iPhone 6 Rumors: Secret Apple Memo May Reveal New Release Details

The iPhone 6 has no release date yet and hasn’t even been officially announced, but rumors originating from a secret memo within Apple are fueling speculation about the latest iPhone.

Reports this week say Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a memo to employees dropping hints about a new product and “big plans that we think customers are going to love.” Analysts believe the “big” in the memo refers to the iPhone 6 concept, adding fuel to reports from within Apple that the phone could be released as early as May.

This is quite a jump from previous iPhone 6 rumors, which estimated the release to be September. As the blog BGR notes, competition from Samsung is pushing Apple a bit:

“Releasing a device with a larger display is an interesting move for Apple because it will be a rare instance where the company will be following rival Samsung, which first sparked the tablet craze back in 2012 with its original Galaxy Note. It would be rare to see Apple release a new version of the iPhone so close to the release of its latest iPhone 5s but maybe the company doesn’t want to wait much longer to put out a device with a larger form factor.”

Rumors have also pointed to a much larger display for the iPhone 6.

So far, devices like the Galaxy Note 3 have set the standard for large screens in a smart phone, even earning the nickname phablet (which is a size that falls between a phone and a tablet). Reports on the iPhone 6 say that it would have a display larger than the current iPhone, possibly close to 5 inches in total, but would likely be smaller than the Galaxy Note 3.

If the iPhone 6 does have a larger screen, it would represent a departure for Apple. The company’s late founder Steve Jobs was firmly against large screens, believing consumers wanted a phone they could easily hold. But the market has moved toward phablets, and the Galaxy S 4 with a 5-inch display has sales in excess of $40 million.

Analysts reading into Tim Cook’s memo also think Apple has plans for the iPhone 6 beyond a bigger screen, and an earlier release date. Several believe that Apple will release two versions of the phone — one with a flat display and one with a curved screen.

Only time will tell, however. Apple is still remaining tight-lipped on the iPhone 6 concept.