Future iPhone Will "Without A Doubt" Feature Larger Display

Samsung and other competitors will force Apple AAPL to release a larger iPhone in the near future. That's according to Brett Golden, President and co-founder of The Chart Lab, a provider of quantitative advice solutions for retail and institutional investors. Golden believes that Apple must release a larger phone in order to remain competitive. "Depending on if it's going to be with that curvature that you see or not…they have to [release a larger iPhone]," Golden told Benzinga. "Because you see the increase, the migration from smartphones to even the larger tablets. You see the Samsung Note and I think that's where things are really pushing and moving away to more of a handheld tablet that's not that big and you can talk with and you can do a lot more tasks throughout the day. I think definitely [Apple is] going to have that, without a doubt." Golden is not sure when Apple will release a larger iPhone, but the current rumors suggest that the company will ship an updated smartphone during the second quarter. Normally the second quarter occurs between the months of April and June, meaning that the device should arrive during the spring or early next summer. However, Apple's fiscal second quarter occurs between January and March. Investors shouldn't get too excited though. It is very unlikely that Apple will release a new iPhone within six or seven months of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. This makes the rumored June release date seem far more realistic. Related: Apple Rumor Mill Strikes Back, Promises Large iPad In 2014 But even if all goes as planned, there is one thing that could prevent Apple from releasing a larger iPhone next summer: product scheduling. Apple cannot safely launch the iPhone XL (or whatever it may be called) without hurting sales of the iPhone 5S. Likewise, the company cannot release a phablet when the iPhone 6 may only be a few months away. Apple encountered a similar problem when the first iPad Mini arrived. Released in November 2012, the small tablet landed on store shelves a mere eight months after the third-generation iPad. At the time, the iPad 4 was expected to be released in March 2013. To prevent consumers from perpetually waiting to make a purchase (prospective iPad Mini buyers might have waited to see the iPad 4; then prospective iPad 4 buyers may have waited for the iPad Mini 2), Apple released the fourth-generation iPad alongside the iPad Mini. If Apple is planning to release a phablet in 2014, expect it to ship on the same day as the iPhone 6. Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report. Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ