Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company believes that Apple has now internally “locked down” its design for the next iPhone. This means that it’s unlikely any future changes will be made, and Apple will be able to start production in the next few months. Like with many analysts, he gives his source as the company’s supply chain.
The 4.8-inch screen is probably the most drastic change, since it’ll require an increased resolution (creating problems for developers) and could either help or hinder sales. At the moment Android flagships have around five-inch displays, with phablets going as far as six inches. Whilst they’re selling well, one of the iPhone's selling points is their portability. For those who don’t want a large phone but still like high-end performance the iPhone is a great choice.
The report also claims that Apple will adopt the latest Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ac. This was added to the latest revision of Macs. Apple also used the technology in the latest revision of two routers: the AirPort Extreme and the Time Capsule. This technology allows amazingly quick transfers: Apple claims up to 1.3Gbps. However, Internet connections are still far too slow in most locations to offer a practical advantage, except for home backup.