The rumor mill is humming about the next-gen iPhone for 2015. So far, there are rumors of a rose gold casing color similar to the Apple Watch Edition, a 12-megapixel camera and 2-gigabytes of RAM and other changes.
Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities issued a new research note on Tuesday, in which he revealed a number of changes planned for Apple’s so-called “iPhone 6s.” Specifically, he said that Apple will offer a new rose gold option, though he didn’t indicate how much the high-end luxury model might cost.
Apple first introduced the “gold” color with the iPhone 5s beginning in 2013. However, iPhone models to date have not been made of actual gold, unlike the luxury Apple Watch Edition which is made of 18-karat gold and starts at US$10,000.
Kuo did not indicate whether the new rose gold “iPhone 6s” would be made of actual gold like the high-end Apple Watch, or if it will simply resemble the color found on the Apple Watch Edition.
The new color option would presumably bring Apple’s total number up to four, joining the existing line up of gold, space grey, and silver.
Other changes to the new handset are said to include a new design with different casing materials and a restructured internal design, addressing the supposed bending issues that affected the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Kuo also suggested that some 5.5-inch “Plus” models might use scratch-resistant sapphire covers, though he said that would depend on whether drop test issues could be resolved.
Another microphone is also expected to be added near the “iPhone 6s” speaker to improve sound quality. And according to Kuo, Apple will also upgrade the camera to 12 megapixels.
Kuo also stated that the next-gen iPhone could feature Force Touch input, but stated that one of the biggest bottlenecks for this is issues within the supply chain.
Finally, Kuo also restated his earlier claims that there will be no new 4-inch iPhone model this year, leaving screen sizes of 4.7 and 5.5 inches. He also reiterated that Apple will include an improved Touch ID sensor that will improve the Apple Pay experience with faster, more secure readings.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider