Rumour The next iPhone will have a 4-inch display latest iPhone but this one seems legitimate - according to wire sources quoting Wall Street Journal, Apple plans to use a larger 4-inch screen on the next iPhone, an estimated 30% larger viewing area from the previous generation.

Rumour The next iPhone will have a 4-inch display

Rumour mills are known to generate reams of data on the subject of the latest iPhone but this one seems legitimate - according to wire sources quoting Wall Street Journal, Apple plans to use a larger 4-inch screen on the next iPhone, an estimated 30% larger viewing area from the previous generation.

If this report turns out to be true, it would be seen by many as Apple trying to catch up with its Android competitors, and a major deviation from the 3.5-inch form factor, which has been consistent across the iPhone and iPod Touch range since the launch of the first-generation device in 2007.

As expected, Apple hasn't confirmed the report, but it makes sense as Apple has already milked the "Retina Display" innovation two years ago. First introduced with the iPhone 4 in 2010, the 3.5-inch offers a 640×960 pixel resolution at 330+ ppi. Apple's closest competitors in the smartphone race - HTC, and Samsung both sport 4-inch+ screens at the 300 dpi range on their flagship phones. What's more, launched last month, the Sony Xperia S, available at approx. 30k now tops the particular density charts with a 342 ppi screen. At the value-end of the segment, it's not uncommon to see iPhone sized Androids with HVGA and WVGA screens under Rs. 10,000. The new iPhone is expected to be on the same yearly timeline as the iPhone 4S, which was released in October.