There’s been many rumours concerning Apple’s next generation iPhone, but one of them is proving incredibly persistent. And plausible.KGI analyst Mingchi Kuo is claiming the next iPhone will have a larger screen. The analyst doesn’t seem to be talking hot air though, dishing up specs that carry credence.
Kuo claims the screen will actually be 4.08 inches tall and cram in 1136×640 pixels, endowing it with a 319 pixel per inch density. Once again, word has it Apple will be veering away from its 4:3 aspect ratio and conforming to the cinematic 16:9 ratio found on most devices. The screen will also exert 500 nits of brightness, putting it on par with Apple’s current retina screen (found in the iPhone 4S) and giving it enough vigour to compete against the slew of android HD devices.
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Previous reports indicate Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs ditched a larger screen iPhone just 3 months before its launch, motivated by concerns a larger screen would fragment application support and software updates. However, the new specifications alleviate his concerns, as GSMArena notes the new iPhone screen could still accommodate old 4:3 ratio apps by letterboxing them. This will ensure the new iPhone is compatible with Apple’s vast application market and preserve their software-support philosophy, while allowing the company to remain competitive in an environment where the screen trend is ‘bigger is better.’
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Kuo also claims the front facing camera of the next iPhone will support HD recording (1280×720), be shifted to the centre of the earpiece (like the iPod Touch) and will enrich FaceTime calls.
The back cam will idle at 8MP and still have a 5 element lens (similar to the current 4S) but will be more receptive to light with an increased f/2.2 aperture.
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One of the most impressive specs inferred by Kuo is the iPhone 5’s thickness. The current 4S measures 9.3 mm in width, but Kuo claims the next iPhone will be just 7.9 mm thin, undermining the Samsung Galaxy S3’s 8.6mm width.
The new iPhone is expected to be released between September and October, so if you see a queue forming outside Apple stores, you’ll know why.
