The 13 best iPhone 6 rumours on the web

APPLE have led the smartphone market ever since they launched the first iPhone back in 2007.

But with bitter rivals Samsung now grabbing an ever-larger share, the pressure is on for the California-based web giant to deliver something really revolutionary with their next offering.

And their legions of fans are only too happy to help them out, taking to the web to post ideas of what they think the new iPhone might look like.

So here we round up some of the best rumours circulating online about the long-awaited iPhone 6.

Rumours ... different concept designs for the iPhone 6

1. It will have no home button

Numerous sources reckon the iconic home button could be ditched.

The central toggle underneath the screen has featured on every iPhone to date, so getting rid of it would certainly be a bold move.

It's thought that it would be replaced by a new touch system where the entire front face of the phone would perform the ‘home’ function.

A concept design was created by Martin Hajek and Steve Hemmerstoffer for website nowhereelse.fr.

2. The home button will be moved to the side

Moving the home button round to the side of the device is probably a more likely change than getting rid of it altogether, and it would give extra screen space for another row of app icons on-screen.

Images created by Peter Zigich on his website show what the new design might look like.

3. The iPhone 6 will totally overshadow the iPhone 5s

It is assumed that the iPhone 5s will directly follow the iPhone 5, with the iPhone 6 following a year later – but that may not be the case.

According to search engine stats, the general public are almost twice as interested in the iPhone 6 as they are in the 5s.

It could be that Apple just decide to ditch the 5s altogether and release the iPhone 6 straight away.

4. A budget iPhone 6 could also be released

Some people think Apple wants to get in at the lower end of the smartphone market.

Devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Ace and HTC’s Desire X are starting to take off as people who aren’t tech-mad want a cheap way to access apps and email.

Releasing a budget iPhone 6 at the same time as the full-spec version could be a great way to tap into this market.

Designer Nickolay Lamm produced some images of what the budget device could look like for myvouchercodes.co.uk.

5. It will no longer use Samsung chips

Up until now, Apple has relied heavily on the computer chips made by its biggest competitor.

But the relationship between the two manufacturers has soured in recent years, with the Californian giants taking the Koreans to court for copyright infringement in several countries.

Samsung hit back by upping their prices, but if this rumour is to be believed Apple won’t be shelling out for much longer.

It is thought their chips will now be made by Taiwanese company TSMC.

6. It could have two screens

One of the most exciting rumours about the iPhone 6 is that it could feature a curved screen on both sides.

As we reported last week, it is based on a patent Apple took out, and would see the screens covering the entire length of the device.

7. It could have a laser keyboard and projector

Another patent taken out by the company in January describes a laser keyboard that can be projected onto any flat surface.

Some designers also predict a built-in projector screen allowing users to have a giant display on the wall in front of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbT0xy_Jai0&feature=youtu.be

The keyboard could also finally put a stop to the awkward thumb-typing that users have had to get used to on previous models.

8. It could be released in a range of different sizes

Apple has a history of releasing follow up products in different sizes — think iPod nano or iPad mini.

But they have yet to do this with the iPhone.

Screen size is fast becoming a hotly debated issue, as some want maximum display space, whereas others want a conveniently small phone.

Apple might decide that now is the time to offer up a bit more choice.

9. It could have a holographic display

This may sound far-fetched, but it’s apparently not beyond the realms of possibility.

A Japanese man already claims to have created his own DIY iPhone hologram, and one concept designer has posted a video of what they think the official version might look like.

10. iOS could be completely overhauled

Apple’s operating system – the software that actually runs the device – hasn’t changed a great deal since the first release back in 2007.

It has had updates, changes and additions, but some people now believe it’s time for a complete redesign of the way the iPhone operates.

One of the reasons is that people have so many apps now that some of them get hidden away and forgotten about – the bosses at Apple HQ could be working out a way to organise them better.

11. Battery life will be improved

A common iPhone complaint is batteries that barely last a day.

The problem, of course, is that all the amazing things the iPhone can do require a hefty slice of precious power.

So many people that use apps throughout the day often find themselves plugging their device back into the wall socket well before bedtime.

It’s been suggested that Apple could design a chunkier phone with a bigger battery in the hope that customers would trade off sleek phone size for an improved battery life.

12. It could have an iWatch as an accessory

Apple has filed a number of patents around the iWatch idea, and most of them suggest it would be released as an accessory, rather than a stand-alone product.

This would see most of its apps and functions controlled by the user’s iPhone or iPad, as they have far more space for memory than the much-smaller wrist device.

The company has also taken out a patent on a spiral display for iTunes which some believe will feature on the iWatch.

13. It will be super-thin and transparent

The idea of a transparent iPhone seems to have been floating around for some time now.

But could the technology have finally caught up with the public’s imagination?