Despite not having yet sent out one of its customarily cryptic invitations for a special event to be held in the not-too-distant future, it’s widely expected that Apple will be whipping the covers off a refreshed iPhone and new budget version in the coming weeks (September 10, possibly?).
As with any upcoming Apple-related event, the rumor mill has been turning at full speed for a few weeks now, with talk of fingerprint sensors, gold-color options, and larger screens filling tech sites and blogs ahead of launch.
The most recent suggestion came on Sunday from Fox anchor Clayton Morris, who said on Twitter that according to his (unnamed) sources, the new A7 chip for the expected iPhone 5S will have the phone running around 31 percent faster than the current model.
“I’m hearing it’s very fast,” Morris tweeted.
Sources are telling me the new iPhone’s A7 chip is running at about 31% faster than A6. I’m hearing it’s very fast.
— Clayton Morris (@ClaytonMorris) August 25, 2013
In addition, 9to5Mac said it’s recently heard claims that “some of the iPhone 5S internal prototypes include 64-bit processors” that would “assist the A7 chip in making animations, transparencies, and other iOS 7 graphical effects appear much more smoothly than on existing iOS devices.” The site also said the next-generation iPad 5, which is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, will get the new chip, too.
In another tweet, Morris said the 5S will include a separate chip dedicated to motion tracking, allowing users to carry out a number of functions on the device without touching the screen.
The Cupertino-based tech giant is also believed to be prepping a low-cost version of the 5S, possibly called the 5C, with a new image (below) posted on Chinese site Sina Weibo over the weekend apparently showing a load of the units being tested at a Pegatron facility in China.
The devices in the image all have a black front with a white casing, one of possibly a range of colors for the 5C. According to engadget, the image was taken by an employee (or by now possibly a former employee) working in Pegatron’s quality control department.
There are 16 days between now and September 10, so plenty of time for a flood of new iPhone-based rumors to pour in for those who enjoy the pre-launch hype. For a full rundown of all the talk, check out DT’s regularly updated page here.
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