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Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 11:30 pm
Rumor: Next-gen iPhone to feature 4.6-inch Retina Display
An unverified report claims Apple has begun placing orders for a 4.6-inch Retina Display bound for the next-generation iPhone that could launch as early as "around the second quarter."Reuters issued the report on Wednesday, citing South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper. An unnamed industry source reportedly told the Korean publication that Apple has chosen the larger display and has already begun ordering the part from suppliers.
The rumor suggested that domestic Korean suppliers have received the orders, making Samsung and LG likely candidates as suppliers. Both companies have supplied displays for Apple's mobile products in the past.
The original report also claimed that the new display would be a Retina Display, which Apple specifies as having a pixel density of 300 pixels per inch when used at a distance of 10-12 inches.
If accurate, Wednesday's report signals a break by Apple from its past practice, as the company has elected not to change the 3.5-inch screen size of the iPhone since it launched in 2007. However, the likelihood that the rumor is indeed accurate appears to be relatively low. Rumors of a 4-inch iPhone screen have persisted for some time now, but claims of a 4.6-inch screen size are some of the largest yet.
Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone has a 4.65-inch screen
In addition, the rumored second quarter launch is highly questionable, as it would mean a new iPhone arriving between six to nine months after the iPhone 4S. A machine translation of the original report has the article claiming the new handset will come out "this summer" with no mention of the second quarter. The astronomical definition of summer most closely aligns with the third quarter of the calendar year. Multiple reports have pointed to a September or October launch for the next-generation iPhone.
A number of Wall Street analysts expect the sixth-generation iPhone to incorporate 4G LTE. Investment firm Barclays said on Wednesday that Apple is reviewing components for the next iPhone and is likely to utilize the Qualcomm "MDM9615" chip that supports voice and data connections over LTE. Speculation has also arisen that Apple will revert to a simpler naming scheme for the iPhone as it has recently done with the iPad.
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Previous Comments View All
... And these types of rumors are how Apple conducts free market research.
...
Also, this is so unbelievably false I can't even believe AI is reporting this.
Well isn't that interesting...
My Galaxy Nexus already has a 4.65 inch display (as shown in the article), though it's of the much more vibrant, power-efficient AMOLED variety.
Of course this article is based upon a 'rumor' so we'll likely never see anything remotely close on the 'new iPhone'.
I'm pretty sure 300 ppi is 300 ppi no matter how far away you hold it.
Seriously doubt this will happen. That is approaching the Samsung Galaxy Note size, which seems ginormous for a phone. I don't want a tablet in my pocket.
Keep in mind that iPhones have always used 3:2 aspect ratio displays. A 4.6" with a 3:2 aspect ratio will be quite huge. The 4+ inch phones currently on the market are mostly 16:9, which is long and narrow (relatively speaking).
If the rumor is true, either Apple will change the aspect ratio on the new iPhone and wreck havoc on how developers design their apps, or it keeps the 3:2 ratio and end up with a monstrosity that doesn't fit in your palm. I highly doubt this will happen.
That size of screen would warrant a change to aspect ratio and letter boxing current apps. Some apps may be able to just grow depending on the controls they are using...
So a 4.6" display with no info on the aspect ratio, resolution or how a 4.6" display would appeal to iPhone users. Has anyone seen the Galaxy Nexus? It uses a horrible PenTile display and huge. Part of their size is because of LTE but with the MDM9615 Apple doesn't need to worry about that.
I'd like a larger iPhone but at the same resolution the size needed to maintain both the user experience and Retina Display label falls around 4". That's only 1/2" but that's 31% larger.
That size of screen would warrant a change to aspect ratio and letter boxing current apps. Some apps may be able to just grow depending on the controls they are using...
While I think it's too large if using other such phones as a gauge regardless of aspect ratio would Apple really have developers add a 2nd resolution to their iOS apps in the same year, especially one that doesn't scale like with their previous solutions? At this point such a rumour sounds very fabricated for the next iPhone.
I am pretty happy with my iPHone 4s. I wonder if this new iPhone's upgrades are gonna be mostly screen size and maybe Megapixel camera of 12 and LTE. I really don't see any need to upgrade. I enjoy my 4s very well.
Well isn't that interesting...
My Galaxy Nexus already has a 4.65 inch display (as shown in the article), though it's of the much more vibrant, power-efficient AMOLED variety.
Of course this article is based upon a 'rumor' so we'll likely never see anything remotely close on the 'new iPhone'.
Super troll
Only Fandroids think a huge screen is a good idea, mostly because they only care about boastable tech specs & not practical functionality. If I want a large screen that's what the iPad is for, let a phone be a phone for crying out loud.
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Keep in mind that iPhones have always used 3:2 aspect ratio displays. A 4.6" with a 3:2 aspect ratio will be quite huge. The 4+ inch phones currently on the market are mostly 16:9, which is long and narrow (relatively speaking).
If the rumor is true, either Apple will change the aspect ratio on the new iPhone and wreck havoc on how developers design their apps, or it keeps the 3:2 ratio and end up with a monstrosity that doesn't fit in your palm. I highly doubt this will happen.