Analyst predicts iPhone 5S June release and features

The iPhone 5S could be launched as early as June, according to one analyst, who also suggests NFC capability and iPod-like colour options.

Rumours of the iPhone 5S launch schedule started emerging virtually as soon as store queues for the iPhone 5 started to dissipate.

Leaked parts suggest that as with the iPhone 4S before it, the iPhone 5S will be an incremental update focusing on software features rather than broader design and it should keep the same form factor as the iPhone 5.

However, analyst Peter Misek of investment firm Jefferies has given his predictions for when the next iPhone will hit the market and what kind of changes it’ll be sporting.

Misek claims June will see the iPhone 5S launch, suggesting as others have already that the company will return to a Summer release schedule.

It should be noted that some have also suggested Apple will seek a quicker annual turnaround to compete with Android and Windows Phone by offering new releases twice a year, but this is purely speculative at this point.

Misek also believes the iPhone 5S will be the first model to have genuine NFC, something which many were expecting with the iPhone 5 but were disappointed to find it didn’t have the chip after all.

Lastly, he thinks that as well as the standard black and white we’ll be seeing a selection of coloured iPhone 5S models echoing Apple’s iPod music player range.

This makes sense for a number of reasons.

Firstly, both Nokia and HTC are now offering a wealth of colour choice with their Windows Phone devices.

Second, Apple already clearly has the capability to produce coloured hardware as it already produces coloured iPods.

Thirdly, it’s something a section of the user base has been asking about for some time.

Finally, third party companies are doing good business by offering to anodise your iDevice in a range of colours using the exact same methods Apple uses to deliver its black and white variants. A signal of consumer demand if ever there was one.

Despite it making sense, Apple isn’t known for making big changes unless it really wants to.

While we like some of the suggestions, these predictions are as much a wild stab in the dark as anything else.