The Fakest-Looking Part Of The Purported iPhone 5
Posted by Michael Nace on Thursday Aug 9, 2012 Under iPhone 5 OpinionIf the glimpses of the purported iPhone 5 units that we’ve seen thus far are all fakes, then they are the best fakes we’ve seen to date. But there’s one angle to these supposed sightings of the New iPhone that look off to me.
The more and more we hear about iPhone 5 sightings, parts, “proof” in the iOS 6 beta code, and beyond, consumers, the media, and even case designers are increasingly believing the hype. The feeling is that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and the fact that so many of these parts are showing up, and all of them appear to match up with one another, point to consensus.
Skeptical holdouts have pointed to the odd elongated screen as a red flag for the iPhone 5 prototypes’ authenticity. Another eyebrow-raiser has been the slightly mismatched metal on the backs of both the white and black iPhone 5 prototypes that suggests to some that Apple tends to try to make their form factors look streamlined and seamless. But these arguments, while legitimate, are debatable as well: Apple could very well see their longer-but-not-wider display as a compromise between a larger screen that still maintains the profile of the classic iPhone dimensions. And the slightly mismatched metal could be an aesthetic flair to show off the fact that the iPhone 5 will have a metal back — maybe even made out of the now-mythic LiquidMetal.
I can actually buy both of those arguments. But there is another aspect of the iPhone 5 sightings that, to me, looks really bogus, and no one has ever brought it up. In fact, it’s an angle that gets shown off regularly. Take a look:
The bottom of these iPhone 5 units, to me, look really “off.” And it’s not just a gut feeling, either. First off, have we not heard that the MagSafe is coming to the iPhone 5′s dock connector, and that it will be somewhere in the 9-pin range? I’m not exactly sure that the MagSafe is ready to be able to transfer both power and energy, but even if it is, take a look at the MagSafe on a MacBook: you can clearly see the pins, and the socket itself is rather shallow — nothing like the gaping hole depicted above. It could be that this particular photo only shows the form factor and does not contain the innards, but even the purported “fully assembled” iPhone 5 sightings have looked like this.
Second, what’s with the headphone jack on the bottom of the device? Does it not seem rather odd that Apple would move it from top to the bottom? Perhaps it’s because of NFC hardware that could be positioned in the upper left quadrant of the device, but I’m still doubtful of that. And again, the hole for the jack looks nothing like it does on the iPhone 4 and 4S, which has a fine circle around it. The new jack looks like a “plain” 1/8″ jack that you would see on a Magnavox walkman from the mid 80s.
Third, what’s with the asymmetrical number of speaker holes in the bottom? I get it — the presence of the headphone jack reduces the lefthand number of holes to only five. But does Apple do asymmetry like this? The bottom speaker screens on the current iPhone are elegant — they look like mini versions of something Bose would create. The asymmetrical, clumsy look of the speaker array on this model is homely by Apple’s standards.
To make a truly believable iPhone 5, one would have to be a kind of “master sculptor,” taking into account every possible angle of the device, and crafting it in such a way that rings true as an Apple design. In my opinion, there are just enough questionable angles to this iPhone 5 to keep it in question up to the very day that Tim Cook walks out on stage with it — or not.
By Michael Nace
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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August 9th, 2012 at 11:35 am
What this rendering does take into account though is the new sim card. The antenna markings are also the same on the 4s as this one.
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August 9th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Magnavox walkman? That is going back some…
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August 9th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
i still belive that this is the real thing.i dont know why,but i am pretty sure that this is the new iPhone.
if Apple bring us another phone in september it will be an hollywood scenario…it will be mind blowing
but i dont think it will happend…
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August 9th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Maybe function was more important than aesthetics in this particular phone model. the phone is actually going to be a little thinner than the current phone without reducing the amount of components on the inside. so we have to consider that and im sure many other factors unknown to us lay-people when it comes to engineering a phone. i’m thinking major form factor overhaul next year because of the gen design pattern as it currently stands with apple goes in 3′s.
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August 9th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I don’t see much design budget getting spent on this evolution at all.
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August 9th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
@Nace…nice job with the article! I agree with everything you said above except about the headphone jack being on the bottom. To me, it seems that the bottom of the phone would be the best place for the headphone jack. Maybe it’s just me but if I were listening to music with my phone in my pocket then I would have to place my phone in my pocket right side up, which is then always awkward when I take it out of my pocket. I ALWAYS put my phone in my pocket upside down….it’s just natural. When you are done doing something on your phone, the way it is held it is only natural for it to be upside when you put your hand down by your side (without flipping the phone around). So that’s how i put it in my pocket. Likewise, when I get a call, I reach in my pocket with my hand facing downward and pull it out. I don’t have to flip it around or anything.
Also, if you’re sitting at a desk or table and have a cord in the headphone jack, isn’t it ever annoying to have that cord at the top of the phone and dangling down the side…and then the slightest tug on the cord starts to turn the phone around to where it starts turning upside down?
Another thought on this is that it makes it a little more cleaner to have two cords coming out of the same end rather than one at the bottom and one at the top if you have it plugged in for charging and have an auxiliary plugged in as well.
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August 9th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
“It could be that this particular photo only shows the form factor and does not contain the innards, but even the purported ‘fully assembled’ iPhone 5 sightings have looked like this.”
If people have gotten their hands on a fully assembled iphone 5 and have been able to take it and get professional photos of it….then how come we have no info about the innards???!!! To me, that’s why it is obviously fake. The same kind of pictures keep popping up and it’s like people are just competing for who can make a better rendition of the false rumors. Why haven’t we heard about what the innards contain? Because they are fakes. Why hasn’t apple sent their legal team on these people that are leaking images? Because they are fake! Apple has doubled down on security…we won’t know what it really is until it gets much closer to the announcement, or even until the actual announcement. You heard it here first
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August 9th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Some very very good points @Mike D. They all seem very Apple-like, and happen to just be common sense. Haha.
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August 9th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
If this was truly SJ’s last big project I don’t think he would allow it to go like this – this isn’t “yo ho blow the man down with a water cannon” good this is “let me turn on the water hose and spray you” good – unless there are a few things hiding that we don’t know about to bring up some really old rumors; Pico projector or 3D screen – the moved headphone jack could be moved for a projector at the top (just hoping cuz that would be AWESOME) we also have so many reported parts from the outside but nothing from the inside? At this point we should see some innards showing up and we haven’t which makes me think this all may be an elaborate farce. Like what processor will this have? There are too many unanswered questions for me to really believe that this is really going to be it. Although I am a man so I am always wrong, even when I am right
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August 9th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
@Mike D your post posted while I was writing mine I’m not trying to one up you in any way! Also sorry to everyone for reading almost the same exact thing that someone else already wrote – EPIC FAIL for me and my powerbook G4 that refuses to update in real time!!
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August 9th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Amen Mike D!!!!!! Well said and it does make sense! I still believe that there is a brand new design…if this infact a stretch iphone 4s then im pretty sure there’s gonna be a lot of people will be disappointed.
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August 9th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
I find it hard to believe that some people still don’t understand the benefit of having the headphone jack on the bottom. It makes complete sense to me all because of the points Mike D points out. I’ve seen many comments complaining of this change and I just don’t get why?
Where are these reports of a fully assembled iPhone 5? I’ve never seen one. I’ve seen reports of a fully assembled iPhone 5 body and glass, but nothing about a full blown all components included leak. So yeah, of course we wouldn’t have any info about exactly how the new dock connector is going to look with the electronics behind it. It’s only the shell, so we should see just a dark hole in the bottom. And of course no CPU or any other internal components. If anyone has a link to a report of a fully assembled iPhone 5, please post it. While I’m not totally convinced that this is the final design, I don’t think excluding this design is warranted just because we haven’t seen a fully assembled iPhone 5 with all it’s innards yet.
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August 9th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
If all they do is elongate the 4S, talk about a huge disappointment! I remember before the 4S came out, everyone was so excited about the new phone and all it was was a refresh. Seems like more of the same ol strategy to me. A shame because I used to get excited about the new phones but I don’t anymore because it’s just too much marketing hype to me.
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August 9th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
http://9to5mac.com/2012/08/09/apples-retail-price-matching-extends-to-recent-iphone-discounts/
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August 9th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
I’ll give one reason to have the headphone on the top:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC596ZM/B?fnode=45
It’s kind of hard to use the headphones while it’s on the dock when they’re blocked by the bottom of it.
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August 9th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Oh, and I can’t wait until Tim Cook triple downs on security. People will be walking out with cases of iPhones and selling to the distributors on Craigslist.
I’m thinking by the time he gets to quadrupling down on it, you’ll be able to buy tickets to Apple R&D for some cereal box tops and $2.99 for shipping and handling.
(of course, if these rumors are true…)
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August 9th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
@Jeff, they’ll just set up a webcam into the R&D department.
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August 9th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
@ Jeff in Everett – Who uses their headphone jack while their iPhone is in a dock? Don’t most docks have an audio out connection for headphones or connecting to external source? I’ve never used the headphone jack while my phone was docked.
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August 9th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@ThirdEye, I do, because it’s convenient and I can see who is calling. It’s kind of like a regular phone with a headset, and having it come out the back would get rid of the caller ID aspect of the iPhone because I know I’d always be pulling at least perpendicular to my frame of reference.
Just a side note… I’m not thinking too clearly this week*. I have a big assignment due at work, and it’s 3pm here, and I’ve been up since 2am.
*insert “or ever” joke here…
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August 9th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
@Jeff – I have no idea what you just said?
But it’s all good. I’m sure there are still some reasons why some like the jack on top. I just welcome the change as it makes sense to me and the way I use my phone.
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August 9th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
I like the headphone at the top. Because the iPhone is too big to fit comfortably in my pocket, I wear it on my belt. If it’s in the back pocket I risk sitting on it, if it’s in my front pocket it jabs me if I sit down and fights for pocket space with my keys. If phones keep getting bigger, we’ll all end up with man-bags, and I’m rather uncomfortable with that.
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August 9th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
If the headphone jack .is moved to the bottom, it will be impossible to use while using external battery.
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August 9th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
@J with currents ones, no but they will probably make one that accommodates the headphone jack on the bottom. (If it ever happens)
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August 9th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
@ThirdEye, I’m laughing out loud at your response, especially since I just read what I wrote!
Anyhow… The jack on the dock comes out the back, so you can do what you said, so I was thinking in my mind what should have been on the response.
OK, so if I have the headset plugged in the back of the dock, and when I answer the phone, I may pull the phone sideways, because I’m that clumsy, plus I have a service dog with me, and he requires attention sometimes. (He’s for my diabetes).
Cheers!
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August 10th, 2012 at 1:43 am
9to5mac recently posted up rumored pics of the new battery which is only 1440 mah. I still don’t believe it. If the phone is longer then there would certainly be more room for a larger battery. If the phone has LTE and a bigger screen then it would definitely need a bigger battery. 9to5mac does a good job of at least mentioning that it could be a part that has been scrapped completely. THAT is something I believe…how else would someone get their hands on it and leak it out to the public?
Again, I very well could be wrong with my assumptions so don’t be too harsh on me if I am…but I really don’t believe these parts are what we will really see on the new phone.
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August 10th, 2012 at 2:39 am
@Michael very nice article!!
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August 10th, 2012 at 3:43 am
i just don’t think it will be “just that”. even if the shape ends up similar, i’m tended to think that the materials or texture or something would be different than what we saw. With the 2 tone back, i’m just not convinced, it doesn’t even look upscale..
don’t talk about the i4 -> i4s, it was simply an upgrade, like the 3G -> 3GS, you keep the design no problem, but we’re talking about a brand new refresh, it’s still Apple but you don’t simply just make it longer and thinner and done, at least there should be some kinda surprises. What we are seeing is thin, but not thin enough to be “the surprise” imo.
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August 10th, 2012 at 3:49 am
and i want to add, what was the interval between the 3G and 3GS? one year right? 2008 and 2009. so i mean, last year, if the i4 wasn’t alleged with its antenna imperfection, we all would have assumed an i4 update anyway, which was exactly what happened at the end, despite some rumours suggested that otherwise… so i don’t know, but why are we expecting anything less than when the model changed from 3GS to 4? from plastic to metal/glass, new camera, faster processor, new camera, flash, front camera, from roundy to square-ish.
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August 10th, 2012 at 4:54 am
I just hope that this design is fake, I need to upgrade my iPhone this time (can’t wait another 2 years) and don’t want a 3rd Generation iPhone 4SL (Speed Long
) I also think the elongated screen is pointless and adds no real benefit to the user experience. In my eyes, it’s just a cop-out way for Apple to say “now with a 4″ screen” if this rumour does come to fruition.
Like a lot of people, I think that the headphone jack on the bottom would be advantageous. As someone said, when you put your phone in your pocket, it’s naturally upside down. If I have my phone in the car or boat, having the headphone jack at the bottom would also mean that the dash doesn’t end up with cable wrapped around everything to stop if from dropping onto the screen. As said, the iPhone docks have headphone connections at the rear, so that’s no problem. As for external batteries, I have never needed to use one… ever.
If the image was a photo, I could understand the black holes, but as it’s a rendering, you’d think that who ever drew it would have put more detail into the ports. I don’t believe this is from Apple, well, not in the sence that the actual product will be anything like this anyway.
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August 10th, 2012 at 5:41 am
@ Iamaloser, I tend to agree with you/hope you are right!! I still have my 4 as the 4s didn’t justify a purchase as there were dew rest upgrades, but no showstoppers over the 4, I am not that interested by Siri, as I would rather type than talk in most situations. I am hoping for upgrades in all the areas you state, if we get a slightly bigger retina screen, how can that be bad?! I looked at a friends s3 and it looks much bigger than my phone, but it’s deceptive, because the screen is all the way to the ends of the phone and is t that much bigger, I did joke it looks like he has a widescreen tv in his pocket, but it isn’t that much bigger overall. The UI is where apple wins every time, and I still prefer my 4 to the S3. But other phones are slowly catching it up. I will likely buy the next iPhone, as long as it is a re-design aesthetically or new hardware etc is utilised to make it feel like a re-design when using it, both would be the ideal. As for the screen, I would like slightly bigger, so watching movies etc on the train are enhanced. Hopefully we dont have to wait long to see what happens!!
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August 10th, 2012 at 8:45 am
I’ve stated this before in another post but i dont think we are do for a major overhaul. I think our expectations are way higher than what Apple has scheduled for the next gen phone. i wager that next years phone will be a hardware overhaul. this years phone is going to be based off the 4 platform with incremental changes. they only thing that would upset their track record with iphone releases is if Tim cook is deciding to deviate from SJ’s blueprint. just look at the release cycle……….iphone 2007/3G/3GS/4/4S/and the 4S stretched. I HOPE that apple decides to do something groundbreaking but if not i understand why because it isnt time for one. just my $0.02.
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August 10th, 2012 at 8:51 am
It would be nice if Apple listened to what their customers wanted, not what Apple executives and designers think we should have.
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August 10th, 2012 at 9:40 am
@Mike D. Unfortunately, that’s probably the right battery. The iPhone 4 had 1420 mAh and then the 4S has 1430. Now the new one will probably have 1440 so that Apple can say they have a new and improved battery, but then again they may have found other innovative ways to make the phone much more efficient with battery usage. Let’s hope so!
and @Core2 I read an article recently that in the patent war between Apple and Samsung, Apple was forced to reveal that they actually do listen to what their customers want. It said they surveyed a few thousand people quite recently on what would make for a better iPhone experience. However, they didn’t make the information public, so whether they act on it or not, I don’t know. We’ll probably see in about a month.
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August 10th, 2012 at 9:58 am
If they don’t manage to squeeze a 2000mah battery inside or so, the phone is just not going to keep up with use. The 4s struggles as it is with battery life. Now add 4G capability, and the battery demands are even more.
Another option would be 2 batteries and running the internals at a higher voltage.
Electrical systems are more efficient when a higher voltage is used to reduce current. I am suprized we have not seen a phone with more voltage than 3.7v yet.
2 500mah batteries in series (7.4v) could possibly supply the power of a single 1500mah 3.7v
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August 10th, 2012 at 11:27 am
I have a question about the dock connector: there had been reports that it might be the MagSafe like the new Macbooks have, I was thinking last night is it possible to charge it while maybe having something like infrared technology? I remember back when I bought my first laptop when I went to college in 2002 and it had an infrared sensor and it was claimed that you could transfer documents and other things between computers that had the infrared sensors- like all PC stuff it never worked and now you never hear of it except for on really old laptops – could this be something that could be worked into the MagSafe connector? That way whether it is charging or plugged in via USB it could transfer data as well as charge?
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August 10th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
@ Core 2 – Best comments; to the point.
I said 6 months ago, and say it again. Apple will tell you what you want, when you want it, and how much you’ll like it.
It makes me actually kinda sad to see such loyalists on this board, which I’m one, put so much energy, passion, and desire into iPhones, that Apple hasn’t shown since the 4. The realization set in for me as the ’11 WWDC that came and went without an iPhone, and iceing on the cake of Apple’s ambivelance,(sp?), was last fall with the less than revolutionary 4s realease.
I’m convinced, and hope I’m wrong; Micheal’s “purported” leaked iPhone form-factor IS the next incremental iPhone. iPhone? Apple’s been there, done that.
My youngest daughter finally came to accept that Sanat isn’t real; she felt like she had been had. Are we being played too? ‘Fraid so.
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August 10th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I had an infrared port on my first laptop, tried to connect it to an infrared port on my mobile phone, it took ages and in the end i found out that the two infrared receivers were incompatible. It was utterly useless.
Anyhow, I digress.
If the battery hasn’t improved much over the fairly underpowered 4S unit then with the new bells and whistles reputed to be in the iPhone I can’t see it lasting even 24 hours between charges and a phone that you need to carry a charger with everywhere you go isn’t a useful piece of tech to me.
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August 10th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Make that Santa!
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August 10th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
For the most part I am happy with my 4s. I just want:
1) A larger screen
2) Better battery life
For the most part, Android offers the Apps I use the most. LogMeIn and Dice with buddies. Glad I bought LogMeIn before the price jumped.
I could easily see myself going back to Android with the SG3 and it’s 4.8″ screen.
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August 10th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
@DonNMass Wait who said that Santa wasn’t real? You mean to tell me that I’ve been believing in Santa my whole life and just now finding out he isn’t real? Why can’t you put things like *SPOILER ALERT* before you go and ruin my life.
But I have always said you can’t believe it’s true from Apple until you see it in the hands of a top exec anyways so we just continue speculating and hoping that they wow us, much like Santa at Christmas – how he just continues to wow me with all these great presents!
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August 10th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
What if the “all metal” design that everyone refers to is actually aluminum, like the macbooks, imac, mac pro etc.? I’ve always thought that this is the way the iphone should have looked all along. All aluminum with the glass screen? Super sexy. I find it interesting too (maybe just a coincidence) that on apple’s iphone page, the header has this gradient that mimics the all aluminum look of a macbook, which is more emphasized than the other pages on the site. Could this be a subliminal que to what is to come? WHO KNOWS?
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August 10th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@ Andrew
LOL – That was great, but we still have the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny!
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August 10th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@Michael Nace Don’t you think it’s easier to make a forum section and post the articles there? it’s easier to discuss…
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August 10th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@DonNMass, oh yea, well who has been eating the cookies I set out each year? I don’t think your theory holds water…
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August 10th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Wi the new iPhone have a touch or press home button?
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August 10th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Hey Mike nice article!!
All the things you said I agree with. A few other points that have not been brought up that I was thinking about… Tim Cook (the new face of all things Apple) came out publicly and vehemently with the statement about doubling down on security….. If all these leaked photos happen to be real and nothing was said or done to stop the printing of them and it turns out that it is the new iPhone as we’ve seen it then along with the announcement in September Mr. Cook should be announcing his resignation because these releases have been a farce (as security’s sake is concerned). He should be embarrassed about making that statement.
However, it is possible that the doubling down is taking place and being Tim Cook’s first major product release, and the iPhone to boot we may see something completely different and awe inspiring. To me doubling down on security would be having cameras placed all around the plant. Have security patrols of the parts and assembly area of the plants to ensure there are no parts are going into pockets, gym bags, etc. And then have security doing minor searches at the entrance and exits of the Foxconn and other assembly plants….. It may sound over the top but if security and protection of the new iPhone is paramount to Cook and the Apple team then doing things over the top to ensure no leaks should not be an issue. China after all is very stringent with its assembly employees and they would know how to protect the phones integrity!!
People may be giggling at this post but it may be exactly what Apple intends to do and for his first major announcement Tim Cook could shock the hell out of us with something completely different and mind blowing, once again putting the iPhone in a world of its own……. The Galaxy SIII will quickly slip out of the comparison conversation when talking about the phones…
Right now I feel this is very possible and we’re looking at well produced mock-ups.
September can’t come soon enough.
Thanks!!!
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August 11th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I can honestly say that if apple just stretches out the 4s and puts a metal slab on it, then I’ll get a gs3. I mean really apple. You guys are only going to go downhill now. That’s what everything’s pointing out as haha. Make a comeback and shut up the rumors apple!!!!
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August 15th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
I have to agree…If apple doesnt step it up they are going to keep losing customers to android. I was a loyal Iphone (jailbreak) user for years, but recently made the switch to GS3. I miss some of the UI performance from apple because they do simplicity well. However, when holding an iphone now it feels small and slow. The Gs3 is snappier and battery last much longer than 4s. I go all day fully using my GS3 without charging. No need to jailbreak. I would entertain going back to apple if they release a larger screen with better battery life. If its just a stretched out 4s someone needs to be fired. That is lame
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August 21st, 2012 at 8:34 am
I think the mockups are from abandon iphone 4s ideas. I hope so anyway.
Better battery and over 4 inch screen or it’s S3 for me.
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