Rumor: Phablet-Sized iPhone?
You might want to hold off on picking up that new iPhone you’ve been eying—rumor has it Apple (APPL) is ready to take a bite (pun intended) out of the phablet market.
You might want to hold off on picking up that new iPhone you’ve been eying—rumor has it Apple (APPL) is ready to take a bite (pun intended) out of the phablet market.
After years of only minor design changes, Apple finally may be ready to change up the specs on its flagship smartphone, according to a report by Japanese blog Macotakara. The blog cites a trusted source, which said the company has designed iPhones with both a 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch display, which are expected to launch by the end of the year.
The unnamed source said the new models will resemble a cross between the recent iPhone 5c and the 7th-gen iPod Nano, with a combination of several different color variations and an aluminum body.
Macotakara also said that the volume and mute buttons on the 5c as well as the device’s round back edges would be integrated into the new models. Both handsets would be additions to the current iPhone 5c lineup when, and if, they launch.
The 5.7-inch model would be 7mm thick, according to the Macotakara article, making it a half-millimeter thinner than the iPad Air. However, the blog was quick to point out that these might not be the final specs. Other details, including pricing, were not hinted at.
Apple Insider supported the validity of Macotakara’s claims, saying that the blog has consistently been correct in predicting new iPhone designs, citing its previous reveals about the color range for the iPhone 5c and the dual LED flash in the iPhone 5s. Last June, Reuters reported that Apple was exploring the possibility of introducing bigger iPhones as a way of competing with Samsung’s Galaxy phones. According to the article, several unnamed sources also claimed that Apple was working on 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhones, while Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at the possibility of larger phones in the future.
If Apple is indeed working on new iPhone models, this could spell trouble for rival competitors such as Samsung, who as of now dominate the market when it comes to larger-sized smartphones. With Apple’s typically rabid fan base hungering for new and improved iPhones, the new display sizes could be the boost the company needs to win back some Android converts. If Macotakara’s track record is any indication of the accuracy of these rumors, expect an official announcement (in typically grand Apple fashion) sooner than later.
