iPhone 5 metal backplate is reportedly the real deal

By , May 30, 2012

According to well-connected blogger Mark Gurman, an aluminum-clad backplate that leaked yesterday pretty much matches the iPhones being tested internally. If true, this would be another indication that a sixth-generation iPhone will sport a metal back akin to the original model that launched five years ago…

Gurman, writing for 9to5Mac, explains, citing “sources in position to know” who claim that:

the structure of the shells do match up with what is being tested internally. Namely, the redesigned bottom portion of the iPhone with the moved headphone jack and smaller dock connector are present on at least one of the longer iPhones that Apple is testing internally.

So, metal backplate.

Is this what you expected from Apple’s next iPhone design-wise?

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  • http://twitter.com/sharbeen Sharbeen

    Ummm… I hope its not true or its not how it looks in the pic. Well i’m not falling for any news here for now. Better to wait till the launch.

  • http://twitter.com/sharbeen Sharbeen

    Ummm… I hope its not true or its not how it looks in the pic. Well i’m not falling for any news here for now. Better to wait till the launch.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2JFDZXSTUH2HWGIM6NSZX66KWA Kurt

      i hope it’s not true either…it will scratch so easily. you will have to get a case for it. i like glass back. i dont need a case nor ugly bumper since i’m amazingly, awesomely careful with this sucker (iP4S)

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2JFDZXSTUH2HWGIM6NSZX66KWA Kurt

      i hope it’s not true either…it will scratch so easily. you will have to get a case for it. i like glass back. i dont need a case nor ugly bumper since i’m amazingly, awesomely careful with this sucker (iP4S)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602498692 Benn Steward

    but why? that looks awful.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602498692 Benn Steward

    but why? that looks awful.

    • http://twitter.com/MCaudebec Maxim∑

      Think for a second… The part was pulled during a early production stage its a unfinished component…

      • http://www.geekfori.com/ Geekfori

        Hope so!

  • http://twitter.com/rydogg23 Ryan

    yeah. they needed to do something totally different again. and for those who would say “this is so unlike apple”…they were saying that about the iphone 4 when gizmodo got their hands on it early…and it was the thing. i like this design.

  • http://twitter.com/rydogg23 Ryan

    yeah. they needed to do something totally different again. and for those who would say “this is so unlike apple”…they were saying that about the iphone 4 when gizmodo got their hands on it early…and it was the thing. i like this design.

  • http://twitter.com/thegabrielk Gabriel K

    what’s wrong with it? I like the black one, it looks cool. the dock/charging thing is bad though, i don’t see why they couldn’t keep the old type/

    • Anonymous

      Why is it bad? The connector is the same but smaller, I would call that an improvement that should have happened long ago.

      • http://twitter.com/thegabrielk Gabriel K

        nah, then my old chargers won’t be compatible with the new phone :P not a big deal though.

    • http://www.facebook.com/stephen.m.simon Stephen Michael Simon

      I just hope the new connector supports Firewire and USB 3.0. Would be nice to finally be able to sync your phone in seconds.

    • Anonymous

      “….i don’t see why they couldn’t keep the old type/”

      Quite simple. It’s the same reason why Apple uses their current proprietary connector as oppose to the industry standard micro usb, so to milk more money out of us suckers. :/

    • Anonymous

      Nokia did the same thing a years ago. They changed the connector but they included an adaptor in case you need to use your new cable with an old device.

      If they implement this new connector will be because it is better, stop complaining about it. The only bad thing about this would be the speakers that use the 30-pin connection, this is the only reason everyone can complain about.

  • http://twitter.com/jake1047s jacob wolin

    I’m ok with the metal back, it would be a lot nicer than glass and it won’t break as easily, but the headphone jack on the bottom would no work, apple is know for having it on top for the iPhones and it should stay that way. If it is on the bottom I will probably not buy it

    • Anonymous

      Really? You would not buy it solely based on the location of the headphone jack? Apple isn’t known for having it on top, that’s where they’ve had it. But they’re not known for it.
      If you have the phone in your hand, the headphone cord flows better if it’s connected on the bottom. Rather than being plugged at the top with a bend. If you have the phone in your pocket, then it doesn’t really matter. But I always put the phone in my pocket top down, that way when I pull it out, it’s already in my hand the way I want it. I consider this an improvement.

    • http://twitter.com/Sleepy83 Matt R.

      The headphone jack being on the bottom makes this photo hard to believe it’s real. I don’t for one minute believe Apple would place it there, there’s no advantage to a user by it being place there, on the contrary, it would make it rather awkward.

    • http://www.facebook.com/sebastian.rivera.587 Sebastian Rivera

      me too! i hate the headphone jack on the bottom i would rather have it on top

  • http://twitter.com/Death2Kam Kam Perez

    …If its going to look like this…Sorry, keeping my iPhone 4s and getting the HTC One X

    • http://twitter.com/martinbusek Martin Busek

      enjoy that plastic htc piece of s*** :D

  • http://twitter.com/darthqu3 Darthqu3

    meh. everytime an Apple “leak” occurs, the initial impression is lackluster. However, I am sure it will get more and more coveted as the launch day approaches.

  • Anonymous

    It better not look like that. Or only come in a 4 inch model. 3.5 is perfect for me and a longer phone is not really what I’m looking for.

    • Anonymous

      Then you don’t have too many options, since everything already is longer than the iPhone.

      • Anonymous

        Well, I meant if the screen is going to be bigger, make sure it’s wider too. Adding inches in length alone would look dumb dumb dumb. The mockups of the longer screen I’ve seen so far are pretty ugly.

      • Anonymous

        I agree. If they’re going to increase, increase in both directions.
        Although if they go with the 3.95″ screen, keeping width the same, the screen would only be 0.5″ inches longer. If they use up some of the empty real estate on the front of the device, they might not have to increase the whole device by the full amount.

  • http://www.geekfori.com/ Geekfori

    I hope its not the real deal, its fugly as hell.

  • http://twitter.com/MCaudebec Maxim∑

    Why do some people say it looks awful? The part was pulled during a early production stage its a unfinished component…

  • Brandon Rodriguez

    I think that it looks pretty cool. although I would have been fine with the charger they have now.

  • http://twitter.com/_salmanarif Salman Arif

    I wouldn’t mind the entire back being that metallic black in the picture. Don’t see how that would accommodate the antenna, but a non-full-metallic back plate? I don’t like it.

  • http://twitter.com/Chindavon Chindavon

    What’s with the two different shades? I hope the end product is one uniformed color.

  • Anonymous

    Both of them look fine to me. If Apple made this the final model I wouldn’t have a problem. Its slim and looks great.

  • http://www.GoldenGateDomains.com/ Golden Gate Domains

    It is really difficult to get “excited” over such an ugly / lame design.

    But, the GOOD NEWS is that we will cover up the eyesore with our custom covers and cases!

    So, at the end of the day, who really cares what it will look like, because we will fork out another $10 – $60 to buy our own “personal” covers!!! The Vendors will WIN Big Time with this ugly design!

  • http://www.GoldenGateDomains.com/ Golden Gate Domains

    I don’t like the idea of a new Dock Connector design either!

    I have all my stuff geared for the current design, including a new $150 Logitech Speaker! I know I’m at least $300 in to accessories for this current design! I really don’t want to have to flush that down the toilet or worse yet, spend another $50 – $100 buying ridiculous adapters.

    • Anonymous

      So they shouldn’t ever change any of the connectors, device length, width, depth or shape what so ever because you may have some accessories that fit the current design.

      • http://www.GoldenGateDomains.com/ Golden Gate Domains

        Pegger – that is not what I said!

        I said that with this new ugly design, I will be able to purchase a cover to cover it up.

        If they change to the dock connector (which seems totally unnecessary) is what I’m complaining about.

      • http://www.iTechBlog.in/ taran

        Don’t worry…m sure that there ll be a dock concerter available…which will convert the big docks to small docks…so u ll be set back by $29 but not by that $300 you are scared about…

  • http://twitter.com/ahood81 Adam Hood

    If this is all Sir Jony Ive has to offer, Apple should start looking for a new designer.

    • http://www.iTechBlog.in/ taran

      The real designer is R.I.P…:(

  • http://twitter.com/willmelendezz William Melendez

    I get the design they might be going for. But we’re forgetting this is just a rough draft of the solid work that is coming from this . Apple knows what they’re doing. This is not their first gig . I have a feeling this phone is going to be phenomenal =)

  • http://twitter.com/martinbusek Martin Busek

    Everybody, please stop complaining about smaller connector. I think it’s great step forward… Actually I wish it’s something like mag safe on notebook… And I bet you that apple will release some adapter too, so it will be compatible with all the accessories…

  • http://twitter.com/e420kush e420Kush

    IDK I am skeptical and these photos are horrible. I need to see the polished product. You know APPLE is not going to release anything UGLY like their competition.

  • Ismailcan Sezer

    We already miss you steve jobs !!!

  • Anonymous

    look bad but we need a plastic part to best data or call for cell think about ip4 sıgnal, if they put plasic part then we an enjoy 4g without break.

  • Anonymous

    look bad but we need a plastic part to best data or call for cell think about ip4 sıgnal, if they put plasic part then we an enjoy 4g without break.

  • http://twitter.com/Mr_JBlaze Jonathan Martinez

    Man when a color conversion is available I’m going green.! My 4S is currently blue FWM haha

  • http://twitter.com/Dongiuj DonGiuj

    Looks like they ran
    Out of metal so completed the rest of the phone with plastic at the top and bottom.
    Change the connection so that all the previous products we bought for our phones and iPods are rendered useless. Thanks apple.

    • http://twitter.com/rud0lf77 Rudolf Lichtner

      I am pretty sure it’s glass and not plastic. And it’s most likely for the Antennas which shouldn’t be under metal…

      • http://twitter.com/Dongiuj DonGiuj

        “looks like”

  • Anonymous

    Metal backplate doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s this one… it was already a rumor so they could very well be fake and still match the description…

    On my part I really hope that this is the real deal ! Stupid-looking with speaker-holes that get full of crap after a week and an incompatible dock connector. I can’t wait for apple to fail this hard xD

  • Anonymous

    Looks hideous. It’ll surely scratch. I hope this is just another rumor. .

  • Anonymous

    Well, I know I wasn’t expecting that. I thought it would actually look good.

  • http://twitter.com/rpraveen360 iPraveen 4S

    I’m gonna hate Apple forever for changing the dock pin connector…

  • http://twitter.com/_ScrewZoo Marc Pena

    Come on iPhone 6 daddy needs a upgrade.

  • http://twitter.com/derekuro Derek Lam.WJ.

    Prefer the standard dock. if Apple were to change the dock, then it would be so difficult to sync the iphone and charge etc. because personally i own an ipod and an ipad. i wouldnt want to keep on changing the usb cable whenever i wanna sync my ipod/ipad/iphone

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Garza-Dave/1712273629 Garza Dave

      Why don’t u just sync OTA using Wifi? That would solve your problem if they do change the dock connector.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/RCILVZTTVFNDAVJM7E5ZQKL5RI Cristhian Alonso

    This design of iPhone if like having iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s in your hand, well just with some improvement. I thought they will make a impressive design. Apple should take more time and make very impressive phone for users.

  • Anonymous

    Obama says we have a right to cell phones. Apple must give these away for free or pay everyone’s rent and phone bill. It’s our right!

  • Reyn Yonashiro

    Man, I love the location of the headphone jack, I’ve been dying for that placement ever since my first iPod Touch. And despite the fact I usually roll with black phones, the white with aluminum looks sexy as hell.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/DOVFSOPCJERIABT56ZOXU5I2RQ Paul

    If it looks like this, I’ll take it, The first iphone with the aluminum back, took real beating compared to the “4′s”. Buy HTC one X, Your out of your mind, even with this not finished, it still looks better.
    One uniformed color? Nooooo, thats the problem now, not enough color options. With one uniformed color we’d definitely be sheep! I also agree with the headphone jack, it should be at the top. I’m pretty sure this design isn’t final, and these leaks are controlled by apple, to root out the moles. Give me a liquid metal, liquipel, gorilla glass 2 “iphone, iphone 5, or iphone 6″ whatever they decide to call it, with NFC, a better battery, and better speaker phone, 16Mp camera, Wireless charging, and 4″ screen and I’ll be sold. What else could you want from a Iphone?

  • http://twitter.com/rud0lf77 Rudolf Lichtner

    Once again all people hate the new Design, but once Apple presents it they will fall in love with the Design… Same story as with the iPhone 4 in 2010…

  • http://www.facebook.com/antman217 Anthony Antunez

    Changing the dock port would be the biggest let down for me. So many accessories quickly unsupported if this is true :(