Although we’re probably months away from any type of iPhone 5 announcement, a Chinese site claims to have new pictures of the rumored product.
Engineering images obtained by iDealsChina show iPhone 5 to have a much larger, edge-to-edge screen that covers most of the front of the phone. However, besides the bigger screen, the device looks much like the iPhone 4.
“We just got what appears to be mold engineering drawings for iPhone 5,” the site says. “These would be used by case designers to create plastic, TPU, aluminum, silicone, and leather cases. A while back we [heard] rumors that iPhone 5 would have a curved back but these images show iPhone 5 with the same form factor as iPhone 4 but with an edge-to-edge screen.”
This statement could debunk the rumors that came out earlier this week that the back design of the next iPhone would be different. Sources said Apple would abandon the current glass back in favor of a metal back that would be similar to the original iPhone. Apple is reportedly nixing the glass back because of frequent scratching and difficulty painting that part of the phone.
[RELATED_ARTICLE]Additionally, Apple could be rethinking the external frame that doubled as the iPhone 4’s antenna. The external antenna led to a flood of bad press for Apple when it was revealed that holding the phone in a way that covers the antenna, dubbed the “death grip,” could interfere with wireless signals. Apple would instead use the Apple logo on the back of the phone to transmit signals.
Whenever product rumors surface, there is always a question of whether or not they are real. But the newest images are in line with shots of an iPhone bezel that were posted on iDealsChina last month. However, MacRumors says that the authenticity of the previous images has been questioned.
There have also been rumors that Apple would unveil different sized iPhones. A Recent leaked image from a Chinese iPhone parts supplier show a slightly bigger, 4-inch screen. The iPhone 4 has a 3.5-inch display. There have also been reports that Apple would produce a smaller iPhone, but The New York Times refuted that claim, and said that the main focus is lowering the price on the phone.
Copyright © 2010 Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc.