Apple's practice of inserting an S release into its iPhone upgrade cycle has been widely assailed, with critics asserting that the iPhone 6 is more deserving of the 2013 release date.

Widely seen as a mere incremental jump, the iPhone 5S should have been axed to make way for the phablet-size iOS smartphone, Apple watchers said, adding that the move will arrest the steady growth pace presently enjoyed by giant-screen handsets.

Sticking with the iPhone 5S, however, is wise move on Apple's part, a new report by Gotta Be Mobile said, laying down three reasons why the crucial decision will benefit both the tech giant and its millions of fanbase.

An iPhone 5S release date this year erases consumer confusion

Since the first iPhone was introduced in 2007, Apple has been known to follow a strict regimen of product schedule upgrade. The cycle was altered a bit when the iPhone 3GS was pushed out prior to the redesign that was carried by the iPhone 4.

It was then followed by the iPhone 4S, another minor step before the overhaul in the iPhone 5, which bumped up the handset's screen size to four inches.

This pattern adheres to predictability, not of new features to be delivered, but of the cycles that would guide consumers on their upgrade choices. Of course, Apple would want to achieve record sales results by selling as many units as possible each year. But prime also of the company's concern is to ensure that iPhone users are satisfied and happy with the device that they paid for.

The 'S Season' provides for a more deliberate iPhone progression

This is not Apple relaxing on its incredible success and giving the competition time to catch up. Rather, the so-called S season encourages enough space and innovation that break the ground for the iPhone recreation.

In setting 2013 as an iPhone 5S period, Apple is subtly suggesting that something big is coming in the year that will follow, which is an idea supported by the recent clues given away by Apple CEO Tim Cook recently.

The surprises, as termed by Mr Cook, would be delivered in the form of a hip-designed iPhone 6, which an Apple patent suggest would assume a wrap-around body-build that brings in new ways of phone controls apart from touch screen functions.

New technology to be ushered in would also eliminate the need to physical or capacitive keys. It is possible that in the iPhone 6, Apple will have to retire its iconic Home button.

The much-awaited iOS revamp

Analysts expect Apple to go big on its upcoming iOS 7 this year and go bigger on the mobile OS once the iPhone 6 is given the green light for market release. Some called this platform climb as Apple's upcoming killer features that will render the rival systems looked like the work of amateurs.

With the iOS 7 running the iPhone 5S, the iPhone 6, the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2, consumers can expect a lean and mean operating system that provides for the addition of many more previous services and better device security. The integration of new technologies like near-field communications (NFC) and fingerprint sensor with the Apple system will make these cutting-edge services a plausible reality.

And consumers can thank Apple's S season for that.