Now that the dust has settled following the recent launch of Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone, it’s time to once again check on how the iPhone rumor mill is doing. Listen carefully and….yes….it’s still turning.
Taiwan-based tech publication DigiTimes, which has a hit-and-miss record with its tidbits surrounding upcoming iterations of Apple’s popular handset, on Thursday reported that components for the next-generation iPhone will begin shipping towards the end of May, with the handset – expected to be called the iPhone 5S – lined up for a Q3 2013 launch.
Citing sources “from the upstream supply chain”, DigiTimes said the new handset would not receive a “major” upgrade and is therefore likely to be a “slightly enhanced” version of the iPhone 5.
“The iPhone 5S is expected to feature a higher-end processor as well as higher-megapixel camera modules,” DigiTimes said in its report.
This fits with the opinion of KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who earlier this month said he expected the 5S to launch with a faster processor, an improved camera sensor and, in addition, a SmartFlash to improve white balance in low-light shots. Kuo also talked of a fingerprint scanner to enhance the phone’s security, though this feature, like the SmartFlash, wasn’t mentioned in DigiTimes’ piece.
Other reports in recent months have suggested the next-generation iPhone could also incorporate NFC technology and come in a variety of colors.
If it’s an iPhone with a bigger screen and slimmer body you’re interested in, you’ll probably have to wait for the iPhone 6. While it’s widely expected that the Cupertino company will release the iPhone 5S some time this year, the release date of a large-screen iPhone – if indeed such a device even exists – is less certain.
Either way, the fight for smartphone supremacy shows no sign of resting for coffee and cake, with Samsung last week taking the wraps off its new flagship device, the 5-inch Galaxy S4.
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