High-Quality Video and Photos Reveal What Apple's Plastic iPhone Will Look Like

[Jalu]

Far from ready for practical use? That's an odd statement seeing as AMOLED screens have been in production for MANY years and for pictures and video, offer a significantly better image quality than alternatives. Some may prefer, some may not (I do), but to state they're far from ready for practical use shows your lack of screen technology knowledge.

Not at all.

I've seen AMOLED screens by the dozens, and all of them suffer from oversaturated colours, blueish or greenish tint issues depending on the viewing angle, aging issues (very apparent on phones only a year old...) and a lack of brightness under bright daylight. Not to mention the artifacts caused by pentile pixel arrangements. Say all you like, the technology is still in it's infancy. It what you're claiming would be true, why are virtually no manufacturers of digital camera's applying AMOLED display's on their cameras?

I really do see the potential advantages of AMOLED technology, but I find today's real-world appliances of the technology highly inferior to good LCD-IPS screens like those on the iPhone or the HTC One X and One.

And this is coming from someone who still prefers a plasma tv over an LCD tv. Don't try to assume I don't know a lot about display technology, thank you very much.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I know it isn't from Apple. It's Techdy's reaction and I'm speculating that is what Apple is aiming for.

So you are speculating on speculating? How very meta.

But even so, it's a bridge too far. Where is the link between Techdy and Apple for you to make such an inference? For all we know the mockups only exist in someone's imagination? We've seen plenty of Apple hoax product's in the past 10 years, some that even fooled case makers.

 

[OllyW]

We've seen plenty of Apple hoax product's in the past 10 years, some that even fooled case makers.

And a few real leaks that have fooled some of Apple's biggest fans.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

good to know, but i dont like bmw. here we call them "the idiots dream". i have mercedes and i like the plastic parts inside.

about my horse > he is busy now

Um, the BMW reference wasn't to tout anything other than it's an expensive car w/ lots of plastic, so your "I don't like BMW," etc., is rather out of place and off point.

But since you own a Mercedes, and like the plastic inside, I'm unsure why you are moaning the prospect that Apple might "cheapen" it's phone by making a model, once again, out of it. Plastic is not the sole domain of the Walmarts of the world. It's even in very high end products.

As for your horse, of course he's busy... he's trying to figure out how to pull the cart hitched to him backwards or push it w/o it toppling over. Duh.

 

[anomie]

Very smart: design a cheap new Android phone (see 'one more thing' at the end) and than spread a bunch of rumours on the design of a future iPhone.

Pretty sure they will be selling a bunch of their android phones..

What I don't get is why MacRumors doesn't take a more critical stand at this?

Maybe MR is just not as confused as your mind seems to be when you talk your android crap

 

[phalseHUD]

I some ways this looks better than the iPhone 5. The continuous rear shell looks better than the glass signal windows on the 5. This design is more minimalist.

Totally agree! I absolutely hate the shiny glass bands on the rear of the iPhone 5. It's too noisy and cluttered for my simple tastes. The elegance and simplicity of the first iPod nano is what they should be aiming for IMO.

 

[Smigit]

I don't see them going black for the front, at least not for all colour combinations. Both the current iPod range and the marketing material for iOS 7, which has predominately used the white iPhone, seem to fly against it.

Black may work with some colour combinations, but it'll be far too strong for many of the lighter/softer coloured backs. I don't however see why there can't be a mix of both white and black fronts depending on the backing colour. I realise older iPhones had a black front and a white back, but they've long since moved away from that after enduring some long publicised issues with getting a white front on the iPhone 4.

 

[joachimnb]

Well, let us just hope thet fix the design mess of iPhone 5. From a design point of view, something needs to be done to bring simplicity back.

 

[samcraig]

No android makes cheap phones.

Android is an OS. Android doesn't make any phones. Cheap or otherwise.

And "cheap" is really subjective. And also not always relevant. Personally I care more about how my phone works and if it's a well made phone. Whether that's plastic or metal matters little as I put my phone in a case. As long as it's not easily broken because of the build quality.

I love all tech. The best tool for the job in my opinion. The pissing contest over whose phone is better is silly. The best phone is the phone you enjoy using and does what you want it to.

Hey hey hey - chocolate is SO much better than vanilla. And mint chip blows both of those crap flavors away

 

[saha-med]

Maybe this phone wont have a retina display, and theyll call the 5s, 5s with retina display

 

[ClemyNX]

I think this is such an awesome idea.

I hope Apple begins to ship an iPhone like this that is cheaper and yet capable of operating quick and smooth.

I always believed that selling old models of the iPhone was a bad idea.

For example, I know the iPad 2 is cheaper and people will buy the heck out of it, but unfortunately it gives you a terrible experience of what the iPad is truly capable of.

You miss the speed of the newest device and screen clarity.

The same goes with selling the iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 is just not capable of being a great iPhone anymore. It is not smooth and can be very sluggish at operating apps.

Even though this article does not mention this, I think replacing old model iPhones with a cheaper iPhone is one awesome move.

That way everyone can get the price they want and the performance of a great product.

iPad 2 a terrible experience? I've been using one since day one and it still works great. Sure the screen is low def, but it's not like it disturbs me so much.

 

[Four oF NINE]

Very smart: design a cheap new Android phone (see 'one more thing' at the end) and than spread a bunch of rumours on the design of a future iPhone.

Pretty sure they will be selling a bunch of their android phones..

What I don't get is why MacRumors doesn't take a more critical stand at this?

Apple will NEVER make an Android phone. Are you new at this? Are you seriously that uninformed on the Apple iOS system?

 

[Arran]

Yeah, looks like a phone I could buy, and probably prefer instead of aluminum/metal. But of course... it's filled with last generation tech. Always this curse. There really is no choice.

At this point, last generation tech is fine. (For me, at least)

 

[TechnoExpert]

Looks like a fake. A cheep way to advertise a knockoff iPhone

2 reasons why it looks fake.

1. No fine print on the backplate under iPhone logo. Historicall even pre-production iphone leaks have all had some tiny writing under the iPhone logo. This thing just says iPhone on the back.

2. Obviously this is an ad for the "Basic Bear" phone. The producers have no name for themselves, so, they attempt to use the popularity of the iPhone to get viewers to see their ad. This is nothing more than a bait and switch campaign.

 

[Rot'nApple]

But, what an over dramatic video for a rumoured part leak...pretty silly

As overdramatic as 14 pages of 340 replies to a blog story of an over dramatic video for a rumoured part leak??? </s>
/
/

 

[WilliamLondon]

So many people on here think this plastic case (if it is real) is the defining feature (along with the internals using not current tech) and that's what's going to differentiate it from the current iPhone and justify a lower price. And evidently in their minds consumers think along these lines too? That's like saying, "I bought a Bentley for myself because it's got a hand carved wooden dash, and for my children I bought them a BMW and Mercedes because of the extensive use of plastic in their build materials - you know, cheaper and more durable."

They will not release a new iPhone only differentiated by build materials - imagine the people who pay more money for the higher priced iPhone that does the exact same thing the cheaper one does.

If this iPhone exists and it costs less than the current one and has plastic and colour options and doesn't use the fastest chips out there (but is still functional because they won't sell an unusable product), it will have different functionality to differentiate it from the current iPhone, exactly like the Nano is differentiated from the Touch, exactly like the Pro is differentiated from the iMac, and on and on. This discussion focusing solely on cost and build materials is ridiculous - two products doing the exact same thing but at different prices? Never going to happen.

 

[TyPod]

For all we know the mockups only exist in someone's imagination? We've seen plenty of Apple hoax product's in the past 10 years, some that even fooled case makers.

For me this is exactly what this product and these new photos/video feels like.

 

[Miharu]

this is only possible without Steve Jobs. Now iOS market share will skyrocket.

 

[jouster]

Finally. Would choose this over my iphone 5 any time. More comfortable to hold, better material for a phone, better antenna reception, no reason to put your phone in an ugly plastic case like everyone does anyway. And it is also a cheaper material. Yes, the aluminum feels pro and expensive, but that is hidden in a case anyway. This design is more beautiful than iphone 5 in a minimalist view. Not shifting materials, surfaces and visible seems everywhere. This looks like Apple and not and old Leika.

Agreed. I'm all over this if it is released. Don't like the iP5 at all.

 

[pmau]

I like Apple's approach, if it happens ...

I totally welcome a cheaper IP5. Most people spend all their money on the current iP5, scratch it, complain loudly and then exchange it 5 times.

After that, they say it's a ****** phone.

On the other hand, no one complains about the Samsung mass-market approach. They all happily carry cheap plastic around and say it's so much better.

This is all about psychology, because people hate when a high end product wears off so easily. But this is mostly the marketing approach of Apple.

As soon as Apple stops to market the iPhone as the pinnacle of engineering, they'll succeed in the mass market.

Not because of the actual product or quality, but simply because of customer expectation.

Please don't ever start whining about IP5's quality again. It's overpriced, but that was the whole point. You can't win on margin, if you don't sell it as if it was the best thing ever designed and built.

So, offering a cheaper version will shut up all the people who go with the flow and buy a phone every 12 month. All others, who are willing to pay premium for better, but sensitive materials can still buy it for a premium price.

And before you bash on my writing let may state clearly:

I totally welcome this approach.

I can carry a cheap version using a multi-SIM outside doing sports, on holidays, being at concerts or whatever but still be able to own a premium phone because I simply LIKE to have that too.

 

[Jimmy James]

This will be the 5s.

 

[Moonjumper]

Apple will NEVER make an Android fan. Are you new at this? Are you seriously that uninformed on the Apple iOS system?

I think the guy was pointing out that in the video they end with showing a "Basic Bear" Android phone that is identical to the "leaked" iPhone. The Mac Rumors story suggests that the Basic Bear is a clone of the leaked model, but it could be they have just made a phone in a vaguely iPhone style, and then created an iPhone mockup and leak as a marketing tool.

 

[typeface]

So much negativity here....the same people will be falling over themselves to get these phones when they are released. I don't see how it can be classed as "cheap" when nobody has seen, held or used the phone yet. You can almost guarantee it will look and feel amazing when released, because it is Apple! It was the same with the iPad Mini, people moaning about no retina- but it is selling more than the full size iPad. Let's see...it is unfortunate people are so quick to judge the unknown.

People like to shout and be heard, because "I KNOW BEST!" - yup, it's quite arrogant isn't it? You are right - noone yet knows *anything* about this - they didn't even know about the look until this "leak" was published, which could well be fake - Apple may have purposely "leaked" this design as a distraction technique, whilst working on something totally different. That is unlikely, but altogether possible - they're far from stupid.

Here's the real reason Apple are able to make this an affordable 'phone... sorry to disappoint people, but the plastic is not the only cutback:

Prepare for 8 bit iOS...

 

[mdelvecchio]

One very good thing about this plastic design is that the user will not have to subject himself to the potential dangers of touching a bare metal antenna. [...] For those who want to avoid the potential dangers of touching a bare metal antenna but don't like cases, this new plastic iPhone design is good.

uh, danger? there haven't been any linked risks between the external antenna and danger. the source of any potential danger remains the same -- holding a cellular radio next to your head. not the antenna.

 

[SILen(e]

Don't get me started on AMOLED screens, I really hope Apple steers clear of them for the foreseeable future. Promising technology for sure, but far from ready for practical use, imo.

Just days before iOS7 was announced some website reported that they had seen what iOS7 looked like and create a mockup.
They reported also that they had seen two different color schemes, a white one and a black one and they thought maybe that had something to do with daytime use and nighttime use or maybe white phones and black phones etc.

So far, as far as i know, we have only seen the white color scheme, dunno if they website was just mistaken, the black color scheme had been dropped or Apple is limiting it to the iPhone 5S or the budget iPhone or whatever.

But based on what we know - the white color scheme is the only one existing in iOS7, so let's pretend iOS 7 will always use it.

But why am i talking about iOS7 colors when replying to a post about AMOLED?

Because there's no way Apple will be able to switch to AMOLED-displays in the near future with the iOS7 interface colors we have seen so far.

Android 4.0+ is using a very dark theme, not really for artistic reasons but because a darker interface is better for AMOLED screens used on the Nexus devices and many Samsung phones, giving them a longer battery life and also a longer display life. They are also not using very thin lines in the interface, because PenTile Matrix displays wouldn't be able to display them properly.

iOS7 is the complete opposite, it is using very bright or even white colors and also 1pixel wide lines and a very thin font.

(Some have argumented, that this was deliberate to make it much harder for Android manufacturers to clone the iOS7 design on phones using AMOLED screens).

So i think iOS7 is the proof that Apple won't use AMOLED screens for their phones until all the problems you later mentioned with those screens have been fixed.

This will be the 5s.

No.