14 DAY TRIAL // Despite everyone eagerly anticipating a completely redesigned iPhone 5, perhaps even boasting tapered edges like the iPod touch or the iPad, a hardware leak suggests this is not the case with Apple’s next-generation smartphone.
The sim card tray purportedly designed for Apple’s new iPhone has been leaked in photos via iPhone part supplier sw-box which sells the small piece of machined metal for 7.69 pounds sterling.
That’s right, machined. Not cast, as you would do with a Liquidmetal part. The images clearly show a SIM card tray that looks virtually identical to the one employed by the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.
Another strange thing about it is that it has no part numbering, meaning it’s likely not commissioned by Apple, but rather crafted by a third-party in accordance with the current specifications.
For all we know, this could well be nothing more than a fabrication by someone who wanted to stir up things in the tech blogosphere, contradicting rumors of a completely redesigned iPhone 5.
However, even if this “leaked” SIM card tray is genuine, this still doesn’t confirm that Apple’s next iPhone looks similar to the current-generation model.
In fact, it has long been argued by pundits and various analysts that Apple simply cannot afford not to innovate in terms of design this time around. A third iPhone boasting an unchanged design would spell death for Apple’s iPhone business until the next major refresh. In other words: not gonna happen.
It could well be that Apple is sticking to the flat-edged form factor, but not necessarily with the rest of the chassis as well. For example, the device iPhone 5 could be half as thick as the current iPhone yet it would still retain enough thickness to house this minute hardware piece. What are your thoughts on this?
