Some customers are still waiting to get their hands on Apple's latest iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C but rumors surrounding the next-generation iPhone have already started.
The latest specs rumor suggest that Apple will finally increase the display size from 4 inches to at least a 5 inch screen, making it on par with its competitors Samsung and HTC.
Until now, Apple has largely been reliant on Samsung to produce some of its internal components, but latest reports suggest that the Cupertino-based company will slowly try to move away from using Samsung-built parts.
The 64-bit A7 chipset that is included in Apple's iPhone 5S is manufactured by Samsung, and the Korean company is expected to produce nearly 40% of Apple's A8 chipsets. According to the Korea Economic Daily, Apple may turn to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to build the processor for its next-generation iPhone 6.
Apple has been dependent on Samsung for its parts despite their ongoing court battles regarding patents around the world.
Apple has millions of new handsets since the iPhone Apple event in September and the sales figure remains high.
However, fans were left disappointed when Apple did not change the screen size or the design of the upgraded iPhone.
This leads to the upcoming iPhone 6 – which is expected to pack a bigger screen and have a new design overhaul.
The iPhone 6 is expected to be a phablet – to compete with the popular Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (see the specs comparison of the current iPhone 5S and Galaxy Note 3 below).
Expert Reviews recently reported: "The Wall Street Journal suggested last week that Apple was actively testing an iPhone product with a 6in display, with a view to launching it as a device to sit between the iPhone 5S and upcoming iPad Mini 2. Now, a leak at Apple Canada has all-but confirmed those plans."
There is speculation that Apple will launch the iPhone 6 phablet in the first quarter of 2014 – with a possible March due date. Like the current iPhone 5S, the iPhone 6 is expected to pack the new M7 chip. It may possibly pack a powerful A8 chip, a step up from the current A7 chip in the iPhone 5S. Other than a bigger screen and an upgraded chip, the specs of the iPhone 6 are expected to remain similar to that of the iPhone 5S. (see below)
The overwhelming popularity of the iPhone 5S in gold color suggests that the iPhone 6 too will be offered in the same color options, including space gray as well.
Specs comparson - iPhone 5S vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Processor
The iPhone 5S features an all new A7 chip with 64-bit architecture (which Apple claims to be 40x faster than its predecessor) and an all new M7 motion coprocessor. The RAM has not been specified.
The Note 3 features a 2.3GHz quad-core 800 CPU processor in LTE variant and a whopping 3GB RAM. The 3G variant has a 1.9GHz Exynos Octa Core CPU.
Screen
The iPhone 5S has a 4-inch retina display with 1136-by-640 pixel resolution at 326 ppi.
The Galaxy Note 3 has a Super AMOLED display measuring at 5.7 inches with 1920x1080 resolution.
Camera
The iSight rear camera on the iPhone 5S is 8 megapixels with 1.5µ pixels. It also has True Tone dual flash for better low-light pictures. There is 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps and features such as Slo-mo video. The front-facing FaceTime Camera is 1.2 MP (1280 x 960 )with 720p HD recording.
The Note 3 has a 13megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 2megapixel front-facing camera with BSI sensor and smart stabilization. The rear camera records in full HD 1080p 60fps video, with 4K available in some models.
Battery
The iPhone 5S has a built-in lithium-ion battery and the Note 3 has a 3200mAh removable battery.
Operating System
The iPhone 5S runs on the revamped iOS 7 while the Note 3 launches with the latest Android 4.3 and Touchwiz.
Storage and Price
The iPhone 5S is available in three options: 16GB ($199), 32GB ($299), and 64GB ($399). The prices are based on a new 2-year plan with a US cellular network.
Contract prices for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 range from $199 to $299. An contract-free phone is expected to cost over $700. It comes with 32GB and 64GB storage with MicroSD slot.
The iPhone 5S comes with the all new fingerprint reader while the Note 3 features NFC and the S Pen.
Both devices are very different in both design and function. The iPhone 5S comes in the classic brushed aluminum with glass and will be available in a brand new gold color while the Note 3 features a new leather-look plastic cover to give it a more "notebook" feel.
The Note 3 also comes with the S Pen, which is designed for note-taking on the phablet's big screen.
