iPhone 6 Model Brings Rumors to Life, Again

Alleged iPhone 6 models continue to bring iPhone 6 rumors to life, offering consumers a potential glimpse at one of the most anticipated smartphone releases of the year.

For months, iPhone 6 rumors have swirled, teasing consumers with tales about the iPhone 6’s display, release date, processor, camera, and more. And while iPhone 6 rumors and leaks have emerged non-stop, Apple remains silent about its next iPhone, which means that all of these leaks and rumors remain unconfirmed.

As we move deeper into the year though, we’re starting to see iPhone 6 rumors firm up. iPhone 6 release date leaks virtually all point to an arrival in the fall. iPhone 6 display rumors speak of two different iPhone models, one with a large 4.7-inch display and another with a much larger 5.5-inch display. And iPhone 6 design rumors continue to push a possible change, one that may come with different button placement and a much thinner form factor.

iPhone 6 design rumors have been fueled, in part, by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and by leaked schematics that are supposedly based on the real iPhone 6 design. The rumors remain unconfirmed but alleged iPhone 6 mockups continue to emerge showcasing the changes that rumors suggest will be on board the real iPhone 6.

Today, French site Nowhereelse leaked brand new photos of the alleged iPhone 6 model that has been making the rounds in recent weeks. This new model comes in space gray though it doesn’t reveal anything new about the supposed iPhone 6. Besides the color change, it’s the same mockup that we’ve seen emerge several times over.

The photos are very clear and offer consumers an up close and personal look at the design that Apple could employ on the real iPhone 6. It has a Lightning port, a power button that resides on the side as opposed to the top, and rounded volume buttons. This new mockup does not include any measurements so it’s difficult to tell how big and how thin it might be.

iPhone 6 rumors suggest the device will be up to 26% thinner than the iPhone 5s. This means a device that is 6mm to 7 mm thick, compared to the 7.6mm thick iPhone 5s and iPhone 5. A Ukrainian leak points to a 6mm thick design while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes a 6.5mm to 7mm design is more likely.

Rumors also suggest that the iPhone 6 design could be modeled, at least in part, after the design found on Apple’s iPod touch. This mockup features a similar curved design reminiscent of Apple’s fifth-generation iPod.

This new leak comes shortly after this supposed iPhone 6 model was shown off next to two of the biggest smartphones on the market. Last week, the iPhone 6 mockup appeared next to the Samsung Galaxy S5, showing what the new iPhone 6 could look like next to Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S smartphone.

More recently, the mockup appeared next to the iPhone 5s showing potential changes that Apple could be making to the iPhone ahead of its refresh in 2014.

These mockups jive with recent iPhone 6 rumors but there is always a possibility that they are not based on the actual iPhone 6 design. In 2012, a leak and sources pointed to a iPhone with a teardrop design and one case company produced a large batch of iPhone cases based on this leak and their sources. The iPhone 5 did not arrive with the teardrop design.

iPhone 6 rumors almost exclusively point to an iPhone 6 with a larger display. Since last year, rumors have pointed to two iPhone 6 models. One model is said to be between 4.5-inches and 4.7-inches in size, similar to the mockup seen here. The other iPhone 6 is thought to be somewhere around 5.5-inches or 5.7-inches with HD resolution.

A recent report from Reuters casts some doubt on a two-pronged iPhone attack in 2014. The report claims that Apple may have delayed the larger iPhone and that it will be the 4.5-inch to 4.7-inch iPhone and that makes an appearance later this year. A more recent report from The Commercial Times suggests that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 may have been pushed into 2015.

The biggest iPhone 6 leak of the month comes from Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, shared by MacRumors. Kuo accurately predicted many of last year’s iPhone 5s features and while he is not 100% on rumors, he is considered to be very reliable. Here is how he sees Apple’s iPhone 6 features panning out:

• iPhone 6 Screen Size and Resolution – 4.7- inch (1334 x 750) 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080).
• iPhone 6 Release Dates – 4.7-inch in September, 5.5-inch in Holiday season.
• iPhone 6 Design – Power button on right, narrower bezels, larger iPhone 6 as two-hands needed.
• iPhone 6 Camera – No major Megapixel bump, but added image stability.
• iPhone 6 Specs – A8, 1GB RAM, Touch ID, 6.5mm to 7mm thickness, NFC.

A specific iPhone 6 release date remains out of reach but rumors put the device’s release during the fall. Apple’s last three iPhones launched during the fall. While this doesn’t guarantee an iPhone 6 release in the fall, it does make one likely.