The folks over at 9to5Mac are reporting that they have received word from a “reliable” source at Foxconn that Apple is gearing up to begin production of the iPhone 5. It is being suggested that the company could be pushing for a mid-year launch more in line with pre-iPhone 4S debuts.
The source said various sample devices are also floating around (which vary slightly from one another) so it is impossible to tell which one will be the final. Some things in common with all of them, however are:
- 4+ inch display (made by LG on at least one of them)
- No teardrop-shaped devices as were rumored in the lead up to the iPhone 4S. Samples so far have been symmetrical in thickness. Also longer/wider.
- None of the sample devices have the iPhone 4/4S form factor
- None of the devices are final versions
It was reported that the start of the production seems to be coming several months ahead of last year’s schedule, indicating that Apple could be targeting a launch that is much sooner than last year’s October debut of the iPhone 4S. Consequently, Apple could be returning to its traditional iPhone launch pattern of an introduction at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which is typically held in June with the availability being said to come to the first batch of countries just a few weeks later. This would ultimately shorten the life span of the iPhone 4S, which I don't think many consumers would be happy with and therefore I feel that a summer launch isn't likely to happen.
The details of this report seem similar to those that were rumored before the release of the iPhone 4S with the supposed 4-inch next generation iPhone 5 coming out without a teardrop shape being targeted for a summer launch.
Speculation on Apple’s next generation iPhone launch timing has currently been split with some observers suggesting that the iPhone 4S was just an anomaly for Apple and that it will be returning to the usual mid-year timeframe, while others suggest that the cycle is permanently going to be moved back to that started with the iPhone 4S. Daring Fireball’s John Gruber specifically refutes the claim that the iPhone 5 production is starting up. He also doubts the claim that the device is likely to be longer and wider than the current form factor, although he doesn’t appear to have any insider information on the aspect.
Labels: Iphone, iPhone 5
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:39 AM
