14 DAY TRIAL // New tests conducted using a purported iPhone 6 case suggest that Apple is aiming high with the next-generation iPhone in terms of design. So high that it is launching one of the thinnest smartphones ever, at just 0.24 inches (6.1 mm) in depth.
Using the same pink case that was reportedly created based on actual leaked specs, the people at Unbox Therapy decided to see how it matched a current-generation iPod touch. The player is much smaller and doesn’t fill out the entire case, but as far as depth goes, it matches it to the micron.
For your reference, the iPod touch fifth-generation is 0.24 inch (6.1 mm) thick.
The volume buttons line up perfectly as well, in what would indicate that Apple is trying to keep the design language consistent across devices, a trademark for the company.
The next-generation iPhone will have a bigger form factor and a screen that goes way past the 4-inch mark. The consensus is that the device will sport a 4.7-inch display, but there is also a 5.5-inch model planned for launch, according to some reports. The latter will be deployed towards the end of 2014.
Some may be concerned that such a thin design will not allow for a big battery inside the chassis. However, Apple shrinks down the electronics in its devices with every generation. Even if the motherboard and the rest of the hardware remain the same, the bigger chassis will offer enough room for a substantially bigger battery.
However, don’t expect battery life to be extended tenfold. A larger display, a faster chip, and a couple of extra features here and there will translate into more power drain, which will actually require the battery to be bigger just to keep the existing mileage in place.
It doesn’t sound ideal, but it’s also something Apple is compelled to do. No smartphone vendor would risk downgrading such an important feature like battery life, especially Apple.
In all likelihood, the iPhone 6 (or iPhone Air, as some believe it will be dubbed) could look a lot like the iPod touch fifth-generation. Key design cues that the phone will reportedly take from the player include the tapered back shell and the elongated volume buttons.
The next-generation iPhone will reportedly have its Power/Sleep/Wake button relocated to one of the sides (from the current top position).
