What's in store for Samsung Galaxy and iPhone fans with the next generation? We take a look at all the rumours so far
Samsung and Apple's latest handsets, the
Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S, have barely been on the market for five minutes
but already we're seeing information leaking thick and fast about
successor models from each phone maker.
If we're totally honest, rumours about the iPhone 6 began a long time ago, in fact even before the iPhone 5S had launched in 2013 when it still wasn't known whether the expected release would be dubbed the iPhone 5S or the iPhone 6.
In the absence of an iPhone 6 so far, the iPhone 6 rumours have returned and as always the bulk of the info comes from supply chain sources in Asia and the somtimes shaky assessments of industry analysts.
However most analysts we've spoken to seem to agree the iPhone 6’s big USP – beyond THAT larger display – will be software “innovations” within iOS that’ll make mobile payments a lot easier. iBeacon, Touch ID, and Passbook are all expected to feature prominently in this initiative, as are biometrics – which could mean more TouchID functionality, or sensors for other scanning capabilities.
With the Samsung Galaxy S5 – as one might expect – things are beginning to look mightily impressive: more power, bigger and better design, a brand new UX and (potentially) some form of biometric security. There is a clear distinction to be drawn, however, in terms of how soon we'll see each successor model – the Galaxy S5 is going to be here waaaaaaay before the iPhone 6.
While talk of Apple's iPhone 6 says very little about a launch, and insinuates Apple's usual September launch will stick in 2014, word on the street for Samsung's Galaxy S5 is that it could make an appearance as early as Q1 2014. Samsung reps have said the Galaxy S5 will appear in March, while a launch during February's Mobile World Congress (MWC) is suspected, particularly now Samsung has issued invites to "Samsung Unpacked 5" on February 24 - day one of the expo.
So, we thought it might be fun to take a look at how the two flagship handsets will compare, if current rumours prove accurate.
This isn’t going to be the usual versus match though, as it isn't possible to make any concrete conclusions – what we're doing is simply having a curious look at how things seem to be progressing and how the two devices may end up being different (or indeed, similar).
So, in anticipation of these devices hitting the market we thought it might be good to take a look at how they may compare, if the current crop of rumours are close to the truth.
As usual, we need to reiterate that this comparison is entirely based on rumours, internet gossip, trends and observed manufacturer habits - it is not gospel! Things may change before release or be innacurate and we are doing this to get a working impression of how things could stack up. This is not intended to be conclusive. It's just a bit of speculative fun.
But, subsequent reports have since alleged that this isn’t the case at all. There is indeed a supplier providing Samsung with metal, but it’s not destined for the Galaxy S5’s main bodywork, apparently.
Instead, sources suggest we could see the same faux leather treatment
exhibited on the Galaxy Note 3. As with the Galaxy Note 3, it’s not
going to be to everyone’s tastes, but at the same time it’s unlikely to
put the vast majority of buyers off either.
Images have surfaced of a metal frame thought to be for the Samsung Galaxy S5.
This doesn't necessarily mean the body panels will be metal, they could still be plastic, but the surround to which they will be attached does appear to be real metal rather than metallic effect plastic as we've seen previously.
If the pictures are accurate, it appears to be a similar design to Sony's Xperia Z1, a metal framework which incorporates a surround and various intersecting bars to add ridigidity - external panels (in the case of the Xperia Z1, these were made of glass) could then be attached to this frame. Will this be the end of the removable back panel and battery pack on Samsung Galaxy flagships?
Hopefully not, plenty of feedback from users suggests this is a big pull for Samsung devices and if it goes the way of the Dodo you can expect some pretty unhappy customers.
Another key aspect of build rumoured for the Galaxy S5 claims it’ll be getting full water and dust proofing in a similar vein to Sony’s recent Xperia flagships and Samsung’s own rugged model, the Galaxy S4 Active.
Recently, rumours have shifted to suggest the Galaxy S5 will sport a significantly overhauled design. We've seen a Samsung patent for a handset suspected to be the Galaxy Note 4, but this has been extrapolated into the idea that, seeing as Samsung keeps its designs consistent across handsets, the Galaxy S5 may also receive the same treatment.
A concept artist has imagined what the Galaxy S5 could look like based on these patent diagrams and it's a pretty nice looking device which we hope is close to the real deal. Reassuringly, a Samsung executive has since said the Galaxy S5 will be substantially altered in design from the Galaxy S4, implying that the company perceived consumers were unhappy at the Galaxy S4's design echoing the Galaxy S3 too closely.
Even at this late stage, there are still as many rumours saying the
Galaxy S5 will use metal in its construction as those that say plastic,
carbon fibre or a range of other materials. It could still go either
way, or both ways, in fact, if some rumours prove correct.
There's been a fair bit of evidence to suggest the Galaxy S5 will have two variants - a standard edition and a premium model, also possibly known as the Galaxy F. Again, however, rumours vary on whether both will be made from plastic or if the premium edition will have a metallic unibody.
Repeated rumours surrounding the iPhone 6 claim it will be the largest iPhone yet in order to accommodate a bigger 4.8-inch or 5-inch full HD 1080p display panel. Just don’t go expecting a phablet-sized device as reports indicate we’ll see a super-thin bezel to ensure the chassis doesn’t get too substantial.
It’ll likely be a similar move to what Samsung has done with its
recent flagships cramming a larger display into a body that’s much the
same size as their predecessors.
There's been no talk of any ruggedised features in the same vein as the Galaxy S5. However, we could again be looking at two variants launched simultaneously, with talk of a 4.5-inch standard model and a larger phablet device.
However, the most recent snippets of info claim we'll see the thinnest iPhone to date with a chassis only 6mm thick. It's also said it will be called the iPhone Air as a result of this slimming and in keeping with the iPad Air re-branding.
To go with said murmurings, pictures have also emerged which are said to be the iPhone 6/iPhone Air's metallic body.
While Samsung often makes higher storage variants of its Galaxy S flagship devices we haven’t actually seen one hit UK shores for a while now. Perhaps the company could change its tune and we might see 32GB and 64GB models made more widely available, but in the meantime, to avoid disappointment, it’s probably safer to assume you’ll only get the Galaxy S5 with 16GB, in Blighty at least.
On the plus side, Samsung consistently delivers with microSD capability, so expect a full 64GB capacity when it comes to expandability. If the iPhone 6 comes with microSD support then start looking out for other signs of the Apocalypse.
For the iPhone 6, on the one hand plenty of rumours say a bigger screen is in store, of the 4.5-inch, 4.8-inch or 5-inch variety, but at the same time we’ve seen such suggestions for a long while. And we all know how that turned out – 3.5-inches to 4-inches.
It could turn out exactly the same again, much hype over an expanded screen and then nothing particularly new. Apple has in the past waxed lyrical over the optimum size and resolution of its Retina display and it may be past the point of no return by now. Who can say?
There are some interesting titbits emerging about what Apple might be doing with the iPhone 6 display, however. Apple filed a couple of patents, one referring to "quantum dot" displays which could produce richer and more natural colour. The other points to a wrap-around Sapphire Glass "tube" design which could make interacting with the iPhone 6 a 360-degree affair.
While the wrap-around display rumours appear to have trailed off somewhat, the talk of Sapphire Glass has only increased, suggesting it's quite likely we'll see the ultra-strong material cladding the front of the next iPhone. Interestingly, there's also a lot of whispers saying Apple has figured out a way of embedding solar panels into the display to continuously top-up the battery.
What about the Galaxy S5?
Samsung actually revealed plenty of details in a conference call, in which it mentioned it will debut RGB AMOLED displays in 2014 with a pixel density of 560 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and a WQHD resolution at 2560x1440 pixels. Some quick maths says that should mean a 5.25-inch display, which sounds like a big enough increment for a successor model but not so big as to make things too unweildy.
However, some rumours are now suggesting Samsung may make the switch to LTPS LCD, although these whispers quote similarly high pixel density and resolution specs (as well as the size) to the aforementioned OLED setup.
A recent set of leaked specs implies Samsung will indeed stick to Super AMOLED tech, although that sky-high 560ppi pixel density was quoted once again.
Less predictable are the remaining details.
While Apple could make the push from its current 1.3GHz dual-core with 1GB RAM to something beefier the company has demonstrated it’s not really about that kind of progression, so it seems doubtful unless there’s some new feature it really feels needs the extra grunt.
Samsung is known to be developing more powerful processors and 64-bit ones too, it’s publicly said as much in true Keeping up with the Joneses fashion. The main difference is that Samsung completely embraces the “more cores is better” ideology, and so while Apple is likely to stay with dual-core, Samsung is thought to be building further on its eight-core Exynos hardware with an updated chip which could very well find its way into the Galaxy S5.
That includes rumours around a 14 nanometre (nm) Exynos 6 chip with big.LITTLE architecture and heterogeneous multi-processing capabilities, or in English: it can use all eight cores together at once for more intensive tasks.
While that might sound like a recipe for overheating and battery
drain, the 14nm point is significant because it should prove a far more
efficient architecture than current solutions which use 28nm
architecture. Also, just because it can use heterogeneous
multiprocessing doesn’t mean it will do so all the time, and for general
running Samsung will likely attempt to optimise things for better
battery life, as all major phone makers currently are.
To add confusion to the mix though, Samsung has previously used both Qualcomm's chips and its own Exynos hardware in different regional versions of its devices and depending on what connectivity options its aiming for. In Asia, the Galaxy S4 came with an Exynos 5 Octa, while Europe and the US got a Qualcomm Sanpdragon 600 version.
There are benchmarks, leaks and rumours which suggest the same could happen again, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 sighted inside benchmark results on a device thought to be the Galaxy S5.
Another rumoured component is the idea that Samsung will include a full 4GB of RAM.
Following Apple’s A7 announcement, critics have pointed to the 1GB of RAM included in its devices and claimed that a minimum of 4GB is needed to truly unlock the potential gains of 64-bit, even if, on the face of things, the A7 chip is an improvement on its predecessor and one of the fastest chips on the current market.
Samsung could be keen to address these concerns and likewise it’s not
a huge leap for it to do so. Samsung already has 3GB of RAM inside its
Galaxy Note 3 and, unlike Apple, it has not established a habit of
keeping processor and RAM figures modest.
Apple may end up using the same setup again, or, being drastic, we could see a 13-megapixel snapper in its place.
What’s more a new patent filed by Apple suggests the new imaging technology inside the iPhone 6 – or Air, or whatever it’s called – could feature Lytro-like capabilities.
Lytro is a type of camera which allows you to capture an image and then dynamically select (and re-select) a focal point at a later date. This form of witchcraft is achieved using something called "plenoptic" technology, and the idea is you can just shoot an image and then re-focus it later.
Apple's patent details a "digital camera including refocusable imaging mode adaptor", according to AppleInsider. While no specific mention has been made of the iPhone 6, Apple will need to continue to enhance its camera technology in order to remain competitive.
Apple’s approach to the iPhone 5s of tweaking the software and refining the sensor has been met with critical acclaim across the board. Next time around it’s possible Apple could add in more megapixels – potentially 13-MP – but where all the real action takes place is likely to be inside the sensor and with the software.
Steve Jobs met with Lytro's founder to discuss a partnership prior to his death. This patent was filed in September 2011 and numerous sources claim many of Apple's products released since Jobs passed away were developed in accordance to roadmaps laid out by the late-CEO. So, in this context, it's entirely feasible the iPhone 6, complete with a Lytro-like camera, could be part of his posthumous plan.
Samsung has confirmed that its 2014 flagships will be carrying the company's own 16-megapixel ISOCELL sensors, but these aren't expected to debut until later in the year. Currently the firm is testing an 8-megpixel ISOCELL which is expected to appear in the Galaxy S5.
ISOCELL tech is supposedly going to offer better light sensitivity compared to conventional back-illuminated (BSI) sensors as well as better colour reproduction and low light performance.
There's no talk of optical image stabilisation but hopefully it will make an appearance.
Recent murmurings once again place the Samsung Galaxy S5's sensor at 16-megapixels at a minimum, with some suggesting as high as 20MP or even 21MP. Another set of leaked specs once again points to a 16MP setup.
Apple may also make greater use of its iBeacons technology, its own bespoke alternative to NFC.
Both Apple and Samsung appear to be working on different eye-related technologies. Samsung already has its eye-tracking which enables the screen to power on or off depending on whether you’re looking at it, and a feature which lets you scroll webpages with your eyes.
Apple is thought to be coming up with a similar feature, according to reports, while Samsung is alleged to be tackling Apple’s Touch ID with an eye-scanner for unlocking your phone, although some reports say this design was considered to thicken the handset too much and a fingerprint scanner has been settled upon.
A recent set of rumours for the iPhone 6 claims Apple is hard at work on a mobile payment service to rival Google Wallet. Allegedly the company has been in talks with multiple retail brands, payment companies and banks in order to prepare the ground for this new service. It's been suggested this would expand on Touch ID, but aside from this there's very little idea of how such a system might manifest.
Another rumour concerns the iPhone's battery power. It doesn't cover the subject of battery size, but sources say Apple has the technology in place to put solar panels inside its new Sapphire Glass displays, meaning the phone can charge itself using the sun's energy. That would certaintly be a breakthrough change and put Apple back on the map as a true innovator in the mobile space.
Add to this 64-bit processors all round and consumers may have quite a time deciding between the two. Keeping things distinctive, however, it seems probable Apple will offer more storage options globally, and the biggest deciding factor might be whether you want to unlock your phone with your eye or your fingertip.
But that question of solar technology is quite significant, we've heard of a number of phone makers toying with the idea - whoever gets it working well first, though, will truly push smartphones into their next evolutionary stage as they will have virtually solved the daily charge issue created by currently stagnant battery tech.
If we're totally honest, rumours about the iPhone 6 began a long time ago, in fact even before the iPhone 5S had launched in 2013 when it still wasn't known whether the expected release would be dubbed the iPhone 5S or the iPhone 6.
In the absence of an iPhone 6 so far, the iPhone 6 rumours have returned and as always the bulk of the info comes from supply chain sources in Asia and the somtimes shaky assessments of industry analysts.
However most analysts we've spoken to seem to agree the iPhone 6’s big USP – beyond THAT larger display – will be software “innovations” within iOS that’ll make mobile payments a lot easier. iBeacon, Touch ID, and Passbook are all expected to feature prominently in this initiative, as are biometrics – which could mean more TouchID functionality, or sensors for other scanning capabilities.
With the Samsung Galaxy S5 – as one might expect – things are beginning to look mightily impressive: more power, bigger and better design, a brand new UX and (potentially) some form of biometric security. There is a clear distinction to be drawn, however, in terms of how soon we'll see each successor model – the Galaxy S5 is going to be here waaaaaaay before the iPhone 6.
While talk of Apple's iPhone 6 says very little about a launch, and insinuates Apple's usual September launch will stick in 2014, word on the street for Samsung's Galaxy S5 is that it could make an appearance as early as Q1 2014. Samsung reps have said the Galaxy S5 will appear in March, while a launch during February's Mobile World Congress (MWC) is suspected, particularly now Samsung has issued invites to "Samsung Unpacked 5" on February 24 - day one of the expo.
So, we thought it might be fun to take a look at how the two flagship handsets will compare, if current rumours prove accurate.
This isn’t going to be the usual versus match though, as it isn't possible to make any concrete conclusions – what we're doing is simply having a curious look at how things seem to be progressing and how the two devices may end up being different (or indeed, similar).
So, in anticipation of these devices hitting the market we thought it might be good to take a look at how they may compare, if the current crop of rumours are close to the truth.
As usual, we need to reiterate that this comparison is entirely based on rumours, internet gossip, trends and observed manufacturer habits - it is not gospel! Things may change before release or be innacurate and we are doing this to get a working impression of how things could stack up. This is not intended to be conclusive. It's just a bit of speculative fun.
Build and design
Initial reports for the Galaxy S5 suggested it would be the first Samsung smartphone to embrace more premium build materials. Samsung has long been rumoured to be experimenting with metals and carbon fibre, and the most prominent whisperings claimed a metal-built Galaxy S5.But, subsequent reports have since alleged that this isn’t the case at all. There is indeed a supplier providing Samsung with metal, but it’s not destined for the Galaxy S5’s main bodywork, apparently.
Images have surfaced of a metal frame thought to be for the Samsung Galaxy S5.
This doesn't necessarily mean the body panels will be metal, they could still be plastic, but the surround to which they will be attached does appear to be real metal rather than metallic effect plastic as we've seen previously.
If the pictures are accurate, it appears to be a similar design to Sony's Xperia Z1, a metal framework which incorporates a surround and various intersecting bars to add ridigidity - external panels (in the case of the Xperia Z1, these were made of glass) could then be attached to this frame. Will this be the end of the removable back panel and battery pack on Samsung Galaxy flagships?
Hopefully not, plenty of feedback from users suggests this is a big pull for Samsung devices and if it goes the way of the Dodo you can expect some pretty unhappy customers.
Another key aspect of build rumoured for the Galaxy S5 claims it’ll be getting full water and dust proofing in a similar vein to Sony’s recent Xperia flagships and Samsung’s own rugged model, the Galaxy S4 Active.
Recently, rumours have shifted to suggest the Galaxy S5 will sport a significantly overhauled design. We've seen a Samsung patent for a handset suspected to be the Galaxy Note 4, but this has been extrapolated into the idea that, seeing as Samsung keeps its designs consistent across handsets, the Galaxy S5 may also receive the same treatment.
A concept artist has imagined what the Galaxy S5 could look like based on these patent diagrams and it's a pretty nice looking device which we hope is close to the real deal. Reassuringly, a Samsung executive has since said the Galaxy S5 will be substantially altered in design from the Galaxy S4, implying that the company perceived consumers were unhappy at the Galaxy S4's design echoing the Galaxy S3 too closely.
There's been a fair bit of evidence to suggest the Galaxy S5 will have two variants - a standard edition and a premium model, also possibly known as the Galaxy F. Again, however, rumours vary on whether both will be made from plastic or if the premium edition will have a metallic unibody.
Repeated rumours surrounding the iPhone 6 claim it will be the largest iPhone yet in order to accommodate a bigger 4.8-inch or 5-inch full HD 1080p display panel. Just don’t go expecting a phablet-sized device as reports indicate we’ll see a super-thin bezel to ensure the chassis doesn’t get too substantial.
There's been no talk of any ruggedised features in the same vein as the Galaxy S5. However, we could again be looking at two variants launched simultaneously, with talk of a 4.5-inch standard model and a larger phablet device.
However, the most recent snippets of info claim we'll see the thinnest iPhone to date with a chassis only 6mm thick. It's also said it will be called the iPhone Air as a result of this slimming and in keeping with the iPad Air re-branding.
To go with said murmurings, pictures have also emerged which are said to be the iPhone 6/iPhone Air's metallic body.
Storage
You can pretty much guarantee that the iPhone 6 will share the same basic set of storage options as every iPhone prior – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. While some people might like the think the iPhone 6 could enjoy a 128GB version like both new iPads it seems fairly unlikely as it could add significant bulk to the phone.While Samsung often makes higher storage variants of its Galaxy S flagship devices we haven’t actually seen one hit UK shores for a while now. Perhaps the company could change its tune and we might see 32GB and 64GB models made more widely available, but in the meantime, to avoid disappointment, it’s probably safer to assume you’ll only get the Galaxy S5 with 16GB, in Blighty at least.
On the plus side, Samsung consistently delivers with microSD capability, so expect a full 64GB capacity when it comes to expandability. If the iPhone 6 comes with microSD support then start looking out for other signs of the Apocalypse.
Display
This is a tricky one.For the iPhone 6, on the one hand plenty of rumours say a bigger screen is in store, of the 4.5-inch, 4.8-inch or 5-inch variety, but at the same time we’ve seen such suggestions for a long while. And we all know how that turned out – 3.5-inches to 4-inches.
It could turn out exactly the same again, much hype over an expanded screen and then nothing particularly new. Apple has in the past waxed lyrical over the optimum size and resolution of its Retina display and it may be past the point of no return by now. Who can say?
There are some interesting titbits emerging about what Apple might be doing with the iPhone 6 display, however. Apple filed a couple of patents, one referring to "quantum dot" displays which could produce richer and more natural colour. The other points to a wrap-around Sapphire Glass "tube" design which could make interacting with the iPhone 6 a 360-degree affair.
While the wrap-around display rumours appear to have trailed off somewhat, the talk of Sapphire Glass has only increased, suggesting it's quite likely we'll see the ultra-strong material cladding the front of the next iPhone. Interestingly, there's also a lot of whispers saying Apple has figured out a way of embedding solar panels into the display to continuously top-up the battery.
What about the Galaxy S5?
Samsung actually revealed plenty of details in a conference call, in which it mentioned it will debut RGB AMOLED displays in 2014 with a pixel density of 560 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and a WQHD resolution at 2560x1440 pixels. Some quick maths says that should mean a 5.25-inch display, which sounds like a big enough increment for a successor model but not so big as to make things too unweildy.
However, some rumours are now suggesting Samsung may make the switch to LTPS LCD, although these whispers quote similarly high pixel density and resolution specs (as well as the size) to the aforementioned OLED setup.
A recent set of leaked specs implies Samsung will indeed stick to Super AMOLED tech, although that sky-high 560ppi pixel density was quoted once again.
Processor and performance
What are the certainties here? Well, Apple will definitely continue to push its 64-bit architecture and the iPhone 6 will be far enough away that it’ll be a new chip, probably the usual “twice as fast” as the previous one, regardless of whether it’s called A7X or A8.Less predictable are the remaining details.
While Apple could make the push from its current 1.3GHz dual-core with 1GB RAM to something beefier the company has demonstrated it’s not really about that kind of progression, so it seems doubtful unless there’s some new feature it really feels needs the extra grunt.
Samsung is known to be developing more powerful processors and 64-bit ones too, it’s publicly said as much in true Keeping up with the Joneses fashion. The main difference is that Samsung completely embraces the “more cores is better” ideology, and so while Apple is likely to stay with dual-core, Samsung is thought to be building further on its eight-core Exynos hardware with an updated chip which could very well find its way into the Galaxy S5.
That includes rumours around a 14 nanometre (nm) Exynos 6 chip with big.LITTLE architecture and heterogeneous multi-processing capabilities, or in English: it can use all eight cores together at once for more intensive tasks.
To add confusion to the mix though, Samsung has previously used both Qualcomm's chips and its own Exynos hardware in different regional versions of its devices and depending on what connectivity options its aiming for. In Asia, the Galaxy S4 came with an Exynos 5 Octa, while Europe and the US got a Qualcomm Sanpdragon 600 version.
There are benchmarks, leaks and rumours which suggest the same could happen again, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 sighted inside benchmark results on a device thought to be the Galaxy S5.
Another rumoured component is the idea that Samsung will include a full 4GB of RAM.
Following Apple’s A7 announcement, critics have pointed to the 1GB of RAM included in its devices and claimed that a minimum of 4GB is needed to truly unlock the potential gains of 64-bit, even if, on the face of things, the A7 chip is an improvement on its predecessor and one of the fastest chips on the current market.
Camera
Not much has been said of the iPhone 6’s camera setup, but if Apple’s iPhone 5S launch is anything to go by the company seems pretty set on the “less is more” approach as it’s still using an 8-megapixel iSight back-illuminated sensor (BSI) with some clever tweaks to pre and post capture processing and a True Tone dual-LED white/amber flash.
What’s more a new patent filed by Apple suggests the new imaging technology inside the iPhone 6 – or Air, or whatever it’s called – could feature Lytro-like capabilities.
Lytro is a type of camera which allows you to capture an image and then dynamically select (and re-select) a focal point at a later date. This form of witchcraft is achieved using something called "plenoptic" technology, and the idea is you can just shoot an image and then re-focus it later.
Apple's patent details a "digital camera including refocusable imaging mode adaptor", according to AppleInsider. While no specific mention has been made of the iPhone 6, Apple will need to continue to enhance its camera technology in order to remain competitive.
Apple’s approach to the iPhone 5s of tweaking the software and refining the sensor has been met with critical acclaim across the board. Next time around it’s possible Apple could add in more megapixels – potentially 13-MP – but where all the real action takes place is likely to be inside the sensor and with the software.
Steve Jobs met with Lytro's founder to discuss a partnership prior to his death. This patent was filed in September 2011 and numerous sources claim many of Apple's products released since Jobs passed away were developed in accordance to roadmaps laid out by the late-CEO. So, in this context, it's entirely feasible the iPhone 6, complete with a Lytro-like camera, could be part of his posthumous plan.
Samsung has confirmed that its 2014 flagships will be carrying the company's own 16-megapixel ISOCELL sensors, but these aren't expected to debut until later in the year. Currently the firm is testing an 8-megpixel ISOCELL which is expected to appear in the Galaxy S5.
ISOCELL tech is supposedly going to offer better light sensitivity compared to conventional back-illuminated (BSI) sensors as well as better colour reproduction and low light performance.
There's no talk of optical image stabilisation but hopefully it will make an appearance.
Recent murmurings once again place the Samsung Galaxy S5's sensor at 16-megapixels at a minimum, with some suggesting as high as 20MP or even 21MP. Another set of leaked specs once again points to a 16MP setup.
Other hardware and features
Apple’s pretty much committed itself to continuing with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner tech, so it’s highly likely it will show up again in the iPhone 6. Could its functionality be expanded past unlocking the phone and purchases in iTunes though? We would hope so.
Both Apple and Samsung appear to be working on different eye-related technologies. Samsung already has its eye-tracking which enables the screen to power on or off depending on whether you’re looking at it, and a feature which lets you scroll webpages with your eyes.
Apple is thought to be coming up with a similar feature, according to reports, while Samsung is alleged to be tackling Apple’s Touch ID with an eye-scanner for unlocking your phone, although some reports say this design was considered to thicken the handset too much and a fingerprint scanner has been settled upon.
A recent set of rumours for the iPhone 6 claims Apple is hard at work on a mobile payment service to rival Google Wallet. Allegedly the company has been in talks with multiple retail brands, payment companies and banks in order to prepare the ground for this new service. It's been suggested this would expand on Touch ID, but aside from this there's very little idea of how such a system might manifest.
Another rumour concerns the iPhone's battery power. It doesn't cover the subject of battery size, but sources say Apple has the technology in place to put solar panels inside its new Sapphire Glass displays, meaning the phone can charge itself using the sun's energy. That would certaintly be a breakthrough change and put Apple back on the map as a true innovator in the mobile space.
Thoughts
Both devices will almost certainly have their own unique character, but assuming some of the rumours are true we may end up with two rival flagships which are more similar than ever before. If Samsung does stick to a 5-inch display while Apple bumps up to around the 5-inch mark, we’re once again looking at similar device profiles, as we did with the Galaxy S2 and the iPhone 4.Add to this 64-bit processors all round and consumers may have quite a time deciding between the two. Keeping things distinctive, however, it seems probable Apple will offer more storage options globally, and the biggest deciding factor might be whether you want to unlock your phone with your eye or your fingertip.
But that question of solar technology is quite significant, we've heard of a number of phone makers toying with the idea - whoever gets it working well first, though, will truly push smartphones into their next evolutionary stage as they will have virtually solved the daily charge issue created by currently stagnant battery tech.
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