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What to expect from Apple's September 10th event - iPhone 5S and 5C rumour round-up

Gold case? Fingerprint sensor? Budget iPhone? iOS 7 release date?

What to expect from Apple's September 10th event - iPhone 5S and 5C rumour round-up
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Last night, Apple sent out invitations to an event on September 10th, where the company is expected to unveil the next generation of iPhone.

But what, exactly, will this new iPhone look like? How will Apple improve on the iPhone 5? And what's all this I've been hearing about a budget iPhone? And where do babies come from?

Good questions. Let's answer them by rounding up all the rumours, speculation, leaks, and photos that have enveloped the internet like smallpox.


iPhone 5S (or iPhone 6)

The iPhone 5S will be Apple's next flagship smartphone. Leaked parts suggest that the device will look almost identical to the iPhone 5. It may, however, be available in a pair of new colours: gold (also known as champagne) and graphite.

iPhone 5S
Image courtesy of ASCII.JP

The real improvements will be under the hood. Expect a more beefy A7 chip and a bigger battery underneath the iPhone 5S's bonnet. Around back, you'll likely find an upgraded camera with a wider aperture lens and a dual LED flash.

If the most audacious iPhone 5S rumour is to be believed, Apple will embed a fingerprint sensor under the Home button to add an extra layer of security to your device. Only you, or someone who removed your index finger with a buzzsaw, will be able to turn on your phone.

There is also a possibility that the iPhone 5S will follow in the footsteps of its larger-screen cousin, the iPad, and come rocking 128GB of internal storage. That's a lot of room for games.


iPhone 5C

So, yeah. Apple's going to make a phone that's better than the previous one. Stop the presses, and all that.

But there's another, slightly more leftfield rumour doing the rounds that Apple's got something else up its sleeve: a cheaper and less powerful iPhone that will help the firm break into China and developing countries, and provide a legitimate alternative to cheaper Android phones.

This budget phone will reportedly be called the iPhone 5C. The 'C' stands for cheap. Or China. Or custard. Or, most probably, colour.

iPhone 5C
Image courtesy of Nowhereelse.fr

Leaked parts from Apple's Chinese supply chain suggest that the iPhone 5C will come in a variety of bright colours. Photos show back panels in green, orange, yellow, and blue, for example.

That would certainly tie in with Apple's invitation text in which the Cupertino-based company says, "This should brighten everyone's day."


iOS 7

iOS 7 is basically done. The next version of Apple's mobile operating system, which has a completely new look and a handful of exciting features, is in its sixth beta and should be available very soon.

We'll definitely get a firm release date for iOS 7 at the September 10th event.

Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer