Dream Phone Iphone 5S is Here

We've compiled the results (see below -- just click to enlarge), and asked a range of technology experts to help explain why some desired features make more sense than others.

Go big or go home
The first thing we asked you was what size screen you'd most prefer in the next iPhone. Leading the way was 4.7 inches, which is the same size as the display on the new Moto X, Nokia's Lumia 625, and HTC One (just to name a few).

Individual size options aside, here's the big takeaway: 79 percent of readers who responded want a screen that's larger than the current iPhone 5 screen.

Some bad news for all but the 21 percent of readers who yearned for a 4-inch screen: By nearly every indication, Apple's going to stick with the same 4-inch display for both expected new iPhone models, the 5S and 5C. That's according to NPD DisplaySearch research director Shawn Lee, who expects Apple to go with "almost" the same display technology in its next generation devices. That includes the resolution, size, and use of in-cell touch technology. Lee also said he expects the company to go with the same LED backlighting technology, which -- if changed -- could factor into any kind of major power savings.

Favorite materials
One thing to note here is that there was a typo in the original version of this question. Under the "glass" option, we had said it was the "same as iPhone 5" instead of "iPhone 4/4S." We're inclined to say that skews the results for this one.

Nevertheless, the key takeaway here is that people are big on metal, which came in at 39 percent of the nearly 10,000 votes. Moreover, readers also seem down on plastic, which pulled in just 6 percent of the votes.

While unpopular for a top of the line model, there are plenty of reasons for using plastic once again (Apple did it with the iPhone 3G and 3GS). It's simpler to mass produce, mold, and contour, and can be created in all sorts of colors. There are also some technical benefits. Take the iPhone 5 as an example. Apple had to build windows in the back of the phone for wireless signals to make it through the metal. That won't be an issue with a plastic iPhone.

All together, a jump to plastic on the iPhone 5C is expected to cut the cost of the mechanical parts by around half from the $33 Apple pays on the iPhone 5, to $16 for the 5C, according to recent estimates by Morgan Stanley.

Most important rumored iPhone 5S feature
Better battery life was far and away your most sought after feature, something that shouldn't come as a surprise. Smartphone battery life is improving, but is still a long ways off from what people got used to with feature phones of the past, due in no small part to larger and larger screens that slurp juice.

Apple's iPhone 5 packs a 1,440 mAh battery, which -- according to the company's tests -- breaks down to:

• 8 hours of talk time on 3G
• • 8 hours of Internet use on 3G or LTE
• • 10 hours Internet use on Wi-Fi
• • 40 hours audio playback
• • 10 hours video playback
• • 225 hours of standby

That's about what we got with the iPhone 5's predecessor, the 4S.On testing we managed to get nearly 9 hours of video playback, and anywhere from 7.37 hours to 8.48 hours of talk time, depending on the carrier So the big question, of course, is how Apple could extend it. The easiest way would be to put a larger capacity battery in there, something Apple did with the iPhone 5, but not by much. The previous battery unit was 1,432 mAh, up just slightly from the 1,420 mAh battery in the iPhone 4. But to get a real jump, Apple would need to go bigger.

Tweet