14 DAY TRIAL // A person with access to the operational facilities of Apple partner Foxconn claims to have spotted iPhone 5 prototypes with bigger screens and a design akin to that of the iPhone 4.
The materials used to craft the next-generation iPhone are said to differ substantially, compared to the current-generation model, a source from Foxconn, who is considered to be reliable, has told 9to5mac.
Foxconn, a subsidiary of China's Hon Hai Precision Industry, is directly responsible with assembling several Apple portables, including the iconic iPhone.
This person reportedly said that not only has he /she seen the iPhone 5 in pre-production form, but also that it is going into the normal mass production stages soon.
The prototypes allegedly spotted by the Foxconn source look similar to the iPhone 4 but are made from different materials and have a different screen size compared to the current handsets, this person said.
Although unable to produce photos of the next-gen iPhone, the source pinpointed for the blog that Apple’s iPhone 5 will keep a relatively similar size and shape as the iPhone 4.
It will, however, replace the back-glass enclosure with something that resembles the back shell of the original iPhone launched in 2007, the source reportedly said.
The material in question is not specified, though recent reports also indicate Apple is moving back to aluminum for their next iPhone’s enclosure.
It is also speculated that Apple’s deal with Liquidmetal Technologies might also materialize in a sleek, durable case for the iPhone 5.
The only piece of imagery obtained by 9to5 was a comparison shot between three different charging cables, one of which purportedly belongs to the iPhone 5 (displayed to the left).
Due to the similarities between the three components, it is believed that Apple’s next iPhone will, indeed, sport the same form factor as the current version.
Expect more iPhone 5 rumors to emerge as we approach the end of Apple’s iPhone refresh cycle this summer. In the meanwhile, share your thoughts with us in the comments.
