Apple iPhone 6 Rumors: Case Maker’s Model Suggests Larger Display, Thinner Design While Consumer Interest For Bigger iPhone Rises

Rumors are flowing in that Apple Inc’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 6, the presumed next-generation handset from the company, could sport a bigger display. And, the latest piece of information supporting this tidbit has come from a French website, which pointed toward a smartphone-case maker's iPhone 6 model, showing an ultra-thin form factor for the upcoming handset.

Nowhereelse.fr shared an iPhone 6 case model from Elam, a Chinese case manufacturer, which showed an ultra-thin design that is similar to design formats leaked earlier. The iPhone 6 case model includes rounded corners and a pill-shaped volume switch on the left of the handset, which is different from the separate volume buttons featured in the current iPhone 5s. The case design also showed larger circular speaker slots and a microphone opening at the bottom of the device.

Some other reports also have suggested that the Power button on the iPhone 6 could be relocated to the top left edge or to the side of the device to help improve one-handed use on a larger body, MacRumors reported, adding that the iPhone 6’s bezel could be 10 percent to 20 percent thinner than the one on the iPhone 5s, while the phone itself could be 6.5mm to 7mm thick.

Meanwhile, research firm ChangeWave has released the results of a new survey, in which it shows that consumer interest in a larger iPhone 6 is currently at an all-time high with 40 percent of respondents saying that they are “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to buy an iPhone 6, featuring “a larger screen size, gesture control, a faster processor, an updated iOS operating system” at a starting price of $199 with a two-year contract, Fortune reported.

“This is the highest level of demand for an unannounced Apple model in a ChangeWave survey – stronger than we've seen in previous years for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 models prior to their announcements,” Fortune quoted Andy Golub of 451 Research as saying. “Speculation over a larger screen iPhone is clearly striking a chord with consumers.”

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities also said in a research note this week that Apple is expected to meet consumer demand with the launch of two bigger iPhone 6 models in 2014 -- 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models, with resolutions of 1334x750 (326ppi) and 1920x1080 (401ppi), respectively. Kuo also said that only the 64GB 5.5-inch iPhone 6 version will feature sapphire displays.