iPhone 5: Top 10 Most-Anticipated Features

As the release date for what is surely one of the most anticipated gadgets of the year (the rumored iPhone 5) is spoken about with greater intensity, speculations regarding features and specifications take precedence.

It is being predicted that Apple's flagship smartphone will launch at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June, according to rumours reported by the Daily Mail.

One section of the rumors also suggests that the iPhone 5 will be the first smartphone to be waterproof... does that mean users can make calls underwater?

Apparently, a nanotech coating over the chips is expected to allow this special capability. However, it is also believed the iPhone will not be the only device to have that feature... Samsung's Galaxy S3 will also have this new technology.

Expect the forthcoming smartphone battle to reach a crescendo once their respective flagship devices are unleashed later this year.

We bring you a round-up of the 10 most spoken about features of the new generation iPhone...

Processor and Memory: Apple's new device is expected to have a super-fast (1.2 to 1.5 GHz) A6 quad-core processor with 1GB or more of RAM in order to boost performance.

Display: The phone could flaunt a 4-inch Quantum Dot LED curved glass edge-to-edge display; also on the cards is a high resolution (1280x720) HD screen with a pixel density of 367ppi.

Revamped Design: Contrary to earlier rumours, expect the smartphone to be symmetrical in shape rather than adopt a teardrop design. Borrowing the looks of the iPad 2, the new iPhone is likely to go metallic with an aluminum rear panel reinforced by glossy plastic or rubberized bezel. Also, expect the phone to be thinner, longer and wider to accommodate the larger screen.

Thunderbolt: The three new patent applications filed by Apple with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) detailed Apple's revolutionary I/O technology, called Thunderbolt. Expect the new technology to make ground-breaking advancements into the smartphone and tablet world with data transfer speeds, theoretically, of 10GB/s.

Operating System: Speculations are rife Apple might just bring out its new OS - iOS 6 - along with the launch of the iPhone at the WWDC in June 2012. This could, in turn, be the reason for extended delay of the flagship phone.

Storage: The iPhone is expected to ship in three sizes, as far as onboard memory is concerned - 16, 32 and 64GB. Interestingly, Apple is expected to continue its trend of not providing external microSD card support.

Camera: Apple's new iPhone is expected to harbor at least a 12 megapixel sensor camera with dual-LED flash. Besides, the flash unit could be distinct from the camera sensor. Speculations further suggest the phone will sport a 2 megapixel front-facing camera to support video chats, besides the probability of adding 3D functionality.

4G LTE and NFC: These are two of the key technological upgrades expected on the new Apple smartphone - 4G LTE and Near Field Communication Technology (NFC).

Battery: The new iPhone is expected to ship with a bigger battery - a Li-Po 1420 mAh battery - expected to deliver superior battery life... approximately 8 hours of talk time on 3G networks and up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM) networks.

Wireless Charging: Apple fanatics can now harness the power of wireless charging. The new iPhone is expected to be able to draw power wirelessly, doing away the need for cumbersome cables and plugs.

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