Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone N94 Prototype Back Cover - Is this actually the iPhone 5?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I'm a bit conflicted. I would THINK that Apple would only keep the iPhone 4 body for a entry-level model. But why would they give the cheaper model an A5 processor? I would assumed they'd keep the A4, low storage capacity, etc. to provide, say, a $99 price.
Regardless, my predictions:
Late September media event. Give Tim Cook a chance to shine, little/no presence from Jobs.
iPhone 4S: 99% same iPhone 4 body, antenna redesign. Nearly the same everything, low flash capacity, $99. Good for developing markets or people looking to save some money.
iPhone 5: 4" screen, tapered body, A5 processor, 8 MP camera, 3.5G, new home button (?!). No 4G.
All phones available on Sprint, Verizon, and at&t! (in the US)
iOS 5: Tim Cook's "One more thing": new heretofore unseen voice control features, AKA "Assistant". iOS 5 available in early October, near-simultaneously with iPhone 5.
I buy MTM suits and timepieces.
Very true.
i actually saw someone with a watch on their wrist recently. it was so cool, haven't seen it in a long time
Tapered case...
Could the tapered case design be for a new iPod touch instead of the iPhone. This would allow Apple to put a better camera in the iPod touch.
The thinness of the iPod touch was the stated reason that Apple could not put a better camera in the device.
Apple would never do a humpback design like some cell phones have, so a tapered device would make sense.
Could the tapered case design be for a new iPod touch instead of the iPhone. This would allow Apple to put a better camera in the iPod touch.
The thinness of the iPod touch was the stated reason that Apple could not put a better camera in the device.
Apple would never do a humpback design like some cell phones have, so a tapered device would make sense.
I also doubt that the iPhone 5 will be plastic. MacBooks went from plastic to metal + glass. iMac did the same. iPhone did the same. iPad has always been metal + glass.
I don't think it will be that asymmetrical "MacBook Air" taper that we've seen in some renders. It will probably be a symmetrical, iPad 2-esque smooth taper to make it easier on the hands.
Yet, I'm not really sure what kind of material they would use. Most of their tapered materials are aluminum unibody (iPad, iMac, MacBook). Glass tends to be flat (Displays, iPhone 4).
Maybe they will use a smooth cambered surface similar to the Magic Mouse? That would be sexy.
Not me. I love the iPhone form factor: how it fits into my hand, the weight, the thickness, the modern aesthetic of it.
Those redesign images felt completely generic to me, like how all car manufacturers homed in on a certain set of shapes.
I also doubt that the iPhone 5 will be plastic. MacBooks went from plastic to metal + glass. iMac did the same. iPhone did the same. iPad has always been metal + glass.
I don't think it will be that asymmetrical "MacBook Air" taper that we've seen in some renders. It will probably me a symmetrical, iPad 2-esque smooth taper to make it easier on the hands.
Yet, I'm not really sure what kind of material they would use. Most of their tapered materials are aluminum unibody (iPad, iMac, MacBook). Glass tends to be flat (Displays, iPhone 4).
Maybe they will use a smooth cambered surface similar to the Magic Mouse? That would be sexy.
Maybe Liquid Metal? Remember.... they bought into that technology.
I could see them moving to a plastic back to help reduce breakage from dropping. But, as an iPhone 4 user, I can't see not having a case on the phone or any phone for that matter. Dropping it will happen.
Spring 2011
8 GB iPhone 3Gs - $49 AT&T
http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/
Fall 2011
8 GB iPhone 4s - $49 - At&t, Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile
16 GB iPhone 4s - $99 - At&t, Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile
32 GB iPhone 5 - $199 - At&t, Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile
64 GB iPhone 5 - $299 - At&t, Verizon, Sprint, T-mobile
My only surprise will be if they streamline their iPad 2 production as well.
I'd had delusions they would make all iPad 2s include a cellular radio, and keep the starting price at $499. Now, I'm still wondering if they might update the iPad 2 models to be wifi/cellular and include service from ALL carriers (like the phones), and keep the price point exactly the same. I think the last count was 18 models of iPad because of the various configurations. Very un-Apple like.
This would make more sense NOW than it did in April, and it would absolutely screw everyone else in the market, worse than before while making carriers estatic... and maximizing production capacity. They could liquidate all iPad Wifi Only models starting at $429 ($70 drop a per tier) and be in the drivers seat, slamming iOS 5 into the mix and giving them ample breathing room to perfect iPad 3 early next year.
I could see this being a minor change for them given what we're already expecting, and it would set up Tim Cook to have a truly explosive post-Steve-Jobs fiscal holiday quarter.
~ CB
Or because they passed on upgrading to the iPhone 4 initially because of the poor industrial design and decided to wait it out in the hope Apple will come out with something more durable and more useful.
I passed on upgrading to the iPhone 4. I'll pass on upgrading to the iPhone 5 if its still made of glass.
Re: A4 v. A5 -- iOS 5 adds no new features that require the A4. What's the point of having the faster processor when every new iOS feature and virtually every app supports the legacy hardware anyway?
Exactly the same I said to my colleague just now .... Same reason I didn't buy a 3GS when I had the 3G...
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8L1)
It's really hard to convince yourself that everyone is jeoulous of you if your phone looks just like last years model.
bushido said:
It's really hard to convince yourself that everyone is jeoulous of you if your phone looks just like last years model.
No, it's just really hard to convince yourself to buy a phone that isn't even attempting to keep up with industry trends.
Locking yourself into a 2 year service agreement on a non-4G / LTE phone right now is kinda silly to begin with -- while the deployment isn't there now, you're basically saying you're OK not having that service until 2013 at the earliest -- but locking yourself into a 2 year service agreement on a phone with known design and signal defects and a small screen just seems dumb.
Better off buying an iPhone 4 in the aftermarket as people rush to sell them to get the "new" and functionally identical iPhone 5. At least that way if you drop it and shatter the thing, you can still go get a subsidized Android phone to replace it.
My iPhone 4 has proved more durable than my iPhone 3G (or the iPhone 3G of my mother). For once, the iPhone 3G simply looks much more battered on the back after a short while whereas my iPhone 4 still looks close to pristine. Secondly, the mute switch on one of the 3G phones has broken off (which is not surprising as it is a much more flimsy design compared to the iPhone 4).
For what it's worth, I've had an iPhone 4 for a little over a year. I've dropped it a handful of times (no case), and the glass has held up just fine. If anything, it's the stainless steel band that gets dinged up. Any scratches on the glass are nearly imperceptible. I've dropped it on concrete, on gravel (on my first week! dumb!), hardwood flooring, you name it. Maybe I've just been lucky.
Well, aggregated subjective opinions do represent something objective and relevant just by virtue of voting with your wallet.
And I really love it how you equate 'subjective opinion' with 'blind hatred'.
I'm still of the opinion that the iPhone 5 (not 4s) will be a completely new design, and that the iPhone 4s will look much like the iPhone 4, but, like the iPhone 5, will run on all carriers. While, I could easily be wrong... this sounds completely "Apple" and makes a lot of strategic sense.
I think it's important for them to rename the iPhone 4, because it won't quite be the same phone. For all intents and purposes though, it will be cheaper, and represent an easy value for consumers. If Apple really finally releases one phone (or technically two) on all carriers, that in itself will change the game.
Beginning in September, buying a new iPhone will mean you can keep your phone no matter what carrier you switch to later. Ultimately, I see this creating a tremendous pressure point for competitors. Next year, Apple can turn up the heat with 4G LTE models, and count on even more upgrades.
~ CB
I think it's important for them to rename the iPhone 4, because it won't quite be the same phone. For all intents and purposes though, it will be cheaper, and represent an easy value for consumers. If Apple really finally releases one phone (or technically two) on all carriers, that in itself will change the game.
Beginning in September, buying a new iPhone will mean you can keep your phone no matter what carrier you switch to later. Ultimately, I see this creating a tremendous pressure point for competitors. Next year, Apple can turn up the heat with 4G LTE models, and count on even more upgrades.
~ CB
I should've specified : Highly polarized opinions like you offered (iOS apps = good, Android apps = bad) to me is blind hatred.
I really hope your right because I don't want to upgrade to the same phone.
It's fast enough already, so that's not an issue.
The only thing I want is a bigger screen
Yet your happy to have the screen made out of glass that if dropped on could potentially lead to the same desired result?
Agreed. Proved very durable for me so far.
Last edited:
Hopefully this iPhone 4s/5 will be the cheaper version that Apple will offer cuz I really want a new redesign of the next iPhone. Already sold my iPhone 4 so my body is ready!
Really? You sold your iPhone, banking on the promise of an unknown design of a new, unreleased model?
Get your history straight
With Android gobbling up Mobile OS share like free samples at Costco, Apple absolutely can not afford to only release a "4S" iPhone this year. They get one release a year, and this time it will have been a year and a half, while new flagship Android devices are released every 6 months. There's absolutely no reason to be conservative anymore, the game is far too competitive in 2011 for "safe" plays. That's exactly why I think we'll see a re-worked iPhone 4 AND an iPhone 5 released. The more models on the market, the more sales, and a re-worked iPhone 4 would be seen as a "new" device.
And as far as everyone citing the 3G S as proof that Apple will release a "modest" update, I think you're forgetting how big of an update the 3G S was. In fact, every iPhone released has been an exponentially larger update than that before it.
iPhone - Started everything, can't compare it to anything.
iPhone 3G - First update, 3G, GPS, new case, updates coming slowly
iPhone 3G S - Hugely improved CPU/GPU, doubled RAM, auto-focusing/video capable camera, HSDPA support, voice control, magnetometer, oleophobic coating, updates coming faster now
iPhone 4 - Completely new case design, experimental antenna design, much faster CPU/GPU, backlit 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, camera on front, HD video recording, RAM doubled, Retina Display, FaceTime, noise cancellation microphone, gyroscope, updates pouring out now
iPhone 5 - We can only assume the list will somehow grow even larger if history repeats itself.
With Android gobbling up Mobile OS share like free samples at Costco, Apple absolutely can not afford to only release a "4S" iPhone this year. They get one release a year, and this time it will have been a year and a half, while new flagship Android devices are released every 6 months. There's absolutely no reason to be conservative anymore, the game is far too competitive in 2011 for "safe" plays. That's exactly why I think we'll see a re-worked iPhone 4 AND an iPhone 5 released. The more models on the market, the more sales, and a re-worked iPhone 4 would be seen as a "new" device.
And as far as everyone citing the 3G S as proof that Apple will release a "modest" update, I think you're forgetting how big of an update the 3G S was. In fact, every iPhone released has been an exponentially larger update than that before it.
iPhone - Started everything, can't compare it to anything.
iPhone 3G - First update, 3G, GPS, new case, updates coming slowly
iPhone 3G S - Hugely improved CPU/GPU, doubled RAM, auto-focusing/video capable camera, HSDPA support, voice control, magnetometer, oleophobic coating, updates coming faster now
iPhone 4 - Completely new case design, experimental antenna design, much faster CPU/GPU, backlit 5 MP rear camera with LED flash, camera on front, HD video recording, RAM doubled, Retina Display, FaceTime, noise cancellation microphone, gyroscope, updates pouring out now
iPhone 5 - We can only assume the list will somehow grow even larger if history repeats itself.
Where did I use the word bad? How does 'less polished' equate with 'bad'? Saying one thing is better than another thing equates with 'highly polarised'?
If there is somebody who is using polarising language, it is you.
Crystal Ball
My predictions:
1. There will be no "Cheaper" iPhone model as this dilutes the premium brand - the iP4 will be the entry level just as the 3GS is now.
2. There will be no iPhone 4S.
3. iPhone 5 (could be called the iPhone V) will look basically the same as iP4 with amends to antenna design and faster A5 chip (maybe a change to home button on the front - personally I hope not) it will also be a world phone for the first time, so will work on any network.
4. Those case designs with the shallow wedge shape will be for the next gen iPod touch.
My predictions:
1. There will be no "Cheaper" iPhone model as this dilutes the premium brand - the iP4 will be the entry level just as the 3GS is now.
2. There will be no iPhone 4S.
3. iPhone 5 (could be called the iPhone V) will look basically the same as iP4 with amends to antenna design and faster A5 chip (maybe a change to home button on the front - personally I hope not) it will also be a world phone for the first time, so will work on any network.
4. Those case designs with the shallow wedge shape will be for the next gen iPod touch.