Mobile

Apple iPhone 6 reportedly ‘locked down’ with 4.8-inch display, speedy 802.11ac Wi-Fi

Alexandra Burlacu

Apple has reportedly "locked down" the iPhone 6 design internally and its next-generation flagship smartphone will sport a 4.8-inch display and 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity.

The iMaker has long been rumored to be working on at least one large-screen iPhone, and reports about the company's iPhone 6 have been intensifying recently. The latest whispers pointed to 4.7- and 5.7-inch sizes for Apple's next-generation smartphone, and a new report now claims that the design for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 has already been locked down.

According to Apple Insider, Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri issued a note to investors on Wednesday, Jan. 22, claiming that Apple has finalized much of the design of its next iPhone.

"Citing checks within the company's supply chain, he believes the handset will feature a large 4.8-inch display, matching the trend of larger smartphones elsewhere in the market," Apple Insider reports.

As previously mentioned, various reports so far have claimed that Apple would be moving to larger displays for its next-generation iPhone. While launching a 4.8-inch iPhone does seem likely, the rumored 5.7-inch model sounds a bit farfetched, as Apple is famous for its "unwavering principle of one hand use." The current iPhone 5S flagship sports a 4-inch display, and a jump all the way up to 5.7 inches would be quite dramatic.

When it comes to connectivity options, Arcuri further noted that the upcoming iPhone 6 would boast speedy 802.11ac connection, i.e. the new Wi-Fi standard Apple added to its updated Macs in 2013. The current iPhone 5S has 802.11n Wi-Fi connections, which means the iPhone 6 would sport notable improvements in this department.

Moreover, Arcuri claimed that Apple plans to launch its next major version of iOS with "key software innovations." The analyst expects Apple to bet big on iBeacon, Touch ID and Passbook, in a bid to boost new services with mobile payments. According to Arcuri, the 2013 release of the iPhone 5S was in many ways just a "set-up" for the upcoming products of 2014, paving the way for greater things to come.

More specifically, Arcuri believes that the 64-bit A7 processor and Touch ID fingerprint scanner introduced with the iPhone 5S will allow the company to implement new services that would give it an edge against rivals.

Despite recent reports that Apple may unveil its next-generation smartphone in June, Arcuri expects the company to stick to its usual annual launch schedule and release the purported iPhone 6 in September. The analyst does reckon, however, that the speculated June timeframe is "not out of the question."

Lastly, Arcuri further bolstered rumors of a large, 13-inch iPad coming later this year, which he expects to "blur the lines between tablets and PCs." We also heard recently that Apple had accelerated the development of its large-screen iPad, as it felt pressure from archrival Samsung's launch of its latest PRO tablets. Arcuri expect the larger iPad model to arrive in late 2014, which would fall in line with Apple's typical schedule of releasing new iPads in October.

As always, however, take everything with a grain of salt until official confirmation. Apple has yet to offer any information regarding its next-generation iDevices, so it's all in the rumor state for now.

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