iPhone 5

Rumor: familiar-looking ‘iPhone 5’ SIM tray surfaces

Cody Lee ∙ May 2, 2012

For the second time in the last two weeks, a parts vendor has leaked a purported 'iPhone 5' component. Last Tuesday we saw some Home buttons surface that reportedly belonged to Apple's next-generation handset, and now we've come across a SIM card tray.

As noted by MacRumors, SW-BOX.com has posted some information on a claimed 'iPhone 5' SIM card tray that it's apparently just obtained from one of its parts suppliers. And, as the site points out, it looks nearly identical to its iPhone 4/4S counterpart...

This Liquidmetal iPhone 5 concept looks quite believable

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

As rumors about Apple switching to the all-new metallic glass material for a next-generation iPhone continue to persist, one designer has weighed in with own rendition of what the device might look like, both from the inside and the outside - and it's quite noteworthy.

As you know, Apple obtained a worldwide exclusive license to use Liquidmetal alloy in consumer electronics products. With previous rumors alleging a complete redesign, a Liquidmetal-based iPhone is certainly a plausible proposition...

Meet the iPhone Plus

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Those of you who have been reading iDB for a while know we love a good iPhone concept. So when we came across these beautiful renderings of the iPhone Plus from the folks over at ADR Studio, we knew we had to post them.

If the name ADR Studio sounds familiar, it's because it's the same design firm behind other concepts we've featured on our site, including the iPhone SJ. And as usual, they didn't disappoint. Meet the iPhone Plus...

Thieves beware: this iPhone will self-destruct in 5 seconds

Cody Lee ∙ April 29, 2012

In the world of iPhone rumors, things tend to get a tad ridiculous at times. In fact, if we were to believe some of the reports we've heard, Apple's next smartphone will have a 5-inch screen and be machined from liquid metal.

Well the folks over at AatmaStudio, known for their powerful Apple product concepts, have taken ridiculous to the next level. Check out their vision for the next iPhone, and its cool self-destructing remote-wipe feature...

Confirmed: Sprint to keep unlimited data, whether or not iPhone 5 is LTE

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 25, 2012

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has finally addressed concerns that the carrier might drop its unlimited data plans for an upcoming sixth-generation iPhone. Speaking to CNET's Roger Cheng, Hesse said his company has little interest in changing unlimited data plans by the time the next iPhone hits the market later this year, whether or not it is LTE capable.

Sprint is the only major United States wireless operator still offering an all-you-can-eat data plans to smartphone customers. This, as Hesse often puts it, remains the carrier's "distinctive differentiator"...

Rumor: Chinese parts vendor leaks next-generation iPhone home buttons

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Oh great, it looks like next-generation iPhone part leaks are starting early this year. Apple Bitch points to TVC-Mall, a Chinese parts vendor, who has listed "iPhone 5" home buttons for sale on its website.

While the buttons look fairly similar to those found on current iOS devices, the vendor claims that they are in fact noticeably different...

Rumor: Apple could use in-cell touch panels for thinner, lighter future iPhones

Cody Lee ∙ April 20, 2012

DigiTimes is out with a new report today claiming that it has learned that Apple is looking to adopt in-cell touch panels for future iPhones — possibly even this year's model. As usual, the information in the report is attributed to supply chain chatter.

Why is this a big deal? Well, if it's true, it could make future iPhones significantly thinner. Unlike on-cell panels, which Apple uses in its current handsets, in-cell panels combine touch sensors and color filters into one layer, making the touch panel much thinner...

Rumor: next iPhone likely to drop in October with new Qualcomm LTE chip

Cody Lee ∙ April 19, 2012

In a note to investors this morning, Piper Jaffray's senior Apple analyst Gene Munster said that Qualcomm is facing supply issues with its new 28-nanometer LTE chips. Munster believes that this cements an October launch date for Apple's next iPhone.

It's widely believed that the Cupertino company's next handset will feature the above-mentioned Qualcomm MDM9615 LTE chipset, as it allows for both voice and data connections over LTE networks. It's also smaller and much more power-efficient...

Why Apple’s next iPhone launch is so important

Cody Lee ∙ April 19, 2012

A week from now, Apple will be announcing its sales figures for the past three months on its quarterly earnings call. Analysts think the company sold in upwards of 12 million iPads and 33 million iPhones, thanks to the continuous momentum of the new 4S.

But according to Goldman Sachs' Bill Shope, Apple's next smartphone launch is the one to watch. The analyst recently raised his Apple stock price target from $700 to $750 on the belief that the sixth-generation iPhone launch is the most important one ever...

Rumor: next iPhone will be machined from Liquidmetal and launch at WWDC

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

A new report out of South Korea alleges that Apple will be launching a sixth-generation iPhone at its annual developers conference this summer, likely taking place between June 11-15.

The phone is said to be a complete overhaul of the existing iPhone, with the biggest design feature being the use of the patented Liquidmetal amorphous alloy, presumably for its shell.

As you know, Apple obtained exclusive worldwide rights to use this zirconium-based alloy in consumer electronics products from Liquidmetal Technologies’ in August of 2010.

They already tested the substance with the SIM ejector tool that shipped with the iPhone 3G, but thus far the company did not switch its aluminum-based gadgets to Liquidmetal...

The case for a four-inch iPhone with 16:9 display

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 16, 2012

There's no shortage of iPhone mockups these days, a tell-tale indication of the launch date drawing near (we're looking towards a Fall launch). We already told you about one possible iPhone mockup and shared an interesting theory regarding the argument for a four-inch iPhone.

The problem is, the vast majority of artists' renditions depict an iPhone with a blown up display that, however, features the same 3:2 aspect ratio as all iPhone and iPod touch models back to 2007.

So, how about a four-incher with a 16:9 aspect ratio display?

Thoughts on the 4-inch iPhone theory

Cody Lee ∙ April 11, 2012

Yesterday, an intriguing theory on how Apple could build an iPhone with a 4-inch screen made its way around the tech world. The idea is based on the fact that Apple could make the display larger, without drastically increasing the size of the handset.

Judging from the feedback I've gathered from our readers, on Twitter, and on other websites, the consensus seems to be that this theory is way off base; Apple would never do anything like it. But to me, it feels like everyone is overlooking a few things...