14 DAY TRIAL // A new physical mockup depicting the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 has emerged in China. Shown from all angles in a short YouTube clip, the plastic dummy gives us a good idea of what to expect later this year from Apple.
Notably bigger than one of Apple’s current-selling handsets, the dummy has been molded from plastic based on new leaked schematics obtained by supply chain people. The clip reportedly depicts the 4.7-inch version of the iPhone 6.
All hardware features are in line with the latest rumors: relocated Sleep/Wake button, elongated volume buttons, bigger form factor, much thinner design, antenna windows/cutouts at the top and bottom (on the back).
The real phone will reportedly be made from aluminum, but not using a unibody construction. Rather, Apple will employ a three-stage aluminum design, according to China’s 86Digi.
It has long been speculated that the iPhone 6 will adopt the design of the fifth-generation iPod touch, but this particular dummy shows that Apple is actually not borrowing key design elements from its line of portable players.
Moreover, the back of the phone will most likely include the aforementioned antenna cutouts, should the back of the device be covered in aluminum (which obstructs radio waves).
New redesign elements are also highlighted in this video, such as the relocated front-facing camera and ambient sensor.
The mockup likely misses a few final touches. The entire iDevice line currently features a diamond-brushed edge around the display, a flagship design feature that the Cupertino giant will probably want to port over to the iPhone 6.
Reports say Apple wants to price the smartphone a tad higher this year, to make up for the manufacturing costs and the new technologies that are going into the device. Customers will reportedly be charged a $100 (€72) premium, but only if Tim Cook convinces the carriers to play ball. These reports are unconfirmed, and Apple may well continue to charge only $200 (€144) with a two-year contract.
Inside, Apple will fit a new generation of A-series processors, likely dubbed A8, along with other upgraded chips (including new radios from Qualcomm, we hear).
iPhone 6 will most likely incorporate the Touch ID fingerprint sensor introduced by the company in the iPhone 5s. The phone will probably also boast a number of extra sensors that take health readings to supply the upcoming Healthbook app with information about the user and help them stay healthy.
