Apple iPhone 6 Leaked Photo May Back Up Rumors Of A Larger Battery

A newly released photo of the iPhone 6 indicates that the phone, which is expected to go on sale in September, will have a far more powerful battery than current iPhones.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), which has not confirmed that the photo is authentic, is widely believed to be developing at least one larger-screen iPhone 6, which would include a stronger battery to address large-screen power consumption needs. Prior rumors suggested that the upcoming iPhone 6, which may feature a 4.7-inch display, may also include a battery between 1,800mAh and 1,900mAh.

The newly released image, which was shared on Thursday by French tech website Nowhereelse, indicates a battery capacity of 1,801mAh. Many analysts believe that rumors about a larger display and a larger battery for the iPhone 6 go hand-in-hand.

The current iPhone 5s contains a 1,560mAh battery so the 4.7-inch iPhone would be about 20 percent more powerful. This power would primarily be used to support the larger display to ensure the device can sustain as much power as is normally expected from an iPhone. The iPhone 5s battery can accommodate about 10 hours of mixed usage, including streaming video, gaming, Web browsing, phone calls, taking pictures and video and listening to music.

“Major drain comes with larger screen size. Increasing the battery is a must if Apple is to preserve the battery life of its products with a larger screen,” Canalys senior analyst Tim Coulling told International Business Times last week.

Any further battery optimization to actually increase functionality of the device will likely come from software, according to tech website iPhone Hacks. Apple has already announced its latest mobile system iOS 8, which should be implemented onto new devices in the fall.

Samsung recently released an advertisement criticizing the iPhone’s battery and calling its users “wall huggers,” suggesting iPhone users can often be found near a power outlet waiting for their handsets to charge. However, Coulling notes one of the top complaints with smartphones -- regardless of manufacturer -- has to do with battery life and battery consumption. He says larger batteries will accommodate the potentially larger new iPhones as well.

Rumors also suggest that Apple has plans to release a 5.5-inch iPhone, which could be called the “iPhone Air.” This smartphone is expected to have a 2,500 mAh battery, but may be delayed until 2015 due to various production issues.