As the New Year approaches, rumors of the next iPhone and iPad increase by the day. In fact, reports highlighted the next iPhone 6 to feature a larger screen. While there are sources saying Apple may release the next phone later in 2014, new reports say the tech giant may release the flagship by May 2014. What should people expect?

A number of analysts and sources say it is highly likely Apple will release a new phone in 2014. With the increasing competition, it is impossible that the tech giant will break away from the trend. It will not let other competitors release flagships while it remains in a slump.

There are also reports saying that the iPhone 6 will likely be a phablet. As Sony and Samsung continue to bring forth hybrids, it is possible Apple will join the competition. The iPhone 6 will reportedly ship with a 20nm processor from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Apple will also offer a larger iPad called iPad Max or Pro.

There are no confirmations yet for any of the devices. These are just predictions and leads from various sources. Analysts often put out predictions as a guide for the market and consumers. It is best for people to wait for the official announcement to know the final details.

As mentioned, Apple seems to have newfound interest over big screens. Many of its competitors now have bigger screens. However, for Apple to increase the screen size while offering the same Retina resolution means the company has to raise the number of pixels. This also means that developers should rethink their applications or software to fit the new screen dimensions of the iPhone 6. It can usher in a number of changes both from Apple and the developer's side.

Regardless of the screen size, there are also other reports saying that Apple plans to create the screen with sapphire resistant synthetic material. According to DisplaySearch analyst David Hsieh, the Cupertino-based tech giant has been testing two screen sizes. He also said that the company has been evaluating a 4.7 inches with resolution of 720 × 1280 and a 5.7-inch screen with full HD 1080p resolution.

There are analysts saying Apple will release the phone earlier because of competitors like Samsung. The Korean tech giant plans to release its Samsung Galaxy S5 by first quarter of 2014. Releasing the iPhone 6 around May will catch up with the competition. There is no word from Apple about this yet.