Apple is rethinking the design of its most popular product, the iPhone. It is planning to launch iPhones with bigger screens, specifically between 4.7 and 5.7 inches. Though there have been no official announcements from the company regarding this, the rumors have started to spread that Apple may also offer colored ranges of the product for lower prices. According to Reuters, Apple might be launching the new iPhone range early next year.
This clearly indicates that the company is trying to regain its position in the market. The iPhone is getting tough competition from the large screen and feature loaded Android phones, and is losing its market rapidly. With the launch of iPhone 5 in September 2012, Apple tried to change the trend that the phone has been following since it was introduced for the first time, by introducing a larger 4 inch screen. All the previous models had had a 3.5 inch screen size.
When asked about large screens at the “All Things D conference” last month, Tim Crook, the Apple CEO, answered that there are several features that need to be considered before the screen size can be increased. The manufacturer needs to ensure that the photos show proper color, the white balance, reflectivity, a good battery life, brightness and above all, long life of the display.
At some point, though not in the near future, Apple is planning to launch a cheaper range of the phone. The cheaper phone may cost as little as $99 and would be encased in a plastic body. The cheaper range of phone would offer different color options as well as the typical native black or white colored phones.
What’s next in the native iPhone series?
Every year Apple has been releasing a new version of its mobile operating system, popularly known as iOS, along with a new phone to accompany it. Last week the company released the developer preview of the long-awaited operating system, the iOS 7. Though Apple has not yet announced the name of the new hardware that will be launched with the forthcoming software, there are strong rumors floating around that it will be iPhone 5s. It is also believed that the 5s model will follow the same design and would not incorporate a drastic change in the design or features from its predecessor.
Apple is ready to launch iOS 7 before the end of this year. This clearly indicates that we might get the next model of the iPhone before 2013 comes to an end. Though, from past trends, it is clear that the new operating system will step into the market long before the hardware is announced.