As summer nears its midpoint, the annual frenzy over what new features Apple's next iPhone will sport is already kicking into high gear. It is a foregone conclusion that Apple will indeed launch a new iPhone this fall (maybe even two) per their usual tradition.

However, what remains unknown is just exactly how much this device will differ from all of the previous iPhones before it. According to some, the hardware just might be the most radical departure from previous iPhone versions we have ever seen.

In case you haven't heard the latest rumors surrounding the iPhone 6, we've compiled a list of everything you need to know to be up to date. 

What to Expect

According to Mac Rumors, the iPhone 6's screen size is one of the most hotly anticipated changes to be made on the device--actually, devices. That's right. Apple is purportedly going to release not one, but two new iPhones this fall. First to be released this September will be a 4.7 inch model of the iPhone 6, shortly followed by a 5.5 inch version to be released in time for the 2014 holiday season. 

The reason for the change is obvious: the success of larger phones sold by makers like Samsung have demonstrated the demand for larger phones, something Apple acknowledged, albeit begrudgingly, in the past. Apple already aquiesced somewhat by increasing the iPhone 5's screen size to 4 inches, but it looks like that wasn't enough.  

The two new models are expected to also have an increased screen resolution, "possibly at 1704 x 906," reports Mac Rumors. Apple is also reportedly going to use sapphire crystal instead of glass to cover the new displays, which would make the devices stronger and less susceptible to cracking upon impact. 

New Design

Aside from the device being larger than before, it is also expected (through recent progress in LED technology) to be thinner and lighter than in previous versions, perhaps by as much as 0.2 mm.

It is also postulated, by Mac Rumors and others, that by increasing the screen area Apple can actually make the phone even thinner by providing designers with more real estate to work with. If that is true, the iPhone 6 "could be nearly as thin as the iPod touch," reports Mac Rumors. 

The new models should also feature the obligatory performance upgrades to the processor and camera. The iPhone 6 is rumored to feature an upgraded 20-nanometer A8 chip manufactured by TSMC, and is expected to be smaller as well as peform better on power consumption.  

As for the camera, some believe it might still sport just an 8-megapixel sensor, though, as with the iPhone 5, significant improvements to image quality are anticipated simply via incremental technological improvements.

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is one such improvement that may find its way onto the two new models. OIS mitigates the hand motion of the user during photographs and videos, and thus produces better images. 

Other Features

Additional rumored features include upgraded Wi-Fi support for the new 802.11ac standard and perhaps NFC support (Near Field Communication) for mobile payments.