eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Apple’s iPhone 5 could be announced as early as June at the Worldwide Developers Conference. And if that happens, consumers and even enterprise customers around the world will need to determine if Apple’s latest smartphone launch will be worth buying.
Without some serious feature improvements and additions, the iPhone 5 might not have the kind of appeal its predecessor did. After all, the iPhone 4 is still holding its own in the smartphone space even though it has been competing against newer, sometimes better-equipped alternatives. Moreover, as consumers consider the latest and greatest Android handsets, they’re realizing that there is more out there than just an iPhone.
But ifApple can deliver the right features in the iPhone 5 for the right price, consumers and enterprise customers might have no choice but to buy the device.
Read on to find out some features that would make Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5 an absolute must-buy:
1. The long-rumored end-to-end display
One of themore prevalent iPhone 5 rumors surrounds the device’s display. Recent leaked photos suggest that the smartphone will come with a display that spans the entire face of the device. Not only will it increase screen real estate, but it should also make for a vastly improved experience for users. If the device comes with a true end-to-end display, few would have trouble opting for the smartphone.
2. A bigger screen
One of the biggest issues with the iPhone has been its 3.5-inch screen. Granted, it has the best resolution on the market, but competitors, like the Motorola Droid X, come with a 4.3-inch display that makes Apple’s option look rather small in comparison. If the iPhone 5 comes with a larger, 4.3-inch display and boasts the aforementioned end-to-end design, it could be a winner at retail.
3. 4G connectivity
Having the ability to connect to a 4G network from the iPhone 5 is undoubtedly the most coveted feature among consumers and enterprise customers alike. As more devices enter the market with 4G connectivity, the onus will be on Apple to add that option in an upcoming device. With 4G connectivity included, the iPhone 5 would be able to eliminate the biggestadvantage devices like the HTC Evo 4G have over it, as well as appeal to those customers who don’t want to get bogged down at 3G speeds.
4. An antenna fix
When the iPhone 4 launched, owners quickly realized that when they held the device with a “death grip,” they would lose some signal quality. After acknowledging the issue, Apple offered up free cases to address the problem. Apple CEO Steve Jobs also said that just about every other smartphone on the market experiences the same issue. If Apple can offer an iPhone 5 that doesn’t suffer from signal-quality loss, a large number of customers might jump at the chance to get their hands on the device.
Pack It with Better Cameras, More Storage
5. Better cameras
With the launch of the iPhone 4, Apple brought FaceTime video chatting to the mobile market. However, as those who have tried to video chat over the iPhone know, the quality isn’t nearly as great as it could be. And for folks who use their phone to snap some photos, better picture quality than what the 5-megapixel camera can offer would be nice. Vastly improved cameras in the iPhone 5 could cause not only iPhone 3GS owners, but even some iPhone 4 owners, to opt for the latest and greatest smartphone Apple has to offer.
6. More enterprise features
Apple has been making serious inroads into the enterprise market with each new release of the iPhone. However, it would be nice to see the company double down on the corporate world with the iPhone 5 by offering IT managers even more control over the wireless phone than they have now through the company’s device-management tools. By offering up more enterprise-focused features in iOS especially, Apple could seriously hurt RIM’s market share with the iPhone 5.
7. More storage
Currently, Apple’s iPhone is available in both 16GB and 32GB models. But as an increasing number of people around the globe look to add more video to their smartphones, 32GB just doesn’t cut it any longer.The time has come for Apple to offer up more storage-at least 64GB-and sell the iPhone 5 at the same price. It might not seem like a huge addition, but for media lovers, it’s an important one.
8. Near-field communication
Ever since iPhone 5 rumors started to crop up, discussions have been ongoing about thepossibility of Apple bringing near-field communication to its smartphone. Though it’s still a fledgling market, near-field communication is very much the future. If the iPhone 5 supported it, that industry would grow quite rapidly. Apple has been a trendsetter in the past. If it can do it again with near-field communication, the long-term revenue potential from customers who want to take advantage of the technology’s ease of use could be huge for Apple.
9. Dual radios?
Earlier this year, Apple launched the iPhone on Verizon’s network, ending the long-term exclusivity arrangement it had in place with AT&T. Now that the company supports both GSM and CDMA technology in the U.S., there are rumors that it might add the ability to connect to either technology from a single device. So, rather than sell two iPhone models, the company can sell one, and allow consumers to choose their carrier. Such a move would transform the mobile market and undoubtedly get a boatload of customers to opt for the iPhone 5 over any other. The more options that are available to customers, the better.
10. A 2011 launch
There is some speculation that Apple will not actually unveil the iPhone 5 at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Some rumors even suggest that the smartphone won’t launch in the U.S. until next year. But that would be a mistake. The iPhone 5 would be a desired, must-have product if it launches this year. A 2012 launch would give Android competitors too long to come up with something unique and potentially put Apple behind. If Apple wants to offer a must-have smartphone, it willneed to launch it this year when the marketplace is ripe for such a device.
Follow Don Reisinger on Twitter here.