Apple iPhone 5 Preview

If Apple had followed the normal cycle of things, then the new iPhone 5 should have been be announced in the first/second week of June at the WWDC 2011 but, this didn't happen. Apple had already launched a revamped iPhone 4 at the start of 2011 though, to support the Verizon network in the USA. They also launched a white version of the iPhone 4. The latest rumours suggest we will see the iPhone 5 in September or October 2012.

One thing to bear in mind though, is that the iPhone 4/4S is still near the top of the tree in terms of functionality, processing power and its display, so there is has been no desperate urgency to launch an update. This will not be true through 2012 though as dual-core processor phones are now available and some of the latest Samsung devices feature enormous screens with huge numbers of pixels. We think that the iPhone 5 will arrive at just about the right time. The announcement of iOS 5 in June at the WWDC will also significantly improve the current iPhone 4 and 4S and add some new features and services.

The price of the iPhone is likely to stay about the same. We could see some movement though because many Android phones are available for 'free' with a contract and the iPhone has yet to reach this price point. The iPhone 3GS is quite close with some £49 contract deals but the iPhone 4 is not. The iPhone 3GS is the lowest spec iPhone on the market that supports iOS 5 and even then not all of the new features. Production of the 3GS will most likely be stopped on launch of the iPhone 5.

The big question arises every year. What can Apple do to keep the iPhone ahead of the competition? This is a particularly tough question to answer because the iPhone 4 has peaked in some respects, for example the resolution of the screen is as good as the eye can see. Any changes to the display will be improvements in contrast, viewing angle, brightness, etc. through the use of newer display technologies such as OLED.

There are also a lot of advanced Android devices appearing on the market and Android (in all its versions and variants) is now out-selling the iPhone. One rumour that persistently seem to do the rounds is that Apple are working on an entry level version of the iPhone. If you think about it, this is a logical step as most phones currently sold are not Smartphones. Apple could hugely increase its market share by bringing out a basic iPhone model with no cameras or advanced hardware features.

Ignoring this entry level version, key changes expected over the iPhone 4 are likely to be:

Case, Packaging & Antenna

A slightly new case design is expected, and all the rumours point to something with a curved, metallic back. The changes should improve the reception 'issues' and will almost certainly make the device slightly thinner than the iPhone 4. A white version of the iPhone 5 will be available, now that Apple have finally launched a white iPhone 4. The latest rumours have the glass back replaced with an aluminium component and there is also a possibility that the case may be a curved one-piece design (much like the iPhone 3).

A5 Processor

This new dual-core processor (a Cortex A9-based, multi-core chip) is certain to be included and will provide much better performance. This processor should mean that the iPhone 5 can record and render 1080p content competently. This processor is also used in the iPad 2.

Memory

Any new iPhone is likely to get more memory than the out-going model. This probably means a 64Gb or 128Gb version of the iPhone. The on-board RAM for processing video and other functions is also going to increase. 1Gb of on-board RAM is likely as it will be needed to support the new 'voice assistant' feature (which will be specific to the iPhone 5).

Cameras

There is a very good chance that the iPhone 5 will feature an even higher resolution rear camera than the iPhone 4 which is currently 5Mp. Some statements by Sony (a supplier to Apple) suggest an 8Mp camera will feature and more an more evidence is emerging to support this. The video recording capability will then be upgraded to full 1080p capability. The other key change is that the camera flash is likely to move away from the camera itself. This is because the white iPhone case suffered light leakage. The separation is one way to resolve this issue.

This has pretty much been confirmed by code discovered in iOS 5 betas. Also spotted is reference to panoramic shooting modes.

Display

Given that the 'retina display' screen resolution on the iPhone 4 is about as good as you can ever need, the screen resolution on the iPhone 5 is unlikely to be any higher. Apple are very likely to add a slightly larger display though. The rumours suggest that it might increase in size (from 3.5") to 3.7" or even larger and this photo of a new digitiser surfaced on the web. Some of Apples competitors are now launching phones with 4.5" screens.

This gives a view of what the device will look like compared to the current iPhone 4. We are really hoping it does come out like this. The iPhone 4 display is just awesome and it will be even better for being a little bit larger.

To put this in perspective, Samsung have recently announced the Galaxy Note with a 5.3", 1280 × 800 Super AMOLED HD 4.4" display and some other phones with a pixel density higher than the current iPhone 4.

NFC

2011 is the year that NFC becomes the norm in Smartphones. There have been plenty of rumours that Apple will include it in the iPhone 5, to enable 'digital wallet' functionality.

In March 2011 there some rumours that Apple don't think the technology is mature enough to include in the iPhone 5. We think this is wrong but, we are also very wary of just how Apple will include it in future devices too. Typically, Apple will wrap a bespoke service around it and try to build a new revenue stream around a technology like this. Let us hope they don't try and claim a 30% cut of any payments made. Apple are very well placed to become an NFC Trusted Service Manager and the iTunes account linkage will made payments through the device a relatively easy process.

We have a Samsung / Google Nexus S Android phone with NFC but, we are struggling to find a use for this technology so far. Apple has recently revamped all its retail stores and the rumour is that it is in support of NFC technology.

Network Interfaces

It will most likely feature a Qualcomm chipset that does triple duty as the CDMA / GSM / UMTS baseband processor. LTE support is very unlikely.

Integrated SIM

To make purchasing an iPhone direct from Apple's online or high-street stores easier, rumours suggest that the iPhone 5 will include an integrated SIM, allowing Apple to assign networks to individual handsets at the customer's request. We don't think this is very likely at all though.

Voice Assistant

iOS 5 will include an assistant feature, based on Siri technology. This is only going to be on the iPhone 5, due to the processing power and processor memory required.