Apple has already sent out press invites for an event on Sept. 9 and it is widely believed that the Cupertino-based tech titan will utilize the occasion to announce its new iPhone, as well as some other products from its stable, including the iWatch. It may also showcase its latest mobile operating system, the iOS 8, and demonstrate the software's most talked about features.

There is no doubt that the upcoming iPhone will have a larger display compared to Apple's previous versions, and most rumors say that the company will offer two versions of the purported iPhone 6, a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch option. This will certainly be a noticeable difference from the existing iPhones, considering the fact that Apple has been committed to a 4-inch diagonal screen since it was introduced on the iPhone 5, two years ago.

In fact, the 4-inch screen itself was a big step up from the 3.5-inch screen on all previous iPhone handsets at the time.

Apart from a larger screen, Apple is expected to introduce a new case design, one featuring softer edges compared to the current look. Rumors and leaks based on components reportedly made by the suppliers indicate that the next iPhone will have lots of similarities with the design of the iPad mini, which was released last year. Majority of the fans are expecting a thinner chassis with the new rounded corners.

The iPhone 6 is also expected to incorporate the Touch ID, Apple's fancy fingerprint unlock method, particularly because of Apple's move to allow third-party developers and apps to access this tool. In addition, this tool may also feature prominently in the mobile payments plan for Apple in the form of an added authentication layer. It is also reported that Apple is also embracing NFC with a view to aid its mobile payment efforts, and possibly making it easier to pair the new iPhone and the purported iWatch.

The new iPhone has also been made with new materials, which possibly include some sort of a strong sapphire-based composite that offers added protection against scratching and breaking. In fact, Apple has entered into a large-scale partnership with GT Advanced Technologies, which specializes in sapphire production.

However, many of these features may only be available on high-end iPhone models, while the standard, relatively inexpensive models may come with standard reinforced glass.

Before concluding, it needs to be mentioned that customers may expect the usual internal hardware improvements, counting a further capable camera, superior network connectivity (802.11ac Wi-Fi and LTE-Advanced are reasonable expectations), an improved processor (A8 generation of Apple's in-house system-on-a-chip) and more.