of year, based on Apple’s past habits, we can take a pretty good stab in the dark, say thats rubbish and guess that the new flagship phone will be formally unveiled in September.
With the iPhone 4S having marked the company’s first move to a late summer unveiling, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S have all made their first appearances around the same time of year.
Given that Apple is a creature of habit, we expect the iPhone 5S release date will be held in either late September or early October 2013, following an unveiling two weeks prior. One thing you can bet on is that the iPhone 6 will not be hit by the same level of stock shortages as the iPhone 5S, a device which faced 6-8 week shipping delays on day one.
iPhone 6 Rumours
Despite the iPhone 6 being set to be one of Apples biggest launches of 2014, the next-gen smartphone might have to share the stage. With Apple having repeated teased and hinted a wearable gadget potentially being in the works at its Cupertino HQ, it has been suggested that the iPhone 6 release date could be held in conjunction with an Apple iWatch launch.
Tipped to boast a 1.3-inch touchscreen, the Apple iWatch will reportedly feature a curved screen manufactured by LG and launch as a companion to the iPhone 6.
Although iWatch reports have circled for some time, the iPhone 6 rumour which continues to generate the most talking points is the potential move to a larger display. With insiders and component suppliers chattering about a bigger display, analysts have got in on the act too, with Topeka Capital analyst Brian White also pointing at a 4.8-inch form factor.
“The next iPhone will offer customers more choice in terms of screen size, White suggested in a recent note to investors. “Tthe Company has never offered multiple screen sizes for a single model, we believe this is about to change with the next iPhone offering different screen sizes that we believe will allow Apple to better bifurcate the market and expand its reach.”
One iPhone 6 rumours which seems to be stretching the realms of possibility, is collection of iPhone 6 concept images which have shown the phone with a curved, wraparound display. While these images have grabbed the attentions of many, even the concept’s designer has questioned its likelihood.
“Such a design may appear on the iPhone 6 or 7, or maybe never,” designer Nikolay Lamm said. “It’s a cool design, but one which is unlikely to give Apple a sustainable competitive advantage.”
Further iPhone 6 rumours have seen a proposed move to a Sapphire glass display reportedly set to the manufacturer back a staggering £350 million. While the move would help improve screen clarity and toughness, if the Samsung Galaxy S5 is on the receiving of its 2K display improvement, this upgrade might not be enough for Apple to compete with its Korean rival.
iPhone 6 Specs
The iPhone 6 specs sheet is set to have a few surprises in store following the incremental updates from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 5S.
With the Touch ID fingerprint sensor having made an appearance aboard the iPhone 5S, it is expected that the biometric security measure will become something of a standard on flagship models, and make another stop within the iPhone 6’s home button.
Further iPhone 6 specs will likely see the increased screen and completely overhauled design partnered with an even speedier 64-bit processor and revised camera.
Although the iPhone 6 camera looks set to retain the same 8-megapixel sensor as its predecessor, recent reports have suggested that integrated snapper will be improved by a move to improved glass optics to boost image quality and clarity.
Further and more precise iPhone 6 specs are still unclear.
As has become customary, the iPhone 6 is expected to be made available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage forms, although a new 128GB handset is also believed to be on the cards.
iPhone 6 Price
Although Apple isn’t short of a few bob, the iPhone 6 price, like that of its predecessor is sure to hit you where it hurts, the wallet.
The iPhone 5S price was increased over its predecessor, and with the iPhone 6 expected to get a bump in screen size and an all new design, you can expect and even lofty rise in costs next time around. We will bring you further details on the iPhone 6 price as and when we get them.
Friday, March 28, 2014
iPhone 6 release date news rumours and price updated
There are few, if any, products in the world that spark as much consumer interest and press coverage than an update to the iPhone. The next iPhone is on its way but will it be called the iPhone 6, or the iPhone 5S?
Apple is sure to unveil its next iPhone later this year. Since 2007 when the first iPhone was released, every year has seen a new iPhone outed.
The release schedule of previous iPhones shows a very clear pattern too – Apple plans its launches with incredible precision.
iPhone – June 2007
iPhone 3G – July 2008
iPhone 3GS – June 2009
iPhone 4 – June 2010
iPhone 4S – October 2011
iPhone 5 – September 2012
The early days of the iPhone series were all about summer launches, but these days Apple has skipped a few months back. Its last two phones were unveiled in September or October.
And, naturally, we’re highly unlikely to see an iPhone 6 arrive in July given we’re already in the thick of it. A September launch is likely.
A July release date was speculated earlier in the year, the source being a leaked document from a Japanese network, but that just goes to show you can never trust rumours.
The first we hear of the Apple launch is likely to be when the invites go out, which could be as late as two weeks before the event itself. However, previous Apple events have been revealed after having their venue booking details leaked. We’ll be back as soon as any such leaks happen.
The next iPhone will launch alongside iOS 7, which was revealed at WWDC 2013 in June, again pointing towards a possible mid-September unveil – Apple says it’ll arrive in the ‘Fall’.
However, if the next iPhone turns out to be the iPhone 5S, it’s likely that we’ll have to wait until 2014 to see the iPhone 6.
That said, there is a third possibility. Some suggest that the long-rumoured ‘low-cost’ iPhone will be called the iPhone 5S, and that the next full-fat iPhone will be the iPhone 6. In that case, both may launch this year.
However, this creates some most un-Apple-like series continuity issues – namely that the iPhone 5 would have higher-end construction than the iPhone 5S.
Apple has a strict approach to pricing. It almost never cuts its prices mid-cycle, only lowering prices when an iPhone goes from being the ‘current’ model to an older legacy phone.
It’s not into doing anything that’ll devalue its products.
This policy is likely to mean the next iPhone costs roughly the same amount as the current one – which starts at £529 for the 16GB model.
The price escalates to £599 for the 32GB model and £699 for the 64GB phone.
When assessing a phone’s power, there are three main elements to consider – the CPU, the GPU and the RAM.
In pure figures terms, Apple’s iOS series CPUs have never sounded that impressive. They stuck to dual-core chips while Android rivals moved onto quad-core CPUs, but they have actually been quiet trailblazing of late.
The iPhone 5’s A6 processor uses a custom system architecture rather than the ‘off the shelf’ type seen in the vast majority of phones.
However, as our Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 feature showed, Apple needs to play catch-up in this area. The iPhone 6 is likely to feature a quad-core processor, rumoured to be clocked at 1.2GHz. 2GB of RAM is also likely.
This would make the iPhone 6 the very first quad-core Apple mobile device. At present, the most powerful in the iOS family is the iPad 4, which stuck with a dual-core main processor.
However, it is rumoured that the iPhone 6 will use the same GPU – the graphics chip – as the iPad 4, the PowerVR SGX554MP4.
This may sound like a disappointing improvement given the iPad 4 was released in 2012, but consider the difference in screen resolution – the iPad 4 screen has over 3 million pixels, the iPhone 5 under one million.
A lower-resolution screen needs less power to render visuals of the same perceived quality.
One of the most interesting changes we’ll see in the next-generation iPhone is the introduction of a bit of colour. Claimed leaked prototypes suggest we’ll see five colours, including green, blue, pink and yellow.
Colour joined the Apple family – which has traditionally been all about black, white and silver – with the last iPod touch. You can get the aluminium rear of the music player cast in more-or-less the same shades we expect to see in the next iPhone.
This was only really made possible by the design switcheroo made by the iPhone 5. The previous two generations of iPhones prior to this one were topped with glass on both sides, and creating colour editions would have been a serious manufacturing challenge. Now that the rear of the phone is aluminium, colour editions will be much easier to produce.
However, there have been suggestions that the papped colourful iPhones are the long-rumoured ‘budget’ iPhone.
If the iPhone 6 arrives in 2013 rather than 2014, the phone will definitely run iOS 7. This software was unveiled in June and will power all new iOS devices following its release alongside the next iPhone.
Although the software is not publically available, it has already been released to developers. We know exactly what it looks and feels like already.
iOS 7 is Jonathan Ive’s redesign of the system – he was at the helm of the design team for most of Apple’s iconic products including the iPod and MacBook.
A new look is one of the most important changes. Icons are sharp rather than rounded and other aspects of the interface have taken some cues from Android.
For example, the drop-down notifications menu gives you control over phone features.
However, the system still doesn’t offer home screen widgets, which are what many iOS detractors have been asking for.
One of the most speculated-about elements of the iPhone 6 is its screen. Will it be bigger? Will it be higher-resolution?
In early 2013, there were rumours that Apple was planning to release two phone in 2013 – a 4-inch phone and a larger 4.8-inch one, the latter most likely to be dubbed ‘iPhone 6’.
iLounge’s Jeremy Horwitz clarified the rumours with his own sources, saying that while a 4.7-inch device was in prototyping stage, it’s “certainly not expected in 2013.”
Horwitz wrote in January that the iPhone 5S will arrive in 2013, will have a 4-inch screen like the iPhone 5.
It is also possible that the next-generation iPhones will use Sharp IGZO screens rather than the Sharp IPS displays used in the iPhone 5. These offer more efficient power consumption than the current type.
The next iPhone is likely to use a Sony camera sensor similar to those seen in the Sony Xperia Z and Samsung Galaxy S4, if the iPhone 6 is to follow the series’s current direction.
Both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 use an 8-megapixel Sony sensor – much as people may think Apple only uses its own components, it does not. Using the same sensor for three generations of iPhones is highly unlikely.
Most of this year’s top phones, including the Galaxy S4, use 13-megapixel Sony-manufactured camera sensors.
The two most notable exceptions are the 8.7MP Nokia Lumia 925 and HTC One, but both of those use rather different technologies to make their cameras stand out.
It’s unlikely that the iPhone 6 will make the same moves. The iPhone 6 is likely to be too slim to fit in the OIS components needed to copy the Lumia 925, and using a low-resolution, high pixel pitch sensor like the HTC One’s is a move that could misfire marketing-wise.
We expect the iPhone 6 to use a higher-resolution sensor and a familiar LED flash. Improvements in image quality are likely to be down to an improvement in lens construction and better noise reduction algorithms in the camera’s software.
There are clear improvements to be made in the iPhone 5’s camera lens too. It’s a reasonable f/2.2 construction, but beaten by several others these days, including the F/1.9 Lumia 720 and f/2.0 HTC One.
These figures are the cameras’ f-stop rating, which is the ratio between the diameter of the lens aperture and the focal length of the lens. The lower the figure the better – indicating that it’ll let in more light within the same exposure time, therefore giving the potential for faster shooting in good light and better low-light performance in gloomy situations.
The rumour mill is always flying around the launch of another iPhone but what are the rumours to look out for?
If we assume the iPhone 6 is to arrive this year, it’s unlikely to be a huge upgrade. All the rumours point to a sensible rather than hugely dynamic generational shift. We’ll get more power, a more advanced screen and updated software – although all recent iPhones will get the latter.
If the iPhone 6 is to land in 2014, it could well be a more dynamic device that, like the iPhone 5 did, changes the form of the device altogether by adding a larger screen. However, it’s too early to tell, especially given Apple is unlikely to have finalised the design of a product more than a year in advance.
Read more »
The question on everyones lips is will it be an iterative update using the same chassis as the iPhone 5, just like the iPhone 4S was to the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 3GS was to the iPhone 3G.
Besides wanting to know whether the iPhone 6 will be coming this year, many of the questions surrounding the iPhone 6 launch include whether it’ll get BlackBerry Messenger, whether it’ll get a bigger screen and whether it will follow in the footsteps of Sony’s Xperia Z and be waterproof.
Some of the most fanciful rumours making the rounds centre on the iPhone 6 having a projector, being transparent and having a hologramatic screen. It’s highly unlikely any of these will transpire in the next iteration of the iPhone but concepts and patents filed by Apple fuel the rumours.
We’ll be updating this article regularly but here’s everything we know about the iPhone 6 so far, including how itll differ from the iPhone 5.
iPhone 6 release date
Apple is sure to unveil its next iPhone later this year. Since 2007 when the first iPhone was released, every year has seen a new iPhone outed.
The release schedule of previous iPhones shows a very clear pattern too – Apple plans its launches with incredible precision.
iPhone – June 2007
iPhone 3G – July 2008
iPhone 3GS – June 2009
iPhone 4 – June 2010
iPhone 4S – October 2011
iPhone 5 – September 2012
The early days of the iPhone series were all about summer launches, but these days Apple has skipped a few months back. Its last two phones were unveiled in September or October.
And, naturally, we’re highly unlikely to see an iPhone 6 arrive in July given we’re already in the thick of it. A September launch is likely.
A July release date was speculated earlier in the year, the source being a leaked document from a Japanese network, but that just goes to show you can never trust rumours.
The first we hear of the Apple launch is likely to be when the invites go out, which could be as late as two weeks before the event itself. However, previous Apple events have been revealed after having their venue booking details leaked. We’ll be back as soon as any such leaks happen.
The next iPhone will launch alongside iOS 7, which was revealed at WWDC 2013 in June, again pointing towards a possible mid-September unveil – Apple says it’ll arrive in the ‘Fall’.
However, if the next iPhone turns out to be the iPhone 5S, it’s likely that we’ll have to wait until 2014 to see the iPhone 6.
That said, there is a third possibility. Some suggest that the long-rumoured ‘low-cost’ iPhone will be called the iPhone 5S, and that the next full-fat iPhone will be the iPhone 6. In that case, both may launch this year.
However, this creates some most un-Apple-like series continuity issues – namely that the iPhone 5 would have higher-end construction than the iPhone 5S.
iPhone 6 price
Apple has a strict approach to pricing. It almost never cuts its prices mid-cycle, only lowering prices when an iPhone goes from being the ‘current’ model to an older legacy phone.
It’s not into doing anything that’ll devalue its products.
This policy is likely to mean the next iPhone costs roughly the same amount as the current one – which starts at £529 for the 16GB model.
The price escalates to £599 for the 32GB model and £699 for the 64GB phone.
iPhone 6 specs
When assessing a phone’s power, there are three main elements to consider – the CPU, the GPU and the RAM.
In pure figures terms, Apple’s iOS series CPUs have never sounded that impressive. They stuck to dual-core chips while Android rivals moved onto quad-core CPUs, but they have actually been quiet trailblazing of late.
The iPhone 5’s A6 processor uses a custom system architecture rather than the ‘off the shelf’ type seen in the vast majority of phones.
However, as our Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 feature showed, Apple needs to play catch-up in this area. The iPhone 6 is likely to feature a quad-core processor, rumoured to be clocked at 1.2GHz. 2GB of RAM is also likely.
This would make the iPhone 6 the very first quad-core Apple mobile device. At present, the most powerful in the iOS family is the iPad 4, which stuck with a dual-core main processor.
However, it is rumoured that the iPhone 6 will use the same GPU – the graphics chip – as the iPad 4, the PowerVR SGX554MP4.
This may sound like a disappointing improvement given the iPad 4 was released in 2012, but consider the difference in screen resolution – the iPad 4 screen has over 3 million pixels, the iPhone 5 under one million.
A lower-resolution screen needs less power to render visuals of the same perceived quality.
iPhone 6 Colours
One of the most interesting changes we’ll see in the next-generation iPhone is the introduction of a bit of colour. Claimed leaked prototypes suggest we’ll see five colours, including green, blue, pink and yellow.
Colour joined the Apple family – which has traditionally been all about black, white and silver – with the last iPod touch. You can get the aluminium rear of the music player cast in more-or-less the same shades we expect to see in the next iPhone.
This was only really made possible by the design switcheroo made by the iPhone 5. The previous two generations of iPhones prior to this one were topped with glass on both sides, and creating colour editions would have been a serious manufacturing challenge. Now that the rear of the phone is aluminium, colour editions will be much easier to produce.
However, there have been suggestions that the papped colourful iPhones are the long-rumoured ‘budget’ iPhone.
iPhone 6 software
If the iPhone 6 arrives in 2013 rather than 2014, the phone will definitely run iOS 7. This software was unveiled in June and will power all new iOS devices following its release alongside the next iPhone.
Although the software is not publically available, it has already been released to developers. We know exactly what it looks and feels like already.
iOS 7 is Jonathan Ive’s redesign of the system – he was at the helm of the design team for most of Apple’s iconic products including the iPod and MacBook.
A new look is one of the most important changes. Icons are sharp rather than rounded and other aspects of the interface have taken some cues from Android.
For example, the drop-down notifications menu gives you control over phone features.
However, the system still doesn’t offer home screen widgets, which are what many iOS detractors have been asking for.
iPhone 6 screen
One of the most speculated-about elements of the iPhone 6 is its screen. Will it be bigger? Will it be higher-resolution?
In early 2013, there were rumours that Apple was planning to release two phone in 2013 – a 4-inch phone and a larger 4.8-inch one, the latter most likely to be dubbed ‘iPhone 6’.
iLounge’s Jeremy Horwitz clarified the rumours with his own sources, saying that while a 4.7-inch device was in prototyping stage, it’s “certainly not expected in 2013.”
Horwitz wrote in January that the iPhone 5S will arrive in 2013, will have a 4-inch screen like the iPhone 5.
It is also possible that the next-generation iPhones will use Sharp IGZO screens rather than the Sharp IPS displays used in the iPhone 5. These offer more efficient power consumption than the current type.
iPhone 6 camera
The next iPhone is likely to use a Sony camera sensor similar to those seen in the Sony Xperia Z and Samsung Galaxy S4, if the iPhone 6 is to follow the series’s current direction.
Both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 use an 8-megapixel Sony sensor – much as people may think Apple only uses its own components, it does not. Using the same sensor for three generations of iPhones is highly unlikely.
Most of this year’s top phones, including the Galaxy S4, use 13-megapixel Sony-manufactured camera sensors.
The two most notable exceptions are the 8.7MP Nokia Lumia 925 and HTC One, but both of those use rather different technologies to make their cameras stand out.
It’s unlikely that the iPhone 6 will make the same moves. The iPhone 6 is likely to be too slim to fit in the OIS components needed to copy the Lumia 925, and using a low-resolution, high pixel pitch sensor like the HTC One’s is a move that could misfire marketing-wise.
We expect the iPhone 6 to use a higher-resolution sensor and a familiar LED flash. Improvements in image quality are likely to be down to an improvement in lens construction and better noise reduction algorithms in the camera’s software.
There are clear improvements to be made in the iPhone 5’s camera lens too. It’s a reasonable f/2.2 construction, but beaten by several others these days, including the F/1.9 Lumia 720 and f/2.0 HTC One.
These figures are the cameras’ f-stop rating, which is the ratio between the diameter of the lens aperture and the focal length of the lens. The lower the figure the better – indicating that it’ll let in more light within the same exposure time, therefore giving the potential for faster shooting in good light and better low-light performance in gloomy situations.
iPhone 6 rumours
The rumour mill is always flying around the launch of another iPhone but what are the rumours to look out for?
Fingerprint scanner
The integration of a fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 6 has been heavily rumoured. Apple patents suggest it could be hidden within the phones bezel.Plastic iPhone
Could the iPhone 6 be made of plastic? Not likely but there are plenty of rumours suggesting a budget iPhone may be launched on the same release date as the iPhone 6.Summer release date
In June pics of the iPhone 6 or 5S were reportedly snapped on a production line. If thats the case and production is already underway we could see an early release date in August.iPhone 6 – Worth the Upgrade?
If we assume the iPhone 6 is to arrive this year, it’s unlikely to be a huge upgrade. All the rumours point to a sensible rather than hugely dynamic generational shift. We’ll get more power, a more advanced screen and updated software – although all recent iPhones will get the latter.
If the iPhone 6 is to land in 2014, it could well be a more dynamic device that, like the iPhone 5 did, changes the form of the device altogether by adding a larger screen. However, it’s too early to tell, especially given Apple is unlikely to have finalised the design of a product more than a year in advance.
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