There are generally two ideas being bandied about in the rumor mill about the upcoming flagship phone from Apple. First is that the iPhone 7 will come this year. The second one is the both the iPhone 7 and a 6s version will be launched in a staggered basis.

MacRumors, however, says that the next generation iPhone could be launched next year instead.

In their round-up page for the rumors on the upcoming iPhone 7, the Apple observer says that in lieu of the years that Apple launches a device without any notable changes or major redesign, it has used the S-tag to denote an update for its device. This year, Apple fans may indeed see two devices that will be launched alongside the rumoured iOS 9 update. However, instead of an iPhone 7, the devices to be launched this year would be an overhauled 6s and 6s Plus.

MacRumors quotes KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who predicted notable Apple moves in the past. According to Kuo, it is possible that Apple will brand its next releases the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus due to the many changes and features being introduced. However, naming policy aside, the true seventh-generation iPhone will launch sometime in 2016.

A third wheel to the rumors circulating about Apple's next in line comes from Apple Insider. According to the site, Apple may also launch a 4-inch handset that will be a successor to the iPhone 5c.

Meanwhile, whatever the new names for the new devices Apple will launch this year, it will either be launched with a native iOS 8.4, of which the beta version has already been seeded to developers. Other than that, depending on the launch date, the devices may also come native with an iOS 9 platform. The new devices will also come with Force Touch technology to be able to pair with Apple's recently-launched Apple Watch.