iPhone 5S & iPhone 5C release date finally arrives

Apple has a habit of debuting the latest version of its operating system when releasing a new flagship device, so the inclusion of iOS 7 in the iPhone 6 is pretty much guaranteed from launch.

Apple has already revealed the core features which will be included in iOS 7. The firm has refreshed the interface using a new palette of colours and changing typography. A new Control Centre allows users toadjust features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, screen orientation and brightness with a swipe instead of having to trawl through the settings menu.

Multitasking takes a more prominent roll, with the next iteration Apple finally bring the ability to see previews of open application after double tapping the home button. Core iOS apps including Camera, Safari and Siri are all set to have a significant boost in functionality too.

Likelihood: We'd happily bet the farm on the fact that iOS 7 will be included in whatever phone Apple trots out.

More storage

Most iPhone users treat their smartphones as a replacement for their camera and MP3 player. When you add to this other multimedia content that is stored on the device such as apps, movies and TV shows, there are serious ramifications for the amount of storage left to play with.

One of the most common complaints about the iPhone 5 was how fast users could exhaust its 16, 32 or even 64GB of internal storage. This has been attributed on many Apple user forums to the 8-megapixel camera the device packed, which allowed users to take higher resolution photos.

To avoid this, we'd like to see Apple follow the lead of the iPad 4 by rolling out a 128GB version of its smartphone. Alternatively, Apple could also be a bit more generous with its free iCloud storage limit. It currently offers 5GB of cloud storage without charging.

Likelihood: There has not been many reports on this happening. So, best to keep your fingers crossed on this one.

A7 chip

With resource hungry features such as multitasking and beefed up Safari making an appearance, the next iPhone is no doubt going to need a quick processor at its heart.

A MacRumours report claimed that an iPhone 6 prototype spotted on the assembly line sported a new A7 chip.

Likelihood: We've got a good feeling about this one, given the number of industry watchers reporting on the technical details of what this improved chip has to offer and who is likely to be manufacturing it, with Intel's name regularly cropping up.

Better camera

Nokia is seen as the market leader when it comes to camera technology within smartphones. The Finnish firm has announced its forthcoming Lumia 1020, which is set to boast a mammoth 41-megapixel camera with patented PureView technology.

Although Apple is unlikely to match Nokia in terms of megapixels, an improvement in the quality of photos is expected on the iPhone 6.

One area it could get an edge over its rivals is if the company manages to include the camera technology, which it reportedly patented back in May 2013, on the new device.

This will allow the iPhone to remotely control devices with illuminating qualities, such as an extra flash, giving users a few more options to play with when taking pictures.

Likelihood: The industry consensus seems to be that a 12-megapixel camera could be in the offing on the next generation iPhone, which would be a marked improvement on the 8-megapixel rear camera sported by the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S.

Larger screen

Apple opted for a longer, leaner 4in screen with the Apple iPhone 5. However, it's still seen as small when compared to rivals, including Samsung and Sony, which have brought mammoth 5in+ HD screens to market.

We'd like to see Apple give users a bit more real-estate to play with, but thelikelihood of this happening for now is slim. Apple CEO Tim Cook used the firm's second quarter earnings call to seemingly swear off building a smartphone with a bigger screen for now.

"Some customers value large screen size, others value other factors such as resolution, colour quality, white balance, brightness, reflectivity, screen longevity, power consumption, portability, compatibility with apps and many things," he said.

"Our competitors had made some significant trade-offs in many of these areas in order to ship a larger display. We would not ship a larger display iPhone while these trade-offs exist."

Likelihood: Despite Tim Cook's protestations, industry reports seem to consistently suggest if Apple does unveil two devices on launch day, at least one of them could boast a six-inch display. Although, we think it's more likely Apple will maintain the status quo and rollout a device with a 4.7-inch to five-inch screen.

Wireless charging

Anything that minimises the number of wires needed on a day-to-day basis is always welcome.

Last December, Apple reportedly filed a wireless charging technology patent that relies on near-field magnetic resonance.

It is claimed this approach would allow users to charge a number of devices at the same time, as long as they are in close enough proximity to the near-field.

Likelihood: The firm reportedly has the technology it needs, and with firms like Nokia already offering this functionality to customers, it would be good to see Apple do the same.

Better battery

Longer battery life is a common request of any smartphone user, regardless of whether their device of choice runs iOS, Android, Windows or BB10.

And, if Apple is planning to include a faster processor, better camera, and a larger screen with its new release, a beefier battery is going to be a must have.

Likelihood: With every release, the iPhone seemingly gets thinner, lighter, and enjoys a raft of performance improvements, so we see no reason why whatever it releases tomorrow won't be sporting a better battery.