Possible 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 Rear Shell Showcased in New Video

[Jsameds]

There is no 5.5" iPhone.

"Unfortunately, no one can be told what the 5.5" iPhone 6 is. You have to see it for yourself."

 

[wigby]

Keep saying that. Chances are good no one will remember you said it and mock you with it for the rest of your life.

We have now entered the internet feedback loop. It is impossible to tell if someone is being sarcastic or serious about the existence of the 5.5" iPhone. My money is still on the 5". /s?

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Why do these shells have milling marks on them? It would seem that Apple would spend the money to have molds made, and not mill them out.

It's been a while since I took apart my 3GS, and I was wondering if there were milling marks in it...

By milling marks, I mean the pattern of lines that run the length of the shell in the video and kind of look like fish scales.

 

[MacFinnley]

We see always the space grey version. I want to see the gold iPhone 6 or the silver model at least.

 

[CloaknDagger]

I guess a 5.7" model is out of the question. I suppose if Apple can act a recent patent to float the screen on top of the mechanical home button, well he able to see a larger screen without actually increasing the physical dimensions of the phone itself.

 

[jehrler]

Take a mental step past using it as a phone. Then what do you have? A much more portable, pocketable iPad that runs all the apps in the app store. A great deal of iPhone use is not using it as a phone. So here's a nice sized, fully functional, pocketable computer with a screen big enough to really enjoy "everything else" that makes iDevices so nice. Oh, and if you want to make or take a call, it can double as a phone too.

And it's nowhere near as big as people seem to imagine (see "backpack" post also in response to yours). It will still fit in pockets, including "normal" sized pockets. A week or so ago, there was a rumor that laid out the measurements of all 3 iPhones: 5s, 4.7" and 5.5". So I went into Pages and rendered them in those sizes, laid a generic home screen on top, printed them and then cut them out (and encourage the "backpack" and "need new pants with bigger pockets" crowd to do the same). The 5.5" is a lot bigger than a 5s but it's only a little bigger than the 4.7". However, it's TINY vs. an iPad Mini.

The 5.5" size will be a terrific option for those wanting a bigger screen. And for the market at which it's probably most targeted- the Android crowd- being accustomed to 5"-6" screens means it will look "normal" to them. For them, bigger than 6" screens exist. To that segment, a 5.5" may look small and a 4.7" may look "too small".

You see what you want in a 4.7"? Great. Others see what they want in the 5.5". That another size exists has no effect on your apparent satisfaction at 4.7", anymore than 2 sizes of iMacs, iPads and/or multiple sizes of Apple notebooks has adverse effects on individual choices of an iMac, iPad or a laptop.

Since it is a holiday and I'm feeling lazy, any chance you can post that pages doc so I can print them out and evaluate them all with my son and wife.

Thanks.

 

[krspkbl]

there better be a 5.5" iphone. i'll be picking it for sure.

i don't mind if it means waiting a bit longer. gives me a bit of time to save up some money for it

 

[Dilster3k]

Those antenna lines though.

 

[rkoshack]

Considering when the 4.7" back casing started leaking there's no way the 5.5" launches at the same time. Announced? Sure but launch will be at least a couple months later.

4.7" started production in July - launching September

5.5" starting production in September - launching November/December?

Also as others have said the 'Air' name would be confusing. iPad air is the biggest iPad while the MacBook Air is the smaller MacBook and less powerful. The previous rumor of 'iPhone 6L' made more sense(even tho it's a terrible name)

 

[scoobydoo99]

So the BIGGER model in the lineup is the Air?

That wouldn't make sense.

 

[PFKMan23]

Sensible, credible, or not, it's now just more and more confusing. I do hope there is a larger iPhone though.

 

[scoobydoo99]

Since it is a holiday and I'm feeling lazy, any chance you can post that pages doc so I can print them out and evaluate them all with my son and wife.

Thanks.

this might be easier and faster

http://www.displaywars.com/4,7-inch-16x9-vs-5,5-inch-16x9

Also, for fun, compare the old 3.5" 16x10 ratio (iPhone 4) with the awkwardly tall & skinny 4" 16x9 ratio iPhone 5. Wish they'd go back to 16x10 so I could actually USE that screen real estate.

 

[Kariya]

Is there even any point in watching Keynotes anymore.

There are so many leaks now that pretty much everyone knows the product coming.

Wasn't Apple doubling down on secrecy. It doesn't seem to be going down to well.

 

[SPNarwhal]

Air refers to the weight, and more so the thin of the device rather than its surface. It makes sense with the iPad, although a lot of you are complaining about it now while not complaining about it before this iPhone thing came up. iPad Air is a lighter, thinner version of the original iPad.. iPad Mini is a smaller version of the original iPad.. If Apple released both iPads at the same time and called one the Mini and the other the Air, then maybe it would be strange, but that's not how it happened.

iPhone 6 5.5 isn't really in a place to call itself an Air, seeing as these new phones would be releaed alongside each other, and the other version would then have to be called the Mini or something like that.. which still wouldn't make sense. but calling it an Air wouldn't make sense since they're both very thin..

What happened to iPhone Math?
That name grew on me.

Maybe they'll just throw a letter at the end of it to specify like they always do. iPhone 6XL

Did we ever get told what the C officially stands for? Cheap? or Color?
(not a joke. I mean cheap as in affordable, not cheap as in plastic; I like the plastic.)

 

[jkichline]

Huh?

iPhone Air cause my battery died and thats all I can get.

did they not think of the possible jokes from rivals?

Huh? That's not even a joke, nor funny.

 

[JoshS]

Google made the 7" tablet first... So I guess Apple copied it... Well if that's the case then I love knockoffs... the Nexus 7" tablet doesn't seem to be blowing the doors off of iPad Mini sales at the moment...

SAMSUNG created phablet category in 2011, Apple copied it.

RIP Think different.

Image

 

[rkoshack]

Take a mental step past using it as a phone. Then what do you have? A much more portable, pocketable iPad that runs all the apps in the app store. A great deal of iPhone use is not using it as a phone. So here's a nice sized, fully functional, pocketable computer with a screen big enough to really enjoy "everything else" that makes iDevices so nice. Oh, and if you want to make or take a call, it can double as a phone too.

And it's nowhere near as big as people seem to imagine (see "backpack" post also in response to yours). It will still fit in pockets, including "normal" sized pockets. A week or so ago, there was a rumor that laid out the measurements of all 3 iPhones: 5s, 4.7" and 5.5". So I went into Pages and rendered them in those sizes, laid a generic home screen on top, printed them and then cut them out (and encourage the "backpack" and "need new pants with bigger pockets" crowd to do the same). The 5.5" is a lot bigger than a 5s but it's only a little bigger than the 4.7". However, it's TINY vs. an iPad Mini.

The 5.5" size will be a terrific option for those wanting a bigger screen. And for the market at which it's probably most targeted- the Android crowd- being accustomed to 5"-6" screens means it will look "normal" to them. For them, bigger than 6" screens exist. To that segment, a 5.5" may look small and a 4.7" may look "too small".

You see what you want in a 4.7"? Great. Others see what they want in the 5.5". That another size exists has no effect on your apparent satisfaction at 4.7", anymore than 2 sizes of iMacs, iPads and/or multiple sizes of Apple notebooks has adverse effects on individual choices of an iMac, iPad or a laptop.

Lol wow. I thought I was the only one sad enough to do this but I wanted to get a feel for how big each size would be in my hand that a video just couldn't give me.

The 4.7" in the hand feels almost the same as a 5s but amazingly with a bigger screen jump than the 4s to 5.

The 5.5"? Yes it's huge. In fact my entire 5s nearly fits in the screen of the 5.5". But it's still not uncomfortable to hold in one hand. You'll likely use two hands a lot to operate it tho as you'll have to adjust your grip constantly to use with one hand. Also as you said it fits fine in a regular jeans pocket.

 

[JoshS]

Keep in mind that iPad Air is in reference to all of the other full size iPads. This is the lightest in its size class. It's not a comparison to the Mini.

Could be. At this stage anyone's guesses as to names are just that: guesses. But "Air" seems light and small, so seemed a good name for the smaller MacBooks, but a bad name for the (compared to a Mini) larger, heavier iPad.

My guess is they'll have: iPhone Air for the 4.7" one, and iPhone Pro for the 5.5" one. And I REALLY hope that the 5.5" is released some time very soon, as I'm due an upgrade and don't want to wait for 2015!!

 

[Casiotone]

Why do these shells have milling marks on them? It would seem that Apple would spend the money to have molds made, and not mill them out.

It's been a while since I took apart my 3GS, and I was wondering if there were milling marks in it...

By milling marks, I mean the pattern of lines that run the length of the shell in the video and kind of look like fish scales.

The 3GS back was plastic so of course it was molded.

I'm pretty sure that Apple knows more than me and you about the advantages/inconvenients of aluminum milling vs. casting.

They've been using milled aluminum since the first Unibody MacBooks and they've mastered the art of it.

The iPhone 6 clone shells are actually made of plastic, the unibody process is not something you can do in your basement with a CNC machine (not at this precision level).

From what I understand, you can't create such precise shapes simply by molding aluminum. Most molded aluminum parts end up being machined anyway.

And simple aluminum casting produces air bubbles inside the metal, making it less strong than the unibody process of milling the shape out of a strong pure aluminum block.

Maybe a metallurgist can chime in and give us a better answer.

 

[ronzoninj]

That is the most amateur video I've ever seen. But hooray for iPhone diversification.

 

[boshii]

Is there even any point in watching Keynotes anymore.

This site is for getting rumors on the latest products before they're presented at a Keynote.

If you would rather see the products for the first time at the Keynote, stay away from the site.

 

[spatial]

If Jobs was still around I would put money on the 5.5" being just an internal prototype. Now I have no idea what Apple is doing.

iPhone 5 "forced" people in a way to go up to 4.0" screen, you couldn't get those specs in 3.5" and people accepted it. Now looking at all the part leaks and evidence, it is looking more likely 4.7" will be the new norm and if you were happy with 4.0" you will have to make do with last years tech and buy an iPhone 5S.

I just can't believe that Apple would do this (again). 3.5" to 4.0" was a welcomed change IMO but 4" to 4.7" just seems like a larger jump, not just in size but in choice of iPhone tech.

I love my 5S and if I had a choice I would purchase a 6 at 4.0" as well. The way it is going, if I want updated specs I will need to get a bigger phone.

Does anyone feel the same or am I in the minority?

 

[Sonmi451]

If Jobs was still around

let the man rest...

 

[Tumbleweed666]

this might be easier and faster

http://www.displaywars.com/4,7-inch-16x9-vs-5,5-inch-16x9

Also, for fun, compare the old 3.5" 16x10 ratio (iPhone 4) with the awkwardly tall & skinny 4" 16x9 ratio iPhone 5. Wish they'd go back to 16x10 so I could actually USE that screen real estate.

The problem with those dimensions is that they are the display size not the phone size. For example the screen of the 5.5 inch is just under 4.9 inches tall in portrait mode, however look at the video you'll see the case is more like 6 inches (15cm = 6 inches).

Even so I'm now thinking a 5.5 inch iPhone isn't out of the question when for sure I was going to get a 4.7. And you should get a massive increase in battery capacity if the rumors are correct. I will need to check them out side by side.

 

[kenroberts83]

Is there even any point in watching Keynotes anymore.

Since it's not live, I say no. I already know what happened before Apple bothers to post the video.

----------

If Jobs was still around I would put money on the 5.5" being just an internal prototype. Now I have no idea what Apple is doing.

iPhone 5 "forced" people in a way to go up to 4.0" screen, you couldn't get those specs in 3.5" and people accepted it. Now looking at all the part leaks and evidence, it is looking more likely 4.7" will be the new norm and if you were happy with 4.0" you will have to make do with last years tech and buy an iPhone 5S.

I just can't believe that Apple would do this (again). 3.5" to 4.0" was a welcomed change IMO but 4" to 4.7" just seems like a larger jump, not just in size but in choice of iPhone tech.

I love my 5S and if I had a choice I would purchase a 6 at 4.0" as well. The way it is going, if I want updated specs I will need to get a bigger phone.

Does anyone feel the same or am I in the minority?

I think you're in the minority here. I don't see any value in a smaller iPhone. It is in reality hardly a "phone" anymore as much as it is a pocket-tablet, and a small screen makes it painful to use. I may even go whole-hog and buy the 5.5.