Apple iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 Release Date June? Apple Denies 'Cheap Smartphone' Rumors
Apple reportedly conducted prototype tests for two new devices that may be the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 that are rumored to be released possibly in June.
Peter Misek, an analyst for Jefferies, hinted that the Apple is testing a new "low-cost" iPhone that would be "similar to the iPad Mini" in its execution, according to Know Your Mobile. He also stated that the one of the phones would likely feature a polycarbonate case with a 4-inch non-Retina Display screen and no 4G capabilities. The other device is rumored to have a larger 4.8-inch display.
It appears that Apple is looking to have two different models with one rumored more for people on a budget and the other a premium model.
However, the company apparently is not interested in capturing the cheap phone market.
In an interview with China's Shanghai Evening News, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing Phil Schiller insists that his company is not planning to develop a cheap consumer phone.
"Despite the popularity of cheap smartphones [in China], this will never be the future of Apple's products," the executive reportedly said, according to a translation from The Next Web.
Both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 are expected to be announced around mid-2013 with unspecified dates suggested for June or July.
Other rumors suggest that Apple is working on a Near Field Communication (NFC) version of the popular iPhone.
NFC is a standard for low-speed wireless short range communications between electronic devices. Popular applications of NFC are public transportation passes and some form of electronic wallet, but many more applications remains to be tested and implemented.
The next high-end device is also expected to carry a bigger battery pack, improved display technology and, leading on from the 128GB iPad revelation, and a higher storage option than the traditional 64GB maximum.
Rumors were also incited after supposed leaked images of Apple's iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 were reported by a French website Nowhereelse.fr last month. The images were apparently leaked online by an employee of the Far Eastern company which manufactures the parts for Apple, according to The Daily Mail.
