Apple To Begin New iPhone Production Ahead Of Summer Release – Report

Apple will begin production of a new iPhone this quarter ahead of a possible summer release, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The new smartphone is expected to be an upgraded version of the current iPhone 5 rather than a radically different model. It will most likely have a similar size and shape and although potential internal upgrades remain a mystery, Apple could include a more powerful processor and a better camera.

It could come pre-loaded with the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 7, which is predicted to roll out onto compatible iPhones and iPads later this year.

New iPhone rumours

The company’s plans for a cheaper version of its flagship smartphone are also well underway and could go on sale as early as the second half of 2013. Apple is reportedly working with its Asian manufacturing partners on the four-inch device, which will most likely use a different casing from the flagship smartphone.

Speculation about the existence of an ‘iPhone Mini’ has intensified in recent months, with CEO Tim Cook hinting that any such device could be an entirely new product rather than merely an inferior version of the main iPhone.

Apple’s share price has been hit by fears that the mobile phone market is saturating and that it has run out of investment opportunities. It currently dominates the tablet market and is the second largest producer of smartphones in the world, but it has faced increased competition in both spheres from the likes of Samsung and Amazon.

It has been suggested that Apple’s plans for the two smartphones are a response to demands from consumers for cheaper products while at the same time appeasing those who want to maintain a premium price point that yields higher profit margins.

The company is also believed to be working on an ‘iWatch’ smart watch as it seeks to find the ‘next big thing’, but some analysts believe widespread adoption of ‘wearable technology’ is a number of years away.

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