Unibody iPhone is Made of Glass and Aluminum (Mockup)

With WWDC '09 approaching fast, Apple fanboys are relentlessly photoshopping in an attempt to predict what the new iPhone will look like, and how it will work. The latest iPhone mockups seem highly unlikely, considering Apple's hate for user-removable batteries on small devices, as well as bulky designs, but every one of these concepts is well worth a look, as each of them brings at least one feature Apple is likely to implement in upcoming iPhone models.

Apple has long been rumored to release new iPhone models, along with a Mac tablet / netbook, at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Speculation has reached critical points when Apple unveiled iPhone OS 3.0, which, developers suggest, will undoubtedly leverage new hardware. Listings of upcoming iPhones and iPods have also been found in the beta software. If this is not enough to convince iPhone fans that Apple is preparing to roll out a new device, then we should trust that it's simply high time Apple innovated again. After all, if Apple doesn't do it, who will?

However, these mockups don't exactly scream innovation (these do). While Apple does have some patents related to unibody iPhones and iPods (as 9to5mac points out), the company behind the Mac operating system is highly unlikely to release a device with such a bulky design.

But, from where we stand, the front camera may be an accurate prediction, as is the much improved lens on the back. Word on the street has it that the iPhone camera may be upgraded to 3.2 megapxiels. In a report, DigiTimes cites market sources as saying that OmniVision has received orders for 3.2-megapixel CMOS Image sensors that are to make their way into fresh iPhones. Moreover, Apple may also be launching a new device later this year, packing a 5-megapixel camera, according to the same source.

The unibody design may well be adopted too, with Apple itself admitting that machining blocks of aluminum eliminates the use of otherwise unnecessary parts, while providing a more robust shell. Lastly, the 16GB and 32GB flash storage is almost surely going to be the standard on what are expected to be two different next-gen iPhones this summer.

OK, enough about what we think. What do you think the new iPhone will be like? Do you see anything like this coming out of the Cupertino labs?