You're the Pundit: iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, or both?

There will be one new iPhone with modest improvements. Of course it will be CDMA/GSM. The Verizon iPhone 4 already has that chip in it, so it's obvious for the new model. LTE will come in fall 2012 when the next major upgrade is released (they would have done that this fall but for the high power draw of LTE chips). In addition, there will be an iPod Touch 3G model released. As far as I am concerned, whether they call the next phone a 4S or a 5 (or something else entirely) is irrelevant.

If the Touch has GPS capability, I will get that. If not, I'll bite the bullet and sign an iPhone contract.

What makes the most sense is for them to refresh the iPhone 4 hardware with a dual CDMA/GSM chip and perhaps a better camera, and faster A5 processor. That becomes a single hardware model that can be sold anywhere and is the new baseline. The iPhone 5 is the new slimmer version that in addition to the above include a larger screen, near-field communication, and higher storage capacity (up to 64GB finally) and of course a higher price.

With AT&Ts turn on of their currently being deployed LTE environment rumored to be Summer '12, and LTE chips sets to power hungry and too large right now, a 4S is this year's release, with a iPhone 5 next summer sporting LTE on both AT&T and Verizon.

What if the iphone 4s replaces the ipod touch. Currently barring 3g and making calls the ipod touch is the cheap iphone. And considering that this is the fall event they could drop a bomb on us.

I don't see them releasing the iPhone 5 until Q1 2012. I find it hard to believe that Apple would release two similar products at the same time, when they only need the one. Lets face it, any phone that comes out with the word "iPhone" in front of it is going to sell well, regardless of numbers. If Apple releases the iPhone 4s and then the iPhone 5 months later, it will maximize their sales (because believe it or not, people will buy the iPhone 4s and the iPhone 5 on release day). I understand the desire for a cheaper iPhone, but I don't know if Apple does. Anyone that wants an iPhone, will get an iPhone regardless of $100 dollar price difference, or whatever that difference may be. Of course if Apple chooses to release the 4s along with the 5, I don't see the 4s selling all that well. People will just go the extra cash to purchase the iPhone 5 making the iPhone 4s sales very week, and ultimately Apple will learn its lesson and not go this method the next time around. If Apple wants to make more money (and of course they do), they start of trend of doing Annual releases of the iPhones and the iPhone S series, scheduled months apart.

Maybe apple has us all fooled this time around! ;)

on otterbox.com i went to cases last week and it was clearly labeled "iPhone 5". the company said they would have the cases first thing when the iPhone arrived. today, when i read this story i went back to the website and the section for the iPhone 5 was removed. im thinking otter box got word that there will not be an iPhone 5 an in fact only an iPhone 4S. im not exactly sure though so we will just have to wait :/

I think everyone is forgetting that CaseMate accidentally leaked their site for the iPhone 5 case like 2 weeks ago. There are for sure iPhone 5 cases from legit sources popping up on the web.

I believe we'll see both form factors. I recently commented that i might have stumbled across a functioning iphone 5 in a coffee shop in south africa. An american couple were snapping away on their "ipod touch" like device next to me at the table. Only difference much bigger screen and incredibly crisp. And of course the tell tale antenna gaps on the side. The device is rediculously thin and has taperred edges. This rang alarm bells as the fitted with the rumours running around. I ask as any friendly local would whether i could take a picture of them together and he almost broke his arm hiding the idevice in his pocket and declining my offer kindly. I waited at the ready to snap a picture of him using it again but he never took it out again. But my litle roswell glimpse has sealed the deal for me. We'll see both in October.

If the iPhone 5 dose not come out this year ...i will not be getting the iPhone 4s .. this will be the first time since the iPhone was first announce that i skipped a year..i'm already upset it did not come out in june or july i hope this is not signs of bad things to come now that steve jobs is not CEO...