BusinessInsider relays a report from Jefferies analyst Peter Misek claiming that, according to his industry checks, the next-generation iPhone will be called “iPhone 4S” and it will come with a dual-core A5 processor, and better cameras. Whilst these specs have been reported by several other sources in the past, Misek also seems to believe the iPhone 4S will indeed feature minor “cosmetic changes” (thus contradicting rumors we’ve heard in the past few weeks) and support for HSPA+ networks.
Because the 4G chips weren’t ready, Apple is going with the minor update to the iPhone 4.
Misek also revealed the next version of the phone will work with Sprint, T-Mobile, and China Mobile.
Speculation arisen around the next-gen iPhone model suggested Apple was already testing iPhone 4 prototypes running a custom A5 chip (the same found on the iPad 2) for better performances, but those old reports couldn’t specify whether the temporary iPhone 4 demo units would result in an iPhone 4-like design for the final product. Misek believes the iPhone 5 – which was rumored to have NFC, a bigger screen, 4G connectivity, or a thinner form factor, among other things – will look like an iPhone 4, only faster on the inside. Upgrading the 3G performances of the iPhone also falls in line with Tim Cook’s recent statements about LTE 4G chipsets, which the COO mentioned the Q2 2011 earnings call, saying they would have required “design compromises” Apple wasn’t willing to accept.
