iPhone 6: Conflicting Release Dates, Fingerprint Sensor

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The iPhone 6 rumors just keep on coming. Now KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it will have a fingerprint sensor and that it will be out in July. However, other release dates for the iPhone 6 are June 20, sometime in September, and even sometime next year because this year the iPhone 5S is expected.

iPhone 6: Conflicting Release Dates, Fingerprint Sensor

Decoding iPhone 6 Release Dates

Let’s start with the release date. Kuo has been correct about predictions on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) devices in the past, and this year, Kuo’s sources have said that a July date is expected for launch. Other analysts however, have said that based on their supply chain checks, a September iPhone launch is more likely, whether that ends up being the iPhone 6 or the iPhone 5S.

And then there are those pesky rumors that the iPhone 6 will be out on June 20, which are especially interesting as Ubergizmo points out because Samsung has released a teaser image which indicates that date as the release date for a new line of Android devices.

So will Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) be ready to roll out the next iPhone on June 20? It seems somewhat unlikely, as the company has not yet confirmed that as a date for a media event, but anything’s possible.

iPhone 6 With A Fingerprint Sensor

Fingerprint authentication is another iPhone 6 rumor that just won’t go away, likely because of the company’s recent acquisition of AuthenTec. According to Kuo, the fingerprint sensor will be right underneath the home button of the next iPhone.

The chip is expected to not only improve security of the device, but also enhance its usability.

Other Possibilities For The iPhone 6

Some of the other details offered up by Kuo include an 8 megapixel rear camera, a separate front camera, a Smart Flash, and a 1600 mAh battery pack. The report from the analyst also indicates that the next iPhone will likely have two different metal casings, be 7.6 millimeters thick and weight 112 grams.

The Smart Flash would enable the cameras in the iPhone to decide whether a yellow or white flash would be best, depending on the light surrounding the scene. Other reports have indicated that the next iPhone will have a 3.2 megapixel front camera and an 8 megapixel 3D camera. Still others say the iPhone 6 will have a 12 or 13 megapixel camera.

Kuo also said the next generation iPhone will likely sell for between $600 and $700 unlocked and around $200 with a two-year contract.

What Patents May Reveal About The iPhone 6

Patently Apple uncovered some patents which may provide hints about what we can expect, either in the iPhone 6 or perhaps in future models. One is a patent that utilizes a special type of coating that should better distribute the heat generated by the device and prevent overheating. The coating is said to increase the frame’s thermal conductivity.

A separate patent indicates that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is trying to make interaction with its touch displays more precise, which could mean that the company is indeed moving away from the physical home screen as some have said recently.

The third deals with a camera that would eliminate color biases due to the light surrounding a scene. This sounds somewhat similar to the Smart Camera that has been described above.

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