While Apple has yet to formally announce that there will be an iPhone 5s, the Internet has already been swirling with a lot of rumors about this next generation iPhone model. The latest news is that Foxconn, Apple’s main manufacturing partner, has been ramping up hiring at its Zhengzhou plant in China, reportedly to be utilized on the iPhone line. Here is a brief round-up of some of the other rumors surrounding the next iPhone 5s.
The release date for the new phone will likely be in the fall, around September or October. This means it will directly compete against rival Samsung’s Note 3, since the Korean electronics giant is expected to unveil its new model at IFA 2013. This rumor would seem to be borne out by the hiring at Zhengzhou.
The iPhone 5s will be using Apple’s new iOS 7. The new operating system reportedly has been redesigned with flatter icons as well as updated features like an improved web browser and a Control Center that allows users to quickly access the most frequently-used device settings.
The new iPhone reportedly has a super HD screen display, which could result in a thinner bezel. The new screen reportedly has a resolution of double that of the iPhone 5, with 1.5 million pixels. According to a report from the China Times, Apple’s Taiwanese supplier Innolux is reportedly developing a “Touch On Display” panel that will have a 10-point multi-touch screen and a bezel just 0.5mm thick. In addition, it is also rumored that Apple could introduce two different sizes of handset to compete with the variety of Android devices currently available on the market.
The iPhone 5s will reportedly have a 13MP camera that has a dual LED flash. In addition, the beta of the iOS7 suggests that it has hidden code which could indicate that the iPhone 5s will have the capability of recording videos at 120 fps. This provides exceptionally clear detail when the video is played back in slow motion. This could be the stand-out feature that Apple always seems to include in its new iPhone models as a way of making them unique and attractive to buyers. The new feature would also help Apple remain competitive with rival Samsung, which has produced handsets such as the Galaxy S4, which has the capability of recording video at 120 fps as well.
The iPhone may incorporate near field technology, a wireless technology that allows phones to share small data payloads. This would allow users to make financial transactions over their mobile devices. In addition, the iPhone 5 will reportedly have a fingerprint scanner to provide users with increased security. This rumor actually dates back to the previous July when Apple bought AuthenTec, a mobile security firm.
The iPhone 5s may have a new 5.92Whr battery from its current 5.45Whr in the iPhone 5.
The new iPhone may have wireless charging technology. This rumor comes from Apple’s filing of a patent application for Wireless Power Utilization, a system that allows wireless charging with near-field magnetic resonance technology.