iPhone HD/iPhone 4G to sport 960x640 IPS/FFS panel, 512MB RAM, 24 million units
Apple's 4th generation iPhone HD/iPhone 4G could be set to launch with a print magazine quality 960x640 in-plane switching (IPS), fringe-field switching (FFS) display, and a beefy 512MB of RAM according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo the in hit-and-miss industry trade, Digitimes.
Rumors of a 960x640 display first surfaced back in March from Daring Fireball. Given Steve Jobs' fondness for calligraphy and type and how much he's pushed their aesthetics in the digital age finally shipping a display where the dots no longer come between content and eyes would no doubt appeal to him. IPS is the technology used in the new iMac and iPad, FFS in HTC's Legend, and they help increase viewing angles and display quality. Resolution and technology would combine to make iBooks on iPhone the most high density, high quality type experience yet.
Further, they report Apple will stick with the ARM Cortex A8 currently found in the iPhone 3GS and iPad A4 SoC, not the multicore Cortex A9, but they'll be doubling the RAM to 512MB which should be especially useful for the new multitasking API found in iPhone OS 4. That number does conflict with the 256MB analysis based on lost iPhone G4 prototypes, but Apple can and will make changes and decide final specs up to and until it goes into full production.
Oh, and Foxconn will ship 24 million of them starting in June.
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sign me up. i like new ifone like wife. she is pretty but iphone wins me over. new ram will make it supper fast like race horse? yes. i no apple can sell 24m units but to who. can i put my iphone on charge while jogging like my co-workers do with their bb? when do we add radio? i like to listen to all of the jamz. and dance.
I would've no doubt expected a RAM of 512! 256 is soo last year; and that likely means that next year we'll be seeing 1 Gig of RAM for the next installment.
Anyone know what this new model does to existing iPhone accessories, like plug-in iHome clock radios, car mounts, etc.? I would hate to replace all of those accessories (except my case, which I know I will have to replace). Thanks for the feedback.
512MB of RAM is a welcome upgrade, and while we're at it, so is the 960x640 display. We will find out in June.
Can they just go ahead and announce it all, so I don't have to listen to all the muppets that have or think the droids have passed the iPhone! Get the announcement out of the way so that they can take afew more years to catch up!
i dont think ihome clock work with iphone 3gs. rights? many times i get error that i did not get on 3g. i have many devices and i sell them all for cheap as I can not use. you buy? why you live and I send you today. what color is your clock? black one is broken and white is dirty. write me
Since the resolution is "doubled" (in reality the actual pixels are quadrupled) current apps should look just fine. But it will be interesting to see how developers deal with the differing resolutions.
Making the coming iBooks app for the iPhone look "magazine" quality is very appealing. I'd really like to see, however, more titles in the iBooks store. The Kindle apps works well and there are many more titles available.
Wonderful thoughts on the specs. I'm hoping they come true. RAM especially makes devices run so much faster and smoother. Those "numbers" that touted the greatness of android are.way over blown. I do wish that apple had not responded to the obvious bait.
I cannot wait to get this baby into the palm of my hand. This 4G iPhone is making my iPhone 3G look like my old black and white screen phone!
Why would the iPhone need a radio when there are a jillion streaming music apps like Slacker and Pandora and Shoutcast and Radio Paradise? Regular radio is crap. Anyway, I'll have mine on preorder as soon as they start taking them.
I hope it comes soon... I can't wait to get off my Pre and get this iPhone
Well, keep in mind that the phone GizMORON ended up with seems to be, from all accounts, a late model prototype, and they did not do a complete tear down. The one in Vietman was an older one, from what it seems, and only had 256 in it, which doesn't mean anything, since none of the prototypes looked to be "complete" operating phones. So, if the one GizMORON had WAS a 512, we will never know. Also, it seems that it will HAVE to have more than 16Gb of storage, since it seems like HD video is coming, based on OS4. It SEEMS to have a lot of things. Guess we will see in June. Can't imagine how Steve is going to handle all this. I can't remember a time when sooo much was leaked before a launch. What will he do?? Walk out and go "Well, here it is. You can buy one tomorrow. Thank you." LOL!! The fact that ATT can't take vacation in June this year, as opposed to July last 2 years, is a very good sign that we will see this hot rod in about a month. Can't wait to retire the ol' 3G. Its' been a good soldier, but it is time to move on. My wife has the S, and I really want to be able to shoot video like she can. Bring it on!!!!!
I hope it comes soon... I can't wait to get off my Pre and get this iPhone, I just want a phone that works with no hiccups and gets slow for no reason...
@ChrisJ
lol.
It's going to be very interesting to see what Apple announces in June. I don't put any credence into anything reported by Digitimes tho. People are still weighing all new phones against my old 3GS so it should be kind of hard to f it up. I want some impressive specs to make me feel better but as long as it works as described I won't complain. Look at HTC, they make impressive hardware but they superannuate their own product by always having something bigger and better coming out. HD2, then Incredible, now EVO, next Mondrian. Apple will never win a spec race so why even try. It's pointless.
they'll be lucky if they sell that much...most ppl are realizing you can get something better without an apple logo on it, that offers insurance for accidents and with better service.
Cant wait, upgrading asap. hopefully price points are the same
Soco, what is better? Please dont say anything android , cause its not even close
Btw wtf is going on at Foxconn that it's employees are offing themselves like crazy? Are the lives of these people worth nothing as long as they build our precious iPhones before committing suicide?
I wish I could be getting one. I guess my 3gs will have to do until next year.
Radio = ability to listen to local sports and local talk easily... so yeah... I want the radio enabled... people that don't understand that need to get a clue.
sounds much better, I'd buy that for a dollar
This year's iPhone gets 512MB, but this year's iPad gets 256MB? Why? If the iPhone is going to need 512MB for multitasking, where does that leave the iPad once 4.0 arrives?
Twenty four million is the subjective opinion of ONE ANALyst, who also isn't telling you that Apple includes the ipod, and the now the ipad in their overall counts. Oh, by the way, good luck on those specs. ;)
@ Dan, please dont tell me youre one of those guys. Android is cathing up. HTC is helping. Tell me one competitor (in the states) that comes close? Why is Apple so far ahead?? Bc theyre Apple? Dont get me wrong. I have a mac. i bought one before they were selling them @ best buys across the nation. I use itunes, i have an ipod. wouldnt go back to windows and wouldnt buy another iphone. didnt buy the doid bc the keyboard sucked, or the nexus one bc i hate scroll balls, or the incredible im not a fan of the Sense UI. wont get the HD2 bc that screen is WAY too big. (try putting that thing in your pocket without looking like an idiot). just waiting on that one phone. no bias here.
Sign me up if true. (Actually, sign me up, even if it isn't true. I'm pretty sure I'll be getting the next iPhone to feed my tech addiction regardless.) I'd be well pleased with 512MB RAM but am somewhat skeptical after the iPad just shipped with only 256.
I concur Soco,
I do agree they are catching up , you wont see me argue that point. But as far as being better? Not yet. And just like you I love competition. I hope they do put out something new that blows the iphone out of the water. Apple will have to do that much better.
better depends on the individual. for some the iphone works BETTER for them than an android, palm or wm device. BETTER area coverage matters. i live in the DFW metroplex (which is fairly big). i couldnt drive down 1-30 without dropping calls like crazy. after breaking my first iphone and losing the 2nd. the no insurance thing was the ultimate reason for me leaving the platform. now best buy offers insurance but coverage still sucks. i still wouldnt say iphone is BETTER. there are devices with way better (known) specs. im sure this next gen iphone will do well. besides, the average consumer (those who dont read or post on these sites) doesnt give a rats @$$. all they know is its an iphone. i know better and know that my next handest might very well be an Android handset. APPLE SU CKS!! haha jk
@Lagmefragme,
Huh? I listen to sports talk radio all the time using AOL Radio on the iPhone. Plus, I have MLB At Bat to listen to my local Baseball teams. Even if Apple includes a radio with the next iPhone, it wont help you as you mentioned Sports and local talk radio, which is predominately on AM frequencies, which AFAIK has never been included in any mobile device.
There are some HD talk radio stations on the FM dial but they are not very prevalent.
For those who are questioning us who want FM radio, you must have never stepped into a gym. All TVs in the gym have audio turned to open FM frequencies. Just because you don't want a feature doesn't mean thousands of other people who want it are idiots.
Screen res and ram are the two big things they needed to upgrade. With OS 4 and all the nice specs, even a better camera and video chat, the iPhone will certainly be one of the best equipped phones in the world. I'm excited
512MB of ram is SOOOOOO UNNEEDED! Honestly, I use a Jailbroken 3GS and Ive rarely ever wished it was faster. With a 1GHz A4 chip, it would be insanely fast with 256mb of ram. The iPhone is not about a spec sheet - It's the power of the software. No phone needs to go past 1GHz and 256mb ram, but their problem is that they lack true software optimization.
3GS with 600MHz and 256mb runs almost just as fast as the Nexus One with nearly twice the specs! Apple really doesn't need to do 512mb of RAM and they will prove it this year.
@Adam. Your exactly right. People get caught up with specs. It's all about optimizing what you have. They are still comparing a year old 3GS to everything that comes out which just tells me that I made the best decision with the iPhone. Some of these Androids are nice I will admit but they are shooting themselves in the foot with all these phones back to back. If your so happy with your Droid why are you ready for the next one 3-6 months later? They prey on Americans obsession for the next best thing. When the updated OS comes out next month the 3GS will still be better than more than 70 percent of the phones that are out or coming out. If your bored with a phone you have problems.
I'm worried about the increase in Screen resolution and HOW it will make the current iPhone games look.
I own an iPad right now and running iPhone games on the iPads screen res stretched out don't look pretty at all.
Though it won't be stretched out you're still going to notice a difference for games that had their Sprites drawn up for a lower resolution.
It's basically the problem android has right now and why i HATE android OS. all of their games look like complete garbage, and cheetah thrown up all over them.
Most of the games are designed for the lowest common denominator (the G1) So when you've got a Nexus one like i do, they look like garbage on the Nexus one's awesome screen resolution.
hmm, lame 4g, no real innovations, where is the heat detector, no cooling fan? Apple thumbs down... either wait for 5g with super innovations and flash support or Nexus Two.
oh, no flash for iphone HAHA, so Nexus Two. ah, let's see.
This is good news but I want to see a larger screen to go with it more along the 4 inch size closer to the Htc Evo at 4.3 inch it's all about a bigger better screen in my book along with better res.
WTF? Screen size is still the same.
The iphone 4g will NOT have 512MB ram. I'd put money on that one. Why would they do that when the ipad has the A4 and 256 MB of ram. makes zero sense. Sorry, but not happening.
and still 3.5" is EPIC FAIL!
3.7-4.0"
but okay, for 100$ i maybe buy this lame shi*.
@Desmond & @Adam
It's not about getting caught up in specs. It's about having the power under the hood to be able to check email, listen to music, jump to into a game, then if you want to check out a quick video, you can, w/out missing a beat. With more RAM & more ProcessingPower you can achieve those things, "w/out so much lag".
I'm not saying that the 3GS is not a nice piece of hardware. It is, but phones are catching up and the capabilities of what a phone does requires it to have much more ProcessingPower & RAM. Waiting 3 to 5 seconds for an App to launch, load and or close. It's just to much time to wait in RealTime, and w/ more extensive processes it just gets annoying. Also as we both know, w/RAM, you increase the size of the hole, you can increase the amount of information you can put into it.
I know that a "phone" isn't a laptop, or desktop. But these devices are getting to that point where they're needing that ProcessingPower & RAM to keep up w/ the ever increasing functionality that is constantly being added.
@Adam
Plus, comparing the 3GS to the N1 is not a good comparison. Its not the best Android phone out there. Saw a video w/ the 3GS vs. Incredible and you could see how the 3GS was falling behind in every category just a bit. Plus w/ the HTC EVO's hardware sheet, it just doesn't behoove Apple not to put the next iPhone at 1GHz w/ 512RAM, Better Camera, FontFacing Cam, and Better Screen at least.
I personally would like to see a 1.5GHs processor, 1Gb of RAM, Better Screen, 10MP BackCam/5MP FrontCam, & Better Speakers/Mic/Noise Cancellation. But only in a perfect world. We'll get to that point but not this year or in the next five.
@Johnsen and MrAnonymous, just get an iPad since you want such a big screen. See how that feels holding it up to your and in your pocket. Seriously how much of a difference does .3-.5" make? 3.5" is the perfect size. Grow up.
Pack those pixels in. 3.5" is great.
@rgar...it's quite a difference if you have 3.5" or 3.7" or even 4.0"... it's still "small", but gives a lot of advantages, especially in gaming and browsing.
@Rgar So i'm immature for expressing such an opinion?
A larger screen permits more content to be displayed, whether it be images, videos, documents, etc. It is not difficult to incorporate a larger display, at most being .5", without compromising the dimensions of the device. 3.5" display, 3 years ago, was considered enough, but now, with competitors matching and surpassing the iPhone in screen size, Apple should step it up some.
@Eagleyesmith. I agree with you. But my problem with any comparison with the 3GS is completely unfair. People are comparing it to a phone that is damn near a year old. It won't be fair until at least next month with a new iPhone vs. Anything. We haven't even really seen what the OS is really going to do with it's much needed enhacements.
@johnsen and mranonymous...you're right, you are entitled to your opinion and I apologize for the direct attack. Competition brings greater innovation. IMO, I think the screen is the biggest it should be and still be a mobile phone. Then again I have sized hands and pretty good eye sight. Preferences are all different.
It will be the same exactly ARM Cortex A8 CPU currently found in the iPhone running at 600Mhz??????????????????????????????????????????
If this true i will keep my 3GS another year and upgrade the OS that's all, i really want the A4 CPU and HD video recording!
I think another good question after hearing about these possible spec/hardware upgrades is whether or not apple is going to release more than 2 colors this time around???
@Desmond
I posted a response but it didn't seem to show.
But what I saying was: You hit the nail right on the head. People are comparing the 3GS to new, updated, and better "hardware".
All Apple is going to do w/ the new 4.0 OS is just bring even more "functionality" to the iPhone. But w/ that said you have to ask yourself. Does the hardware have "capability" to handle the new demand of that software? You can have software for days but if you don't have hardware that is capable enough to do the tasks efficiently, effectively, and fast then its a mute point, and kills the user experience. Most phones don't live up to the hype because they don't have the hardware to keep up w/ the demands of the software.
Apple does a great job of optimizing the OS to work flawlessly w/ the hardware. They've also had some good hardware up until now. Its just time to take it to the next level on the hardware side.
FFS doesn't "improve display quality" FFS is a technology to help viewability of the screen while in sunlight.
If apple and the new Iphone HD/4G??? dont just blow my mind. i will get the HTC EVO 4G. Because that weak and haggard prototype they have floating around is no bueno….. Apple please tell me you are joking with this hole leaked and stolen new iphone bit.. Because that phone has nothing to offer over any of the new android phones… Lets be real here, the screen is smaller on the prototype and is showing nothing impressive. Oh what about the new 4.0 OS??? Alright sure thats something new but this is apples first attempt to give is multitasking, but I still have not seen anything that is gonna rival what the EVO 4G is throwing out there. Or even the Droid Incredible, and the nexus one is still ahead of what the 3GS has spec whise. Look I love my 3GS but the more I read and see videso on the EVO 4G and Droid Incredible, then have to see this ugly Iphone HD/4G stolen and leaked Prototype I am upset. So please Apple do what you do best and just blow our minds with this new Iphone because the competition is not behind us anymore they have now jumped to the head of the game
all you people need to calm down. steve jobs is well steve jobs. he knows what he is doing and will make sure this new software will run exceptionally on the 3GS and perfect on the new iPhone. Apple will perfect the features android had already with their ability to tie their software and their OWN hardware together. thats the main difference between the quality of android os and iPhone os. And this process will repeat every year; a ginormous amount of android phones will best the iphone in specs but android will never have one single flagship phone that will outsell the iphone. Thats Apple's goal, to make sure they have the best os and to have the best selling phone. not fload the market with different phones running different versions of the same os. Apple will find a way to get the job done both with hardware and software.
PS and the evo 4G, way overhyped. i prefer driod incredible.
Lots of crazies out there. If the next iPhone has these Digitimes specs: 1GHz A4 with 512 MB RAM, 3.5" 960x640 IPS LCD, front facing camera, better back camera with LED flash, and new form factor, all for the usual prices, it'll be the best cell phone for the largest swatch of consumers out there.
The Sprint Evo with its 4.3" screen sized itself out of at least half of the market. It's too big for most people to comfortably hold. The HTC Incredible is just a Nexus One, and by the looks of Anandtech's review, is worse in performance than the Nexus One, which itself isn't much better than the 3GS.
Is it even possible to combine IPS and FFS? I didn't know that you could.
And FFS, why use that old and poor technology? It sucks. It should come with AFFS+ so you can use the phone outdoors without problems.
@Johan
Good question on having both IPS and FFS. Also, what does Digitimes know about iPhone components? Everything is assembled in China, but most of the components come from Japan or Korea and other places.
The iPad screen does come from a Chinese supplier, so perhaps nextgen iPhone is the same.
Am not going to upgrade my iphone to the new upcoming version until they find a way to jail break it.
Am sure that will take time for developers to jailbreak it.
Can u turn your iPad wifi model to 3G+wifi using your jail broken iPhone 3GS???
The answer is YESsssSssssSssss
I have 3GS with 3.1.3 and its jail broken by iclairified.com
I also have iPad wifi model.. You just need to have your data card inserted in your iPhone and then go to cydia or rock and get " mifi " this app will make your iPhone act like a router.. Isn't that awesome?????
So I think it's not worth it to lose this feature for this upgrade. Although the upgrade has a lot of amazing features but the question is. Will this upgrade be affective on 3GS like the way it will affect the new 4g models???????
Yep, Jail broke my 3GS 3.1.3 with Spirit, installed MyWi Trial, Liked it so much I bought it right away. Works flawlessly! Used it yesterday with only 3 bars on the Edge network and work Great!