Apple never went past 3.5-inch displays for their iPhones since its initial release five years ago. Rival smartphone makers pushed the standard Apple set and went as far as releasing phones with 5-inch displays. But it looks like the Cupertino company has a fresh outlook for their next iPhone with plans to embrace the standard their rivals set in today’s era – a phone with a large screen.
According to Reuters, the new iPhone will have a 4.6-inch Retina Display and is due for announcement this second quarter. Citing South Korean Maeil Business Newspaper as the source, the report further states that Apple is already placing orders for 4.6-inch screens from two display suppliers – Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Display. If these reports are true, the next-generation iPhone will have the same high-resolution display as the new iPad but with a much larger display than all its predecessors.
An iPhone with a 4.6-inch screen doesn’t sound bad at all. Strategy Analytics surveyed smartphone owners and found that most of them prefer 4 to 4.5-inch displays. In perspective, iPhones only have 3.5-inch screens, missing half an inch from what most people prefer. Android-powered competitors like Huawei Ascend D Quad, HTC One X, LG Optimus 4X HD, and Samsung Galaxy S III have screens that either hit the 4.5-inch mark or slightly bigger. Meanwhile, Sony plays safe with Xperia S and its 4.3” display – although AT&T version Xperia Ion has a 4.6” screen.
While most of us look forward to larger iPhones in the future, Apple enthusiasts think it’s not likely to happen at this point. Then again, if we look at Apple’s “new” naming scheme, the next iPhone might just get a larger screen. Apple set a record with their new iPad by packing 2048 x 1536 pixels in its screen. So why shouldn’t the new iPhone get a larger display with the same amount of pixels?
via Reuters
