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iPhone 5 to offer 4-inch, 16:9 screen with HD camera, says analyst

The next iPhone may sport a larger screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a high-definition camera in front, says an analyst with KGI.

Lance Whitney Contributing Writer
Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on Windows and another on LinkedIn.
Lance Whitney
2 min read
Will we see a bigger screen and better camera on the next iPhone?
Will we see a bigger screen and better camera on the next iPhone? Apple

Buyers waiting for the next iPhone could be greeted with a larger screen, higher aspect ratio, and better quality camera, at least if KGI analyst Mingchi Kuo is on the money.

In a new research report detailed by AppleInsider, Kuo said he believes the iPhone 5's screen will measure 4.08 inches, offer a resolution of 1,136 x 640 pixels, and boost the aspect ratio to 16:9.

Typically relying on intel from Apple supply chain sources, the analyst added that Apple nixed the idea of a screen larger than 4.3 inches. Such phones can be tough to use with one hand and require greater battery capacity. An iPhone with a longer length but the same width would also be backward-compatible with existing apps, which could simply run in a letterboxed mode, the analyst noted.

Other industry sources also believe the next iPhone will up the ante to a 4-inch screen.

A leaked blueprint purportedly of the iPhone 5 pointed to a 4-inch screen. A recent report from The Wall Street Journal said that Apple has already started ordering 4-inch screens from its suppliers. Some sources claim the next iPhone will offer a Retina Display like its big brother, the iPad.

The new iPhone may also deliver a high-definition front-facing camera, AppleInsider said, again citing the report from Kuo.

The rear camera will likely stick with 8 megpixels but could increase the maximum aperture to 2.2 from its current 2.4.

Potentially offering a larger screen, a better camera, LTE support, and other new features, an iPhone 5 could capture unit sales as high as 65 million to 70 million this year alone, according to Kuo. The next iPhone is expected to launch this fall, sometime in September or October.