It was just last year that Apple finally bumped the screen size of the iPhone from 3.5 to 4 inches, but many have been calling for yet another bump up in the size of the iOS smartphone's display as the screens on competing devices continue to grow. And while Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that his company won't ship a phone with a bigger screen until the tradeoffs that come with doing so disappear, it looks like the Cupertino firm may be at least playing with the idea of growing the iPhone's display once again.

According to sources speaking to Reuters, Apple is "looking at" releasing iPhones with 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch screens next year. Suppliers have reportedly been given plans for these larger devices, but it's not known if Apple actually plans to release either model. 

Today's report also contains some tidbits about new Apple handsets that may arrive a bit sooner. Reuters claims that Apple is prepping an iPhone 5S with fingerprint technology for debut later in 2013, as well as a low-cost iPhone model that would have a plastic body and could be available in up 5 to 6 colors. Apple is reportedly considering a price of $99 for its cheap iPhone. It's said that Apple is targeting a 2013 release for its affordable iPhone, though one source cautioned that the device could slip to 2014.

As with most Apple rumors, the information reported by these tipsters should probably be taken with a couple of grains of your favorite salt. Reports of big iPhones and cheap iPhones and colorful iPhones have all been floating around for some time, and while it's certainly possible that Apple could be considering a 5.7-inch iPhone as well as colorful low-cost models, there's no guarantee that the company will actually move forward with these plans. Still, it's interesting to hear about the hardware ideas that Apple may be kicking around in its labs. Would you be interested in an iPhone that feature a 4.7-inch display? What about a model with a 5.7-inch screen?

Via Reuters