Apple iPhone 6 Rumors: iPhone 5 Buyers Most Requested Features Give Glimpses Of Apple's Next Smartphone

Apple released the iPhone 5 in September 2012 and sought early buyers’ feedback about what they felt needed to be changed. The answers given may have led to what may become the design of Apple’s iPhone 6. According to a document presented during the Samsung-Apple patent case, the top three sought-after changes were longer battery life, improved mapping and a bigger screen.

Recent rumors suggest that Apple is designing two different versions of the iPhone 6, a 4.7-inch screen version and a 5.5-inch screen version. While many people have said that this is due to competition from Samsung’s Galaxy line, which boast screens up to 5 inches.

Apple also spent 2013 acquiring companies to improve its mapping offering. When Apple released Apple Maps in 2012, CEO Tim Cook even conceded it wasn’t ready. “We strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers,” Cook wrote in an open letter. “With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment.”

Of the 15 companies Apple acquired in 2013, five of them were mapping related. WifiSlam, Locationary, HopStop, Embark and BroadMap were all brought into the fold in hopes of improving the iPhone’s default mapping program. The three most important of those companies, HopStop, Embark and BroadMap, are all directly related to getting around town in various ways. Currently, Apple Maps does not include a public transit option.

The third and most requested feature desired by iPhone 5 buyers was a longer battery life. Year-over-year Apple increases battery standby times. However, more than improving battery technologies, other component improvements should signal longer- lasting iPhones in the future. Last week, Macrumors reported that improvements in Macron’s LPDDR4 DRAM technology could boost performance and improve battery life.

The iPhone 6 is speculated to launch in fall of 2014, most likely late September. Other notable features include a sapphire substrate screen, possible curved edges, and a protruding rear camera with attachable lenses.