iPhone 5 rumors: aluminum backside, redesigned antenna

Now that the MacBook Pro refresh has happened and the iPad 2 is out, what's left for the rumor mill? The iPhone 5 of course. Citing a Chinese source, Japanese site Macotakara claims that Apple is abandoning the current iPhone 4's exposed antenna/glass backside construction for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 will supposedly have an all-aluminum rear case similar to the iPad 2. Wireless signals will penetrate the case via the Apple logo, which will be made from a plastic resin, presumably similar to the black bar on top of the 3G iPad 2.

Macotakara has had a fairly good accuracy rate in its rumors so far, although Economic Daily News, Macotakara's source for this rumor, has been less reliable in the past. Macotakara's reports nailed the iPad 2's announcement and shipping dates, and it got some of the hardware details right as far back as December. If the site is getting its information directly from Chinese sources as it claims, that might account for its accuracy rate.

A complete case redesign for the iPhone 5 isn't beyond the realm of possibility, but personally, I'll remain skeptical until there are corroborating reports from at least one other source. The iPhone 5 will likely be announced in either June or July of this year, and in the meantime we can expect to hear a lot more about the forthcoming device -- not all of it accurate.

[via MacRumors]

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Source: http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/index.php?ID=11769

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Rumors iPhone

Now that the MacBook Pro refresh has happened and the iPad 2 is out, what's left for the rumor mill? The iPhone 5 of course. Citing a...

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Quentin

This is a step backwards in so many ways. There's no way that Apple will do a design like this.

March 17 2011 at 1:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

aleonell.10

this probs for the iPod touch 5

March 12 2011 at 2:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

lens

The iPhone 4 *looks* better than the old 3GS, but the 3GS feels better to hold. It wouldn't surprise me to see them go back to the old shape. They'll of course come up with some spin to sell people that they are not backtracking, but it won't be the first time it has happened.

March 09 2011 at 12:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ReggieSmith

Looks like a photo-shopped iPod touch to me. Until apple comes up with a good fix for battery life I can't see them making a thinner iPhone unless it gets much bigger. (wider & taller)

March 08 2011 at 7:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kelmon

"Now that the MacBook Pro refresh has happened and the iPad 2 is out, what's left for the rumor mill?"

Don't forget that we've also eliminated the Verizon iPhone and The Beatles on iTunes. At long bloody last...

March 08 2011 at 5:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

HektikLyfe

Through the Apple logo? That seems unlikely. The aluminum back though I would believe.

March 07 2011 at 9:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

sepirioth

No flash = fake. The piture is anyways, dont know if the whole design concept is but that pic is DEF not it. They wouldnt take out the flash, that would be insanely stupid

March 07 2011 at 4:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

tys

I'd be very happy if the next iPhone looks like that mockup, especially if it gets the rumored larger screen.
I never really warmed up to the look of the iPhone 4, but this looks great.

March 07 2011 at 12:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

AppleZilla

No, no, no. I love the glass back.

I like it flat, I like the glass. Do what you wish with the antenna, just keep the current form factor. Please.

March 07 2011 at 12:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ggdenny

Apple won't put an aluminum back on the iPhone 5. They won't take a design step backwards.

March 07 2011 at 11:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply