With 2012 coming to a close, it seems like a whole new set of rumors are popping up concerning Apple's next generation iPhone, dubbed iPhone 6. New reports have started flowing in about a potential iPhone 6 release by Apple in 2013.

The iPhone 6 is expected to be released early next year and one of the probable reasons behind this rumor of early release date is Apple is expected to be launching a redesigned iPhone. Reports also indicate that Apple could be switching to a new six-month cycle for iPhone refresh, instead of one-year cycle to stave off competition from Android rivals like Samsung and HTC. If Apple adopts the new 6-months refresh cycle, consumers may be able to feast their eyes on iPhone 6 around March 2013.

Although no solid reports of the iPhone 6 have surfaced till now, it is rumored that iPhone 5'ss successor will sport a new “curved display.” The Cupertino-based company, reportedly, has also patented a new method of molding glass known as 'slumping'.

Wired reported that the new Apple patent “illustrates a system of using heat during the slumping process to mold glass to a particular shape. Slumping is the bending of glass over a mold. The alignment system can be adjusted while the glass is hot to allow for dynamic shaping. This could mean that the next iPhone could have a curved display.”

This new information is in tune with previous reports that the next-generation iPhone will feature a 4.8-inch screen with a Super HD Retina+ IGZO display and an A7 quad-core processor. Apple may also replace the physical home button in favor of a virtual one.

The advantage of the IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) display is that it is thinner and require less LEDs than conventional displays, and this makes it more energy efficient. The A7 quad-core processor is expected to be twice as fast and smaller than its predecessor.

There are also rumors that iPhone 5 lost its edge and let rival Samsung Galaxy S3 gain ground because the former does not support NFC. So don't be surprised if iPhone 6 supports NFC in one form or the other.