What exactly is happening with Apple's next iPhone? Will it be substantially cheaper? Come in gold? Or even sport a fingerprint scanner? And will it be enough to keep Apple on top, now that it's up against two software-hardware chimeras? The company's making plans for next week and we're likely to see not one, but two new iPhones revealed. Alongside a predictably retuned iPhone 5 (the 5S?), we might see the long-awaited appearance of a new, cheaper model, rumored to arrive under the 5C moniker
NEW FEATURES
The big differentiator for the next iPhone is rumored to be a fingerprint scanner that’s built directly into the device’s home button. While that may seem like a surprising addition, it isn’t entirely out of left field: Motorola added such a sensor onto the Atrix 4G back in 2011, though fingerprint scanners have been absent from high-profile smartphones ever since. But Apple may now have the necessary technology to bring them back in a big way. Last year it purchased the security firm Authentec, which has worked on the type of biometric sensors that could be built right into a phone.
LEAKS POINT TO A FINGERPRINT SCANNER
Recent rumors suggest that a scanner would only be used for unlocking the iPhone at first. Down the road, however, that role might expand to include facilitating secure mobile payments as well. Among the reasons for the simpler introduction may be concerns as to fingerprint scanners’ longevity and reliability. Multiple reports have suggested that Applemay attempt to mitigate that by covering the iPhone’s home button in durable crystal sapphire rather than glass, just like what the company has done to protect the iPhone 5’s camera lens.
The iPhone's camera could see some upgrades as well. Early rumors pointed to an improved image sensor and lens, but concurring reports have largely died down in recent months. Separately, reports have pegged a possible switch to a 12- or 13-megapixel sensor, up from just 8 on the iPhone 5. And Kuo predicted that the camera’s lens would have a wider aperture than on the current model, up to f/2.0, which would make it capable of collecting more light. Neither rumor has seen continued traction however, so it's possible that few big changes are in store.
The one camera improvement that most rumors seem to agree on is that the next iPhone will see a dual-LED flash. While more lights could be used to better brighten scenes, Apple is rumored to have different plans for the setup: photos leaked to Mac Rumors show two different colored LEDs, rather than an identical pair — by analyzing the scene and firing whichever color is most appropriate for the environment, the separate LEDs could be used to help capture a photo with more accurately balanced colors.
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