Sometime this year it is widely believed that Apple will release a redesigned iPhone 5 and as usual a number of rumours are emerging about the device, and today there is speculation the iPhone is to get quite a bump in size to its display.

This year there are two handsets that are high on many people’s wish lists, and along with the Samsung Galaxy S3 the iPhone 5 is one device that is generating a lot of interest. According to a report on AppleInsider the next version of the iPhone will feature a 4.6-inch Retina Display, and could launch as early as the second quarter.

Sources have reportedly told South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper that Apple has decided on the larger display and already started ordering the parts from various suppliers. It is being claimed that Korean suppliers have been given the orders, so the likes of Samsung and LG could be involved in production of the component.

The source claims the screen would be a Retina Display that has 300 pixels per inch when used at a distance of between 10 and 12-inches. If the rumour is true it will be the first time since 2007 that Apple has changed the screen size of the iPhone, and there were various rumours in the past the company were going to release a handset with a 4-inch screen size.

Talk of a second quarter release would mean Apple releasing a new iPhone between six and nine months after the current version was launched, but some still believe it will arrive around September or October. There are many who believe the next iPhone will feature 4G LTE connectivity, and will use the Qualcomm MDM9615 processor.

Many iPhone fans have long called for a larger screen on the handset, which is a trend seen on the Android platform with a large number of handsets featuring a screen size of above 4-inches, but whether Apple goes up to 4.6-inches remains to be seen.

What would be your ideal screen size on the next iPhone?