iPhone 6 Rumor Roundup: September Release, Two Models, and Sapphire
The past week has brought a ton of new Apple iPhone 6 rumors to the table, here's a look at what you should expect.
A September Release
According to a recent Chinese report, the iPhone 6 is in the final stages of production with a 90 percent yield rate. All the device has to do is pass the "product validation test," and there's nothing left but to sell them.
The report, despite no confirmation from Apple, is right in line with previous timelines. Apple is expected to reveal the iPhone 6 (in both models, we'll get to that in a bit) on Sept. 9 at a media event. The highly anticipated smartphone should then hit retail stores' shelves the following week.
Apple has ordered an inordinate amount of iPhone 6s from manufacturers, highlighting the fact the September launch could be one of the biggest in history thanks to the larger sizes.
Two iPhones and Sapphire Crystal Displays
This year will mark the first time Apple releases two iPhones in different sizes. Consumers will be able to choose between a 4.7-inch model and a 5.5-inch variant. Previous iPhones have never gone past 4 inches, but the shift in design is in response to buyers eating up larger 5-plus-inch Android smartphones.
There's been talk that Apple intends to utilize sapphire crystal displays on its new iPhones, and while it's most likely true, it's also not completely accurate. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Apple will have more expensive versions of the two iPhone 6s with sapphire displays. Sapphire is highly durable and scratch resistant, but analysts are uncertain if the high production costs will be offset by sales.
As far as hardware goes, the iPhone 6 will be powerful: a new 64-bit 20-nanometer 2GHz dual-core A8 chip that can utilize the new iOS 8 operating system. There will still only be 1GB RAM, but the rear camera should be bumped up to 13 megapixels and expect fingerprint sensors and more that will tie into iOS 8's Health Kit.
There's been a flurry of photographs concerning leaked iPhone parts, and while they all look plausible (the iPhone 6 is not expected to deviate from the iPhone design by much), there's no way to tell if they are true. Oh, and for those who thought TMZ had a real iPhone 6 in their hands the other day, they didn't. It was only an Android device running iOS 7.
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