Leaked Motherboard Fits iPhone 5 Shell: Report
Posted by Michael Nace on Monday Aug 13, 2012 Under Apple Rumors
Yet another component has hit the iPhone 5 rumor mill — a motherboard — which fits perfectly into the shells of purported iPhone 5 form factors:
It appears that the rumor mill will continue to produce piecemeal evidence that we already know what the iPhone 5 will look like up until the day of the big announcement To date, we’ve seen form factors, home buttons, chassis, glass tops, and now a motherboard, which appears to feature the same elongated dimensions of everything else we’ve seen up to this point.
And it fits into the purported iPhone 5 shells perfectly.
From MacRumors:
“The photos appear to be the front and back of the next generation iPhone logic board which houses the processor and other support chips for the device. The board is distinct from both the Apple’s iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 logic boards. . . . the screw holes of the logic board lines up exactly with those of the previously leaked shells . . .”
MacRumors also adds some veracity to this claim by pointing out this is the same Asian source that successfully sourced and leaked the iPhone 4S’s motherboard in 2011. MacRumors notes that “This leak is somewhat less revealing as much of the shielding remains in place.”
For those who are convinced that we have been seeing is indeed the next iPhone, the appearance of this motherboard is just another piece of the puzzle, and proof positive that these parts are the result of the iPhone 5 entering mass production mode in China. And for those who still find the appearance of these parts to be a red herring, the suspension of disbelief only gets more and more difficult to maintain.
It requires a large measure of a belief in a vast, Apple-wing conspiracy theory.
Skeptics look at the overall look and design of the purported iPhone 5 and sense that something seems “off” in its design, while also believing that Apple would not be capable of such a widespread security fail on the eve of one of their biggest product releases ever. At the same time, denying all of these reports means that either Apple or some consortium of conspirators in the tech media have fabricated a completely fake iPhone 5 — complete with its own exhaustive set of custom-made faux components, all of which appear to fit together with one another — with the express purpose of throwing off the tech media and/or capitalizing on the “big” business of rumor mongering.
Because all of the parts and components have surfaced from different sources, it’s hard to imagine that a ruse — if there is one — is being perpetuated by one person or organization, save perhaps Apple.
There’s simply no way of knowing. And both possible truths are hard to swallow: either Cupertino has engaged in a silly disinformation campaign that wouldn’t be worth the effort, or they have managed to completely lose their grip on security, neither of which is bound to affect Apple users once their new device is released and sells at epic levels. But in the meantime, it makes for an interesting story.
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 13th, 2012 at 11:15 am
This doesn’t fill me with joy. The stretched phone loks more and more like it could be a reality.
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August 13th, 2012 at 11:19 am
I refuse to believe that this many legitimate parts have leaked. Either this is a ruse or Apple has completely disbanded its world wide loyalty team.
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August 13th, 2012 at 11:33 am
It’s definitely possible that all these parts came from one fully functional prototype that has been stripped down and only revealed at incremental spurts of time. It seems to be more and more believable that it could be the real thing….but if so, how has Apple allowed this to happen? At this point there are too many unknowns and I feel like i’m going to just stop worrying about it and wait until we see the real thing in a month. I seriously hope that the stretched out phone is not for real. Maybe I’ll wait and see what the Windows Phone 8 has to offer…
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August 13th, 2012 at 11:35 am
A piece was published last week that made it clear the leaked parts lacked the fit and finish of a true apple product; I am inclined to believe that. Also, what we see here is a board, wih no further info on what could be attached to it. Seems strange to me everything is leaking so slowly; it is almost as if, one day it’s a case, then a design, than a screen size, than some exterior detail etc, everything builds on the next. If someone had it, knew all the answers, why would they leak it slow and risk someone beating them to it, or worse being caught by Apple?
I am an economist, I specialize in operations management and supply chain solutions, if Apple “doubled down” and this is their doubling, Mr. Cook may not be the operator he is made out to be. I’ll be buying the new phone regardless, I always do every year. I have no preference to its new design.
If it is the new iPhone, Apple gets F-, not for design but for security. I still believe however that this could be a new iPod touch, since we know a new touch is coming as well. A new touch would have a centered camera on the front, as well as everything except a cellular radio. Once someone “leaks” the radio in this design, I may be a believer.
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August 13th, 2012 at 11:42 am
So…why should Apple lose their grip on security ? Let us start with the year 2010. Nearly all of us knew that there will be a tablet…”Oh” there was the first iPad. 4-5 months later it was May, and there was suddenly the whole iPhone 4. 3 months later, we saw a small touchscreen, and “oh wow” there was a new iPod nano. The iDevices Year gone to end.
A new year (2011), a new iPad. We had saw many backplates over two months before they showed it. Then in July to August the first big parts of the iPhone 4S started to leak. Really many people hope of a iPhone 5, but at the end of September we saw a nearly full assembled iPhone 4S.
We know what Apple present…
A new year… a new iPad again. We know really EVERYTHING about it, there wasn’t a suprise at the keynote.
WWDC-the new MacBookPro with retina, 9to5mac show it two weeks before.
So they don’t lose the grip. And at the end we have always a surprise in some ways.
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August 13th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Michael,
has your source who dismissed claims of a new form factor last year got anything to say about these leaks?
These parts do seem compelling, but I’m not totally convinced just yet. I want to believe that Apple can do better than this, though honestly I don’t mind the look of the leaked form factor.
Pan
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August 13th, 2012 at 11:55 am
If, indeed the iPhone will be announced on Sept. 12, and released on the 21st, then it’s already too late for prototypes, and they’re already in full-scale production.
Sept. 12 is 30 days away, and the 21st is 39 days, hardly time to procure 5-12 million of anything, manufacture, and deliver a finished product to a diverse set of end-users, location wise. If these dates are true, the hardware is already in place, set for implementation, and the only thing left is the software.
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August 13th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
I can’t believe how many parts are being leaked. It’s completely un-Apple like and I’m really not sure if I believe it. I’m kinda hoping that the stretched version isn’t the real thing. Not that it doesn’t look nice but I would like to think that in the 2 years that Apple have had to develop this (including, apparently, Steve Jobs working on it before his death too (rip)) that they would come up with something a bit different and not just a stretched version of the same phone they have had for over 2 years. Obviously the main points is the specs of the new phone rather than the form factor. A quad core is important with a fast processor and hopefully 32GB being the new default and 64GB being the upgraded version. Anyway, REALLY hoping that Septmber 12th is the real announcement date. Time will tell…
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August 13th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Has anyone else noticed where the motherboard is over the holders fingers on his right hand looks superimposed? There is something about the colours and finish on the photo that looks fake to me.
I’m not saying I recon it is a fake phone, I am suggesting this Photo looks edited and wrong. I am very keen to see the next iPhone!!
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August 13th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Is it possible to have too many leaks?
What I mean is, if there were just a few then I’d be more inclined to believe them but there are so many leaked parts that it seems like someone is generating click-bait for sites like our here.
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August 13th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I did expect a re-design, but I don’t really know what I expected, if that makes sense!!
For me, the current iPhone design is not an issue, if it ain’t broke…. I imagine if this design is the new iPhone, then once you hold it, you will wonder what all the fuss was about and you will see when compared for the 4 the changes seem to make sense. If the standard memory size is increased, the phone runs quicker and has some neat new features I will be happy. Apple know the current design is a winner, due to number sold and so and drastic re-design may well harm sales, it’s ate to say that Apple know what they are doing and any changes will have been though about long and hard. What else would people like to be changed from the current design?
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August 13th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
You know I have to admit, you’re completely on point Michael. It really comes down to 2 things: 1) you believe that this in fact the new phone and subsequently also believe that Apple has completely lossened it’s grip on the security levels Tim Cook bragged about achieving or 2) you believe these are all part of some very elaborate hoax that only Apple themselves could be behind in order to completely throw off the mainstream tech media and the world, really. I think whats more interesting to contemplate is what each of these thoeries would mean to the public if either were proved to be true. If Apple is behind this, it makes me wonder why they would go to such great lengths to not only uphold security at rediculously insane levels but to actually provoke the rumor mill at an unheard of level. Surely it wouldn’t be that costly for them to build a very cheap model as a throw-off (afterall, we only see it from small pictures and have no way of telling what any of the components were made of etc) but why they would even choose to employ such a method is questionable. Especially because Apple never would engage in such things under Jobs; although I understand this isn’t a Steve Jobs company anymore (but still, I find it hard to believe that the philosophy would change that drastically in the 1st year). Whats more interesting to me is the theory that Apple just lost complete control of security on the eve of their biggest launch. Seriously? Tim Cook touting about raising the level of security to historic highs and then having this happen almost immediately after is beyond a sign of complete leadership failure. And let’s be real, Apple’s security was tighter in the bar-incident era if that is the case. It’s one thing for someone to sneak out a few tiny components a la the old ‘squeeze the cheeks’ method but almost every component within the phone just before the announcement? This, to me, is worse than seeing the entire phone put together itself. It shows mutliple levels of breached security. So I guess i’m saying that i’m holding out more hope that we have no real idea what the final product will look like more so than holding out hope that what we’ve been seeing is the real deal and what we can expect in the next month. I understand the announcement is coming and these leaks somewhat hint that production has definitely ramped up over seas but would a security leak(s) of this magnitude be normal just before a launch Michael or is it too much too soon to believe?
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August 13th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
I really don’t mind this design. The only thing I don’t like is the ugly 2 tone backplate but maybe it looks better in person than in photo. I also think this can’t be an iPod touch design since the front glass they’ve shown has a earspeakermajigger hole and the backplate has a silent switch hole on the side, which are things the iPod touch lacks.
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August 13th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Does anyone else not realize how easy it would be to fabricate a fake logic board? A faker could create a case, then create a logic board populated with just shielding and a few dummy chips to create the appearance of what a real production piece could be. Since the source for all these fakes are in China, and being reported 3rd or 4th hand, it is very likely that none of these actually work and we are all being taken for a ride. Until the ‘Next iPhone Model’ comes out, I choose to not believe anything.
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August 13th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
This may just be another ruse. I mean, remember that very first “supposed” iPhone 5 model that was released a couple months back, and that guy in Europe confessed to designing it? Well, all these parts that are being leaked just lost most (or all) of their credibility with that. When Apple shows it, that will be the next iPhone.
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August 13th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Oh, and does no one else notice the terrible photo shop job? Look at the photo on the left first … now look at his thumb on the right? Really? Now look at the photo on the left … now look at his right thumb? Looks like it’s cut off. DEFINITELY a fake. I looked at the photo so quickly then rushed to read the article that I didn’t even analyze the stupid photo. Can anyone else confirm that this looks absolutely fake? @Corey, I read your comment and that’s how I caught as well. I agree with you!
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August 13th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
The photo on the right has been edited and has the motherboard superimposed on top of the thumb, I also see that this could be fake…
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August 13th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
To me, that motherboard looks the same size as the ones in the current iPhone. Looks like it was superimposed with MS Paint too
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August 13th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Enough of the leaked parts already. Just release the damn phone. I won’t believe anything until it’s released, just like the weather. Don’t believe it until you see it.
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August 13th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
OMG,u guys are crazy.
this is photoshoped because they want to show u that the motherboard fits the the new iPhone leaked parts.
u dont even read the article before u comment?
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August 13th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
real quick question: if they are going to announce the iphone5 and a mini-ipad at the same time why aren’t we seeing more parts of the mini-ipad? Could this fuel the fakeness of the parts because we aren’t seeing parts from both coming out the factory? Maybe Apple really has tightened security and they aren’t going to recognize the fakes to keep people guessing. If these all are fake – would you recognize the real parts from the fake ones probably
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August 13th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
enlarge the image, and it looks like a set of really bad photoshops
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August 13th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
“if they are going to announce the iphone5 and a mini-ipad at the same time why aren’t we seeing more parts of the mini-ipad?”
I would be utterly shocked if they actually co-release the iPad Mini with the iPhone 5. Every time a co-release is rumored, it never happens. It’s just bad marketing for Apple. Of course, so is having every bit of their iPhone 5 leak out onto the rumor, should all of these parts prove to be true.
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August 13th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
“Michael,
has your source who dismissed claims of a new form factor last year got anything to say about these leaks?”
From what I’ve heard indirectly (not directly from him), the source is completely convinced that the elongated iPhone 5 form factor is legit, and his company is actually tooling cases for it already. But he was also convinced back in November that the iPhone 5 would be released in July at the WWDC and was wrong. So, he’s 1 for 2. But he got his call right for the form factor in 2011 — let’s see if he’s right for this one.
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August 13th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
if this does turn out to be the ip5 tim cook deserves to be laughed at for his double down security comment.. i really hope it isn’t legit.. but I also hoped for a new form factor last october when i was due for an upgrade.. I think they will wait until November for ipad mini and push it hard for the holidays.. just my opinion
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August 13th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Well the fact that they had to photoshop the picture JUST to prove their point seriously just proved my point. Why not just make a video or take photos of the real thing showing us that it fits. We don’t know if they altered anything, that’s why I’m waiting on Apple, and Apple only.
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August 13th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Apple wouldn’t make the screen larger just for wide screen. They will probably add more touch features for browsing, web, mail, movies, etc.
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August 14th, 2012 at 2:20 am
Yawwn…the wait is just boring now…to be honest, I can’t even be bothered to check in daily any more as I reckon the elongated prototype/samples/leaked parts are likely to be the real deal and its not what i would expect from Apple.
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August 14th, 2012 at 6:07 am
@cosmin but the motherboard doesn’t fit the new form factor exactly. If you look at any of the older iPhones and their motherboards, the motherboard is around the same size, if not slightly taller, than the size of the screen. In this image, the mother board comes up short. Like I said, it looks like a motherboard from one of the current size iPhones.
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August 14th, 2012 at 6:09 am
The width will always fit exactly as the with of this “leaked” iPhone has not changed from the width of the 4/4S.
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August 14th, 2012 at 9:06 am
Doesn’t it seem strange that Apple would be laying off staff at their stores right now before a major product announcement?
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August 14th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
@DudeAbides – That’s what I’ve been thinking after spotting various reports.
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August 14th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
The photo was ‘shopped’ just to illustrate the fact that the part should fit the case.
I would be thrilled if this was all leaks done by Apple marketing to fuel the speculation drama over the next iPhone.
I would be happy and sad if this form factor is indeed true.
Happy that I don’t feel so bad using my 4s for a few months longer.
Sad that Apple has lost all control over security and suspense on the next rendition of the iPhone.
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August 14th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
There are two angles to look at these leaked parts:
1. These are legit parts and Apple somehow doesn’t mind us seeing them in drip by drip format, almost like a weekly teaser but maybe leaving some surprises in for the main release. This way they can draw anticipation for the new phone where everyone gets whipped up into a frenzy. They know the form factor will sell after releasing what most of us here thought was a bit of a refresh but it sold millions.
2. The parts are not legit and what we are seeing are parts of a prototype that maybe never made the cut. Apple throw a media event, launch something completely new, surprise everyone and will sell millions.
As far as I can see it’s an all round win for Apple here.
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August 14th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
One thing I read somewhere on this version, it is much thinner. So thin such as, look at the metal band of your iPhone 4/4s, and that is the total thickness of the phone.
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August 14th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
@Core2
Unfortunately I can only imagine something that thin as I am still flogging it out with my 3G!
This new iPhone will be 4 generations advanced for me so I should notice some REAL improvements.
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August 17th, 2012 at 4:25 am
@Vernicularis, i feel the pain of the 3G, mine finally crapped out jest before the 4S was announced and the difference between the 3G and the 4S was HUGE!
Pushing that further, when you eventually upgrade to the 5 you’ll wonder why you stuck with the 3G for so long
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August 17th, 2012 at 4:26 am
@Core2, if it’s going to be that thin, it doesn’t hold out much chance of the battery being improved over the 4S.
I’d really like a battery that lasts for more then a day with general usage.
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September 14th, 2012 at 11:15 am
I am really impressed together with your writing skills and also with the structure to your blog. Is that this a paid subject or did you customize it your self? Anyway stay up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays..
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