iPhone 6 release date, rumours and leaked images

iPhone 6 release date, rumours and leaked images

Welcome to our iPhone 6 release date, rumours and leaked images article, here we plan to do everything that the title suggests. We are going to bring you everything we know about the new iPhone 6 release date so you can know exactly when the new iPhone 6 is coming out. Updated 21 February 2013

Also we are going to bring you a few of the juiciest spec rumours that are flying round the web's most trusted iPhone websites too. Finally, we've got some iPhone images that we'd like to show you. So sit back and relax: we've got the new iPhone 6 covered.

As this is Apple, the iPhone 6 is not officially announced yet. But Apple is not as secure as it'd like to be, and there are many juicy iPhone 6 rumours floating around, and some of the iPhone leaks in the past have turned out to be fairly accurate.

(Like this iPhone front panel we saw before the last iPhone launch)

Having said that, a lot of iPhone 6 rumours turn out to be Chinese whispers or plain attempts to test people's gullibility.

New iPhone 6 release date

There are two main theories regarding the iPhone 6 launch date. One is that it'll come six months after the iPhone 5, the second is that it'll come 12 months after the iPhone 5.

iPhone 6 will arrive in Spring 2013

The latest rumours claim a Spring launch for the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S. iPhone 6 spring launch is reason for iPhone 5 production slow down, analyst. The idea that Apple will change to a six month cycle is based on claims by ex Apple CEO JOhn Sculley. Apple may bring out iPhone 6 in the spring, report. Also, as we wrote after the launch of iPhone 5, Apple can't wait a whole year between launches now that the competition has hotted up: Apple may bring out iPhone 6 in the spring, report.

SEE: Six signs that Apple will launch an iPhone 6 in spring

iPhone 6 will arrive in June 2013

The first iPhone 6 release date rumour is that Apple has now moved to a six-month cycle for it's iOS products, and the iPhone 6 release date will be March 2013, alongside an iPad 5. Ed Valdez at Technoarti suggests that Apple is moving to a six month cycle.

Valdez gives six reasons, but they're pretty lame. Such as "Apple needs a wow factor", "Apple needs to lead against Samsung" and "The bulk of iPhone sales take place int he first three to four months after its release". Bear in mind that Apple launched the iPhone 5 in Korea and 50 other countries in December 2012. So it doesn't just launch in the US and then that's it, the iPhone rollout moves across the globe. 

Another report suggests that Apple will begin preliminary builds of the iPhone 6 in March in preparation for a June or July launch.

SEE: Redesigned iPad 5, Retina iPad mini 2 coming in October, iPhone 5S with 13MP camera coming in July - report

iPhone 6 will arrive in October 2013

The second theory is that Apple will stick to its late-season launch and the iPhone 6 release date will be October 2013. This is what we'd currently bet on, although the amount of iPhone 6 rumours and iPhone 6 image leaks in the run-up to June may change the situation. 

The six-month cycle for iOS products makes sense because it means Apple can always be using the latest chipsets and technology. But it's based on the rapid deployment on the iPad 4, just six months after the iPad 3: it's a bit of an assumption that Apple is planning to do this to every product from now on. Research shows that most people buy a new iPhone ever two years, so releasing a new model every six months doesn't mean Apple will sell more, or even make more iPhones, just design more. Apple is rumoured to be selling up to 53 million iPhones in the December quarter alone.

Apple is already testing the iPhone 6

Apple's iPhone 6 and iOS 7 have been spotted in app usage logs by developers, suggesting that the release date will be earlier in 2013 rather than later. The iPhone 5 is identified in app usage logs as 'iPhone 5,1' and 'iPhone 5,2' depending on which 4G LTE it uses, so the new 'iPhone 6,1' identifier is believed to be Apple's next generation model.

In February, both an iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 were reportedly spotted at Apple's suppliers by a source who claims that both smartphones will launch this year.

iPhone 5 orders cut in preparation for 'evolutionary technology leap' for iPhone 6

In January, reports suggested that Apple had halved its component orders for the iPhone 5 due to low demand of the device, leading Apple's share price to fall below $ 500 per share. But Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry believes that the reason for the cuts is because Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone 6 with an 'evolutionary technology leap' that requires new components.

SEE: Apple slowing iPhone 5 production in perparation for iPhone 6 launch - analyst

iPhone 6 rumours

There are a lot of iPhone 6 rumours around, but because it is so close from the launch of the iPhone 5 it is hard to distinguish what is a specific iPhone 6 rumour, from general Apple iPhone rumours. Some rumours that were attached to the iPhone 5 are now being incorporated into the iPhone 6. SEE: iPhone 6 rumour rollup for 2013's first week

See also: iPhone 6 rumour rollup for the week ending 15 February

iPhone 6 to have eight colour options and three screen sizes

Apple's iPhone 6 could be available in three different sizes, with up to eight different colour options, an analyst has predicted.

Topeka Capital analyst Brian White said that Apple wants to introduce new colours and sizes in order to give its customers more choice with the same high quality, in order to further expand its market share in the smartphone world.

A previous report from Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also suggested that Apple would be introducing the iPhone 6 in six to eight colours, with what he calls a 'Retina+ display, NFC, and 128GB of storage.

The iPhone 6 will have a Smart Home Button that is oblong-shaped and touch-capacitive

This one's been around since forever (well, early 2011 at least). One iPhone 6 rumour suggests that Jony Ive (or Sir Jonathan Ive as he's now formally known) is ready to introduce a wider oblong home button that will be touch-capacitive. The iPhone 6 Home Button will not just push to return to the Home Screen, but you'll be able to swipe your finger left and right over it (we presume to move left and right between Apps, like the four-finger Multi-Touch gesture that you find on the iPad).
This iPhone 6 rumour has some basis in fact, and we believe Apple has at least been experimenting with this idea (we have been reporting on it for a while).

The iPhone 6 will launch alongside an 'iPhone Math' with 4.8in display

Apple could be working on three new iPhones for launch this year, including the iPhone 6, an iPhone with a 12-megapixel camera, and a bigger, 4.8in iPhone which the latest rumours are calling the 'iPhone math'.

While we're rather dubious about the name, it is possible that Apple is thinking about launching an iPhone with a bigger display in order to compete with rival 'phablet' devices such as Samsung's Galaxy Note.

The iPhone 6 will have a built-in fingerprint sensor

Trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities has predicted that Apple's next iPhone will have largely the same chassis as the iPhone 5, with the only difference to the body of the device expected to be a fingerprint sensor that is built-in to the home button.

The rumoured iPhone 6 fingerprint sensor could spell trouble for competitors though, says Kuo, who believes that rivals will have more difficulty than Apple when it comes to introducing a fingerprint sensor to their Android and Windows Phone devices, because many have more than one button below the display. This means fingerprint scanners in iPhone rivals would be less intutitive for the user, and could cause frustration, Kuo added.

The iPhone 6 will be an iPhone 5S

One iPhone 6 rumour is that it will be an iPhone 5S and actually be a pretty small update. Visually it will be identical to the iPhone 5, with its larger 4in display, Lightning port and thinner case.

Since the iPhone 3G, Apple has consistently launched a model one year, then the same model but upgraded next year with the 'S' for 'Speed' moniker. So it seems a good bet that the iPhone 6 will be an iPhone 5S with the same case.

Some analysts, like Paul Brown at Strategy Analytics seems to think so: "On the back of a lack of recent innovation from Apple and negative press, we are starting see growth in the number of previously highly-loyal customers who are considering whether or not they will purchase a new iPhone for their next device." 

This does seem to overlook the fact that Apple will almost certainly introduce new iOS 6 features in the iPhone 6 along with faster internal components, even if it does have the same external case.

SEE: iPhone 5S and 'iPhablet' could help Apple shares recover, say analysts

Will the iPhone 6 use sonar for face detection and 3D modelling?

Analysis of recent Apple patent activity has got our minds whirring. It seems Apple plans to build audio detection into the screens of some of its future devices, which may include the iPhone 6, and has also patented a system for using sonar for proximity detection.

SEE ALSO: Future iPhones may smell, taste, and touch (as well as see and hear)

An Apple patent has hinted at an advanced camera that uses depth perception technology to capture better photographs could be on its way with the next iPhone too.

iPhone 6 rumour: Smart Bezel

Apple has taken out several patents on a Smart Bezel (the plastic front surrounding the screen). In other words the Bezel will be able to display information as well as the screen. We've reported on the iPhone 6 Smart Bezel a few times, and Patently Apple, the source of many an Apple rumour has this article on the latest Apple patent on a Smart Bezel.

In Apple's own words: "The primary display could be used to convey visual content to a user, and the secondary display could be used to guide a user providing inputs to the device. For example, the secondary display could be selectively illuminated to provide one or more indicators that represent where or how a user can provide inputs to the device."
What kind of level of information the Smart Bezel could display is up for debate. It certainly wouldn't be a 'screen extension', more like flashing buttons and symbols. This could guide users to tap parts of the screen, or indiciate new messages and suchlike.

The iPhone 6 will have an A6X processor

Apple traditionally updates the iPhone with a new internal procoessor. The iPhone currently has a A6 processor, while the latest iPad has an A6X. That seems like a fair candidate for the next generation of iPhone CPU. The A6X is a dual-core CPU with a quad-core GPU. Veruss the A6 which is a dual-core CPU with three graphics cores.

Giving an additional graphics core to the iPhone might not make much difference to performance, however (it's required on the iPad to power the Retina Display).

Rumour: iPhone 6 will have A7 quad-core processor

The iPhone is typically ahead of the curve when it comes to performance. And Apple could skip the dual-core A6X and go straight to the A7, which would possibly be quad-core CPU and quad-core graphics.

Of course, given Apple's track record this would only happen if the A7 processor did not impinge on heat dissapation, battery life, or device bulk (all of which Apple is fanatical about).

But let's assume it can. What would the iPhone do with all this power? Aside from more powerful games, it could be used to power more iOS features, although everybody seems to struggle with ideas for what.

Although these guys over at Hot Hardware seem to think an iPhone 6 with quad-core A7 processor a bad idea, suggesting that virtually all phone software outside of Nvidia Tegra games, is designed for two-cores. So what's the point?

Check out the image further down the page for further evidence to support this theory.

iPhone 6 TD-LTE for China Mobile

Apple is rumoured to be either integrating TD-LTE technology, or working on a separate iPhone model for China Mobile. China's biggest mobile phone network doesn't support the current mobile technology in the iPhone, and getting the iPhone onto China Mobile would enable Apple to get vastly bigger global market-share for the iPhone.  

iPhone 6 'could have flexible screen'

Apple's iPhone 6 may have a bendy, flexible display and body, if recent tech innovations and patent activity are any indicator.

Apple's patents indicate that the company is exploring legal safeguards for a flexible design, but it looks like Samsung has pipped it to the post, showing off its flexible smartphone displays during the 2013 CES in Las Vegas in January.

iPhone 6 will have tougher Gorilla Glass 3 display

Corning has developed a new version of its Gorilla Glass for smartphones and tablets that it says will result in 40 per cent fewer scratches and appear in devices later this year, probably including Apple's iPhone 6, as well as the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2.

See: Glass smartphones coming this year, says Taiwanese firm

iPhone 6 to have new 'touch-on' display following iPhone 5 in-cell problems

Apple may have introduced a new 'in-cell' display with its iPhone 5 as recently as December, but new reports suggest that problems with the technology have led Apple to consider using a new 'touch-on' display in the next generation iPhone.

iPhone 6 could use TSMC to boost performance and reduce power consumption

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is developing a 16nm process that Apple may adopt for future iPad and iPhone chips. The process could boost performance and reduce power consumption in the iPhone 6 and other Apple products.

SEE: iPhone 6 rumour rolliup for the week ending 1 February

iPhone 6 to have 5G WiFi chip

News that Samsung's Galaxy S4 may support 802.11ac, also known as '5G WiFi', has led to speculation that Apple's iPhone 6 could support the standard as well.

iPhone 6 leaked images and concept art

There are few iPhone 6 leaked images, most leaked images seem to refer to earlier iPhone 5 models. These could be iPhone 6 prototype designs (Apple typically works several years, and iterations ahead) or they could be iPhone 5 designs that didn't make the grade.

'First claimed photos' of iPhone 6 rear casing

A parts company has posted photos of what it's calling the iPhone 5S, supposedly snapped on an assembly line. They suggest that the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S will have roughly the same firm factor as the iPhone 5, but has some minor changes to the internal layout - so the components and screen could be due a modification or two.

Check out the 'iPhone 6 photos' here.

iPhone 5S motherboard with quad-core A7 chip leaked

On 19 February, photographs were leaked online that appear to show the motherboard of Apple's next-generation iPhone, including a quad-core Apple A7 chip and 2GB of RAM.

In January, photographs of alleged leaked iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 parts surfaced, suggesting that Apple is working on two new iPhones for launch this year.

This Yanko design displays what the iPhone 6 could look like if it includes LiquidMetal casing

The artist at CiccareseDesign has come up with the 3D concept design below, based on an alleged test prototype with a similar shape to the latest iPod nano.

This article will be updated as more iPhone 6 or IPhone 5S information, rumours, and leaked pictures as they become available.

See also: 

Cheaper iPhone mini, release date, rumours and leaked image

Apple rumour round-up: iPhone 6, Apple Television, new MacBooks, iPad mini 2, iOS 7

New Mac Pro, iPhone 6, Retina iPad mini 2 most wanted Apple products for 2013

Google News, Yahoo! News, Wikinews, NY Times National News by search term