Skip to main content

Rumor: iPhone 4S to debut at WWDC, after all

iphone 4sAt its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on June 6, Apple will reveal… something. We don’t yet know what that something will be. But according to a rumor started by UK gadget blog Electricpig, the mysterious announcement could disclose none other than Apple’s next-generation iPhone.

So, what makes Electricpig think that Apple will defy common assumption, and make a surprise reveal of the new iPhone? Because Apple’s PR team, “specifically the team dedicated to all things iPhone,” is trying to convince them, as well as other UK tech journalists, to attend WWDC.

Until now, many in the technology press have more or less ruled out the possibility that the next iPhone — currently rumored to be dubbed the “iPhone 4S,” as opposed to “iPhone 5” — would make its public debut at this year’s WWDC. This inclination began to brew as soon as the annual conference was announced in March. The Apple flier promoted the “future of iOS and Mac OS X,” not the iPhone.

At the time, this itself was news, as WWDC has historically been Apple’s release event for the new iPhone, a tradition the company has stuck to since the debut of iPhone 3G in 2008. More rumors followed that corroborated the idea that the new iPhone would make a late entrance. September became a widely floated time frame for new iPhone’s release. Later dates, like October, December and even sometime in 2012, were also milling around as possibilities.

Then came the revelation of the iPhone 4S. Like the iPhone 3G S, this still-unconfirmed device is thought to be a stepping stone to a more “magical” and “revolutionary” iPhone 5. Its design will be much like the iPhone 4, but with a faster A5 processor, and probably a few more bells and whistles to keep the critics from getting their britches in a bunch.

It’s entirely possible — even probable — that Apple will unveil the next iPhone at WWDC. The company likes to keep people (especially tech journalists who watch and report every flicker of its shadow) on their toes, and then deliver a veritable bombshell when the time for actual facts comes around. Like the Electricpig rumor, however, this is all entirely speculation, and there’s not a publicly-known fact in the world to back it up. Luckily, WWDC is a mere 11 days away. And then, we’ll know the truth, won’t we?

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
Let’s be clear, Apple — it’s time to make a transparent iPhone
Deep Purple iPhone 14 Pro with Beats Studio Buds+ in Transparent

Apple has released a new product that's gotten a lot of attention because of an awesome new color option. No, it’s not an iPhone, iPad, or even an Apple Watch. Heck, it’s not even the AirPods Pro 2. So, what am I talking about?

Apple acquired Beats by Dre in 2014, and this week, Beats dropped the new Beats Studio Buds+, which are pretty similar to the AirPods Pro 2, but cost less dough. And they come in one of the coolest colors I’ve seen in a long time: transparent.

Read more
iOS 16.5 is bringing two exciting new features to your iPhone
apple launches ios 16 5 new pride wallpapers more wallpaper update

After about a month in the beta testing stage, Apple is finally rolling out iOS 16.5 to the public. This is a surprisingly nice update, as it includes a few new features and some bug fixes.

One of the headliner features of the iOS 16.5 update is the addition of new Pride Celebration wallpapers. This wallpaper can be used for the lock and home screens, and it is meant to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. This wallpaper is being released ahead of the Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band, which will be available starting on May 24.

Read more
I hate my iPhone’s keyboard, but this app made it better
Theming on SwiftKey

The iPhone does a lot of things right. From serving a secure environment, a smooth operating system, unmatched performance, and consistently good cameras, there are plenty of practically justifiable reasons to overlook any of the best Android phones in favor of a pricey iPhone.

Interestingly, Apple tends to take a conservatively slow approach when it comes to smartphone innovations and only serves them after nearly near-perfecting the formula. But the default iPhone keyboard is a tale of stagnation. Or, to put it more accurately, it’s absurdly feature-devoid and depressingly non-exciting.

Read more