The press is saying the next iPhone will have a larger screen and probably less bezels. And I believe this will happen but with even more potential. Why?

Apple has filed solar patents that will allow them to power their electronic devices directly through solar cells ending the issues of poor battery run times and potentially enabling a thinner and lighter iPhone.

So what if the screen itself became the fingerprint sensor enabling the end of the home button and thereby having even smaller bezels.

Apple also signed a $578m contract with GT Advanced Technologies to provide sapphire cover screens and that they would be spending $10.5B in capital during fiscal year 2014 including cutting edge lasers.

Apple posted a Manufacturing Design Engineer position that includes scribing and PVD coating which relate to solar cells and lasers.

So what could all this mean.

Well a new iPhone design with ultra thin bezels, no home button and the sapphire screen allowing usage as the fingerprint scanner and as solar cells to recharge the battery. If Apple mastered the solar recharging the iPhone could end up being seriously thin, possibly around the 5mm mark.

Of course the sapphire could be used for the rumoured iWatch too.