iPhone 6 NFC-Based Payments, Sapphire Screens: Latest Rumours Ahead of Launch

Apple on Thursday started sending invitations for an event on September 9 that is wildly-anticipated to see the launch of the new iPhone - expected to be called the iPhone 6. However, it seems there's no stopping to leaked related to the iPhone 6 till the date Apple officially reveals the smartphone.

Thus far, the iPhone has been rumoured to arrive in two display size variants - 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch, feature a new iPod touch inspired design; come with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor; sport the new Apple A8 SoC; cost less than the previous generation; offer higher resolution displays and bigger storage variants, as well as feature the long-awaited NFC connectivity .

Now, new details surrounding Apple's iPhone 6 (including pricing) have surfaced online, and if they are to be believed the new iPhone might come with an NFC chip that will enable mobile payments and is supplied by Dutch chipmaker NXP, while only some iPhone 6 models are now being said to sport the premium sapphire screens.

Additionally, sources purportedly from Spain-based mobile carrier Telefonica (spottedby MovilZona and first picked up by Gforgames) tip that the alleged iPhone 6 might be priced higher than the current generation iPhone 5s (contradicting previous rumoursthat it would in fact effectively cost less).

According to the sources, the yet-to-be-announced iPhone 6 4.7-inch model will be priced at EUR 750 (Rs. 60,000 approximately), while the 5.5-inch model will come at EUR 950 (Rs. 75,750 approximately) compared to the EUR 699 price tag of the iPhone 5s. However, the sources at Telefonica are also said to have clarified the carrier is still in talks with Apple over the pricing of next iPhone models.

Another recent iPhone leak features sees both anticipated models displayed in the store window of Italian telecom operator TIM Mobile (spotted by TechZoom viaPhonearena). The phones in the images seem to match exactly the expected design observed in previous leaks.

(Also see: iPhone 6 Leaked by China Telecom in Promotional Weibo Post)

In the meanwhile, Wired reports that sources familiar with the matter say Apple will introduce its own mobile wallet and payments platform with the iPhone 6, and it would use NFC. The report claims that the rumoured mobile payments platform will be one of the "hallmark" features of the next iPhone. 9to5mac cites a recently released patent application to say the mobile payments platform will be implemented on the anticipated iWatch as well - which is also rumoured to launch on September 9.

Further, Financial Times adding to the above report suggests that the rumoured NFC chips will be supplied by Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductors, something that has been tipped several times in the recent past.

On Thursday, a report claimed to tip the exact location of the rumoured PN65V NFC chip made by NXP on the recently leaked logic boards of the anticipated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variants. An earlier report spotted the same chip in alleged iPhone 6 schematics.

Additionally, analyst Matt Margolis (who also happens to be an investor at GT Advanced Technologies), first reported by WSJ, claims that select iPhone 6 models will feature sapphire screens. As per Margolis, who cites sources from Foxconn's manufacturing unit, the larger iPhone model (5.5-inch) will come with sapphire screen, while only few versions of the smaller (4.7-inch) iPhone 6 will sport the premium sapphire material on the display.

(Also see: Sapphire Display Cost Limiting 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Production: Report)

Further, Margolis suggests that the remaining non-sapphire versions of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model will feature screens made out of Corning Gorilla Glass, which is used in current generation iPhone models.

As we mentioned earlier, the iPhone 6 is likely to come with a new design, which is expected to be inspired by the slim iPod touch-like design.

Further, the next iPhone models are likely to house the power button on the right panelof the device, and redesigned volume buttons on the left panel.

(Also see: 68 Million iPhone 6 Units Ordered; TSMC Now Shipping A8 Chips: Reports)

The iPhone 6 is also likely to sport higher display resolutions for both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch versions, claimed to be 750x1334 pixels and 1242x2208 pixels respectively. Additionally, iPhone 6 might also ship with the anticipated new Lightning Cable with reversible ports. The iPhone 6 might also see the debut of the next Apple A8 processorsdesigned for improved efficiency and battery life. Reports have been tipping that Apple's next iPhone would hit shelves on September 19, the traditional 10 days after.