Infinite Scoop: iPhone 5S prototype pics, launch delays, new colours, and more

It's that special time of year again.

No, it's not Christmas. And, no, it's not your birthday, either. (Unless, of course, it is your birthday today. In which case, many happy returns.)

Nope, it's that time of the week / month / year [delete as appropriate] when the Apple rumour mill starts turning, and media outlets start speculating on the next iPhone and iPad iterations.

Has the iPhone 5S already been spotted in the wild? Will it be delayed due to fingerprint sensor issues? Will its case be hewn from diamond and filled with radioactive bees?

Find out now in the latest instalment of Pocket Gamer's Apple rumour round-up... the Infinite Scoop.

A prototype for the so-called iPhone 5S has already been spotted and photographed. Well, according to a GSMArena tipster, anyway.

In these slightly out-of-focus images (which weren't taken by the tipster himself), you can see the front and rear of the alleged prototype's chassis.

Its curved design, which has more in common with a fourth-gen iPod nano than the recent iPhone models, does seem to match up with a sketch included in a recently approved Apple patent application.

As always, though, pictures of this nature should be treated with a healthy degree of scepticism. That's because most turn out to be Photoshopped fakes.

Though images of Apple's next-gen blower are already appearing (see above), Citigroup reckons that the launch of the iPhone 5S may be delayed until September.

The reason?

According to research by Citigroup's Glen Yeung cited on CNET, "volume production issues" have forced Apple to push back the launch of the iPhone 5S from July to August or September.

Reuters, meanwhile, has another take on the iPhone 5S's possible delay.

According to its sources, the launch is being held up because of manufacturing issues relating to a rumoured fingerprint sensor on the next iteration of Apple's smartphone.

Specifically, The Big A's suppliers are trying to find a coating material which doesn't mess with the new fingerprint sensor technology.

In Citigroup's report, there are also suggestions that the iPhone 5S may rock a better camera and a beefier processor.

What's more, Citigroup's Glen Yeung (him again) expects the Cupertino colossus to move beyond its traditional black or white models, and manufacture the upcoming handset in a range of new colours.

In the Reuters article referenced above, the author also mentions the development of a cheaper iPhone unit, on which Apple is due to begin mass production in June.

According to the report, this rumoured cut-price iPhone handset will feature a cheaper, plastic chassis, and will not include the new fingerprint tech. It is expected to sport a 4-inch screen, however.

As well as speculating on the future of the iPhone, Citigroup's Glen Yeung (yep, HIM) anticipates the arrival of two new iPad mini models this year, one of which will sport a Retina display.

However, Yeung did state that "flattening production" of the existing iPad mini and "softening" demand cast a shadow of doubt over the iPad mini's future success.