Apple Testing Taller iPhone Prototype with 3.95-Inch 1136x640 Display?

[MacRumors]

9to5Mac reports that Apple is currently testing two prototypes of the next-generation iPhone that offer a taller screen while maintaining the existing 640-pixel width. According to the report, the two prototypes carry a display with a height of 1136 pixels, up from the current 960-pixel height and leading to an increase in the diagonal size of the display from 3.5 inches to 3.95 inches.

These prototype phones are floating around Apple HQ in thick, locked shells in order to disguise the exterior design to "undisclosed" employees. We know of two next-generation iPhones in testing with a larger display: the iPhone 5,1 and iPhone 5,2. These phones are in the PreEVT stage of development and are codenamed N41AP (5,1) and N42AP (5,2). Because Apple reserves certain models for internal-only usage (such as the N96 phone we previously reported on), we're not sure which of the two devices will make its way into the world later this year.

The idea of a larger screen in the range of 4 inches for the iPhone has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, with some sources already having claimed that Apple will achieve that increase with a taller design.

Rendered mockup of taller iPhone with 4-inch display (Source: Ciccarese Design)
Click for larger​

Today's report indicates that iOS 6 will support this taller screen by displaying an extra row of home screen icons, in line with previous speculation. The new iPhone hardware also reportedly includes the rumored smaller dock connector, with the report's source pegging its size at between micro-USB and mini-USB.

Article Link: Apple Testing Taller iPhone Prototype with 3.95-Inch 1136x640 Display?

 

[applesith]

Anything to use those mockups.

 

[Sasoon]

Changing resolution?

I thing it is a bad move to change resolution . It will complicate developer's life

Here is actual size comparison of Apple iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 3.95
Live comparison

 

[macse30]

Landscape viewing of text and movies will be better but it feels forced as a design choice.

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[Coastercub]

4" !! Not big enough

 

[scott911]

thought - Ios could set up apps to use a black frame - like SD res. on a wide screen TV. That'd lets "old" apps work without everyone freakin' out about needing to update their apps.

 

[BassPlayer]

I'm fine with taller, just not a taller iPhone 4/4s.

Make it iPad-like. Make it different. Make it something I can oooh and aaahh over.

 

[FSMBP]

That's interesting...I used a 4" Windows Phone this weekend and typed on it (Portrait orientation) and it made a world of difference compared to my iPhone. Wish Apple would increase the iPhone vertically and horizontally.

Especially if you're using your iPhone in landscape to type in iMessage, you only see one line of the other person's text. It would be nice to see more than that...

 

[basesloaded190]

Steve would have never allowed this

Seem to recall an article stating that he was very much involved with the design of this phone.

 

[Nungster]

With WWDC in a few weeks, do you really think that they are concept testing the large screen? If they are going to do an unveiling, they'd better have already made their mind up whether or not the screen is going to change.

Then again, this may not be a concept test but a UAT test.

I also like a previous comment, got to use those mock ups

 

[bobobenobi]

thought - Ios could set up apps to use a black frame - like SD res. on a wide screen TV. That'd lets "old" apps work without everyone freakin' out about needing to update their apps.

Exactly.

 

[iMacFarlane]

That mini connector is a game breaker for me. Seems pointless to invalidate the ten or so cables I have (car, truck, RV, 1 per room, recharching dock/alarm clock, etc). What would be the point of this?

 

[Bambalazs]

Resolution

Why not 1138x640? It would be true 16:9 aspect ratio?! Ridiculous rumor...

 

[cvaldes]

This is a pretty meaningless rumor. It is almost certain that Apple tests multiple screen resolution sizes and aspect ratios and it is likely that Apple has engineering samples of every single commercially viable flat screen display.

"PreEVT" is very early in the design process. Apple's five stages are proto, DVT, EVT, PVT, and production. In the DVT stage, there are probably a dozen candidate designs.

It is likely that neither design will make it to a store shelf. Apple probably has a warehouse full of unreleased iPhone prototypes.

 

[scott911]

I thing it is a bad move to change resolution . It will complicate developer's life

- you guys should have lived though the "best viewed with Netscape x.x" era of web development where every computer OS, every browser, and every browser versions needed extensive customization...

 

[Tea-Aholic]

Not sure if anyone noticed, but this actually doesn't really break many apps. My Facebook app sometimes stuffs up and the status bar on top disappears. The Facebook app just scales up vertically showing more content. I'm sure its all done automatically with the width still at 640. Twitter, Instagram, and scrolling apps will just scale. Games will be letter boxed but I'm sure developers just need to change their code and it should be fine.

 

[basesloaded190]

That mini connector is a game breaker for me. Seems pointless to invalidate the ten or so cables I have (car, truck, RV, 1 per room, recharching dock/alarm clock, etc). What would be the point of this?

$30 adapter.

 

[derickdub]

Steve would have never allowed this

What ever the next design is, Steve is said to have "worked closely" on it.

 

[88 King]

I thing it is a bad move to change resolution . It will complicate developer's life

Err, it is their job, so we should stop technical improvements to make app developers job easier? How about we don't ask for new model of cars as it will make the mechanic's job easier. It is the developer's responsibility to respond to Apple's design not the other way around,

Don't forget develop for a new format could also be fun.

 

[Northgrove]

Steve would have never allowed this

He most likely took part in the development. If there are hardware floating around now, they were probably conceptualized some time last year or so.

 

[dethmaShine]

I've used WP7 in portrait mode where screen is much taller than its supposed to be and typing on the keyboard is a pain in the ass.

Moreover, it just looks weird. I doubt they are moving away from 3:2.

 

[cvaldes]

That mini connector is a game breaker for me. Seems pointless to invalidate the ten or so cables I have (car, truck, RV, 1 per room, recharching dock/alarm clock, etc). What would be the point of this?

They would offer an optional pigtail connector (old dock to new dock).

The benefit to a small connector would be more room in the device of other things. For the iPhone, the bottom speaker could be made considerably larger, improving media playback and speakerphone performance.

Apple sorta did this once before, when they deprecated the Firewire interface. I had to install a Firewire-to-USB cable extension for my car's iPod adapter box.

 

[i0Nic]

It's not going to be a taller iPhone - it will be a taller screen in the same sized frame as the current iPhone. Less top and bottom bezel.

 

[sulpfiction]

Err, it is their job, so we should stop technical improvements to make app developers job easier? How about we don't ask for new model of cars as it will make the mechanic's job easier. It is the developer's responsibility to respond to Apple's design not the other way around,

Don't forget develop for a new format could also be fun.

Agreed...While apple may consider the developer when designing a new product, they are not going to hold back on advancements in technology to make like easier on the dev. It is up the dev to respond to the changing technology. With that logic we will have the same screen, resolution, and aspect ratio from now til eternity.