First, let's take a look at how iPhone naming has evolved over the years.
The
first generation naming doesn't need any explanation. The second
generation iPhone was called the iPhone 3G after the most important
feature it added i.e. 3G network capabilities. The third generation
iPhone was pretty much the same as the iPhone 3G, but faster, which
translated into the S for Speed in iPhone 3GS.The iPhone 4 is the only iPhone till date to come with just a number as a suffix. It is also the only iPhone till date to have the generation of the hardware as its suffix - the fourth iPhone model i.e iPhone 4. The next generation phone, iPhone 4S, featured the same industrial design in a faster package - except this time the S was not for Speed, but Siri, Apple's virtual assistant that was marketed as iPhone 4S's great new feature.
Which brings us to the iPhone 2012. It'll be the sixth iPhone till date, so why would it be called iPhone 5? It just doesn't make any sense. So iPhone 6? That would seem odd, but it is more likely than iPhone 5!
iPhone 2012 comes with a new industrial design, so you can rule out it being called any derivative of iPhone 4S, especially since Apple hasn't used the same number for more than two generations. So what else can it be called?
We think an iPad-like change in naming convention, where Apple drops the number from the name entirely is extremely likely. So say hello to 'The new iPhone', or simply 'iPhone', as later generations will be called. That's what Apple has done with the iPad, and we believe there's good reason for the iPhone to follow suit.
What about 2013, when the next iPad and iPhone debut? If they are also called 'iPad' or 'iPhone', how will Apple differentiate between the two models, especially since both old and new models are likely to be on sale side by side?
Let's see what Apple does for its other hardware, Macs. Since Apple typically stops selling the old 11-inch MacBook Air when the new one debuts, it doesn't face this problem. In channels where the old hardware continues to be sold, it's suffixed with the processor or, more pertinently, the year.
Here's Apple's list of models that support its Mountain Lion OS:
- iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
Notice something? What is Apple using to differentiate between products with the same name? Yes, year. So could Apple use years to differentiate between one iPhone and the other? Could be, but let's look at another example first.
What about other hardware like iPods and Apple TV? They follow an interesting nomenclature, where the generation of the hardware gets added as a suffix e.g. the iPod touch before the current is now called iPod touch 3rd generation.
Since iPhone and iPad are fundamentally closer to the iPod touch than Macs (duh!), it seems logical Apple will extend the same naming convention to these devices. In fact, at some places on Apple's website the current iPad is already being referred as 'iPad (3rd generation)' - see image.
So, to summarise:1) The next iPhone will likely be called 'The new iPhone', or simply 'iPhone' and subsequent iPhone models will follow the same naming convention.
2) Apple will likely use the generation of the hardware to different between different iPhone and iPad models.
So next time you see someone use the term 'iPhone 5', be sure to point them to this article.
