Purported 'iPhone 5S' logic board has tweaked screw placement, lacks CPU
A shot of a logic board claimed to be from Apple's next-generation iPhone shows a design largely the same as the iPhone 5, though the screw hole has been placed in a new location.
The board, which was first noted by Macotakara, also lacks a processor, but the space for the CPU appears to be about the same size as on the current iPhone 5 logic board. Aside from a slightly different screw placement atop the board, the part looks largely identical to its predecessor.
If legitimate, the part could hint that Apple's next iPhone will sport largely the same design as the iPhone 5. That would be in line with rumors, which have dubbed the handset as the "iPhone 5S," suggesting that any hardware upgrades would not alter the design of the device.
As for the absent processor, rumors from earlier this year claimed that Apple won't debut a full-fledged next-generation "A7" chip until 2014. That processor is rumored to be built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in a 28-nanometer process.
An identically sized space for a processor could signal that the next iPhone will retain the 32-nanometer process utilized to build the current A6 and A6X chips found in the iPhone 5 and fourth-generation iPad, respectively. Apple switched from a 45-nanometer process to 32 nanometers in 2012 with the debut of the A5 CPU.
Parts claimed to be from Apple's next iPhone have increasingly appeared in recent weeks, suggesting that production of the device could begin soon. Other recently leaked parts include a FaceTime camera, home button, vibration motor, SIM tray, volume rocker, and mute switch.
The board, which was first noted by Macotakara, also lacks a processor, but the space for the CPU appears to be about the same size as on the current iPhone 5 logic board. Aside from a slightly different screw placement atop the board, the part looks largely identical to its predecessor.
If legitimate, the part could hint that Apple's next iPhone will sport largely the same design as the iPhone 5. That would be in line with rumors, which have dubbed the handset as the "iPhone 5S," suggesting that any hardware upgrades would not alter the design of the device.
As for the absent processor, rumors from earlier this year claimed that Apple won't debut a full-fledged next-generation "A7" chip until 2014. That processor is rumored to be built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in a 28-nanometer process.
An identically sized space for a processor could signal that the next iPhone will retain the 32-nanometer process utilized to build the current A6 and A6X chips found in the iPhone 5 and fourth-generation iPad, respectively. Apple switched from a 45-nanometer process to 32 nanometers in 2012 with the debut of the A5 CPU.
Parts claimed to be from Apple's next iPhone have increasingly appeared in recent weeks, suggesting that production of the device could begin soon. Other recently leaked parts include a FaceTime camera, home button, vibration motor, SIM tray, volume rocker, and mute switch.
Comments
So, is this concept phone fake? I want this with iOS7
Put another way, the space on the board tells you nothing about which CPU this will be. It could be the "full fledged A7" or it could be an A9, or whatever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chandra69
I want this with iOS7
Yes, dump some of the visually empty length.
For any change that large we will have to wait another year. The 5S will be just another incremental tweak. I'll be glad when Apple starts turning out new stuff again. The recent processor bump on the MBA and teases of stuff for the future were not very satisfying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kent909
Stop the freakin presses, a screw has been moved! Really, this is Apple news?
You're here, you read it, you felt the need to comment on it. This site is for people like you. Get off your high horse.
I'd wager the CPU doesn't advance as much as the GPU. Apple is all about the GPU, and it's so important for the new features like parallax, I'm guessing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kent909
Stop the freakin presses, a screw has been moved! Really, this is Apple news?
No kidding. I'll wait until Apple has their product release. Some of these photo show nothing that suggests anything other than it's a different motherboard design, but without the chips installed, we don't know what it's going to be.
The market has been asking Apple to offer its iPhone products in different screen sizes for some time. The lack of an iPad Mini allowed both Samsung and Amazon to get into the 7" market. Similarly, the lack of a 4-5"iPhone has allowed Samsung, Sony, and Blackberry to compete with the iPhone. Sure, the IPhone is still the brand leader, but Samsung has gained a significant market share rapidly with the Galaxy S4 and Note models.
The iPhone 5's larger screen was a step in the right direction, but simply wasn't as large as the market wants. The danger of a physical design that remains fundamentally the same is twofold. Loyal Apple customers will simply defer upgrading their iPhones until the iPhone 6 comes out. Less loyal Apple customers may simply defect to the Samsung S4. Either way Apple sales will be less than stellar.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tailpipe
Either way Apple sales will be less than stellar.
Isn't this what they said last year? And the same with the 4S? Seems from other articles today that the huge screened S4 isn't so popular after all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tailpipe
If the only thing Apple changes on the next iPhone is a screw then it's screwed.
The market has been asking Apple to offer its iPhone products in different screen sizes for some time. The lack of an iPad Mini allowed both Samsung and Amazon to get into the 7" market. Similarly, the lack of a 4-5"iPhone has allowed Samsung, Sony, and Blackberry to compete with the iPhone. Sure, the IPhone is still the brand leader, but Samsung has gained a significant market share rapidly with the Galaxy S4 and Note models.
The iPhone 5's larger screen was a step in the right direction, but simply wasn't as large as the market wants. The danger of a physical design that remains fundamentally the same is twofold. Loyal Apple customers will simply defer upgrading their iPhones until the iPhone 6 comes out. Less loyal Apple customers may simply defect to the Samsung S4. Either way Apple sales will be less than stellar.
Nice. Looks like a combo platter of Rules #1, #9, and #10.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tailpipe
Loyal Apple customers will simply defer upgrading their iPhones until the iPhone 6 comes out. Less loyal Apple customers may simply defect to the Samsung S4. Either way Apple sales will be less than stellar.
Erroneous speculation. Loyal Apple customers upgrade their phones every two years as their contracts expire. Fanatical Apple customers upgrade every year. There are very few 'less loyal' Apple customers as you put it. iPhone is a really decent handset and any perceived shortcomings due to smaller screen (which are not really shortcomings as the screen size is by design) is more than outweighed by the ecosystem and the compatibility with friends who have also chosen iOS and OS X.
Even when the iPhone is turned off, it is a more desirable handset than large screen Androids just like a BMW in the showroom is more desirable than a Scion with a modded exhaust system going over the speed limit...Sir Tailpipe
Ive's has managed to fit a 2 inch thick phone inside a 5mm case
You mayn't be fully aware of Apple history, Tailpipe. As it did with the iPod family, Apple shall do with iPhone as it is doing with iPad (as led by its next step of iPm).
There is no worry. Apple knows what it is doing as it treads the path it invented. And that's the Truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Apple.
Apple commission things so getting their monikor on any new major chip could take many a years.
Though maybe that plastic iPhone will be Snapdragon.
I'm in.
:P
Ah! With no CPU, there's that much more space for an extended battery - this thing should run for DECADES on a charge!
Brilliant!
Quote:
The board, which was first noted by Macotakara, also lacks a processor
It also lacks every single chip and package too. No radio chip, no flash package, not even the SIM slot.
Quote:
An identically sized space for a processor could signal that the next iPhone will retain the 32-nanometer process utilized to build the current A6 and A6X chips
The fact that the BGA array is the same size means nothing to what process the chips are fabbed at. The "chip" is really a multi-chip package typically containing SoC and the RAM stacked on top of each other. They are wired together with wires for power, comm, I/O, etc, are routed down into the array seen in the photo.
It probably implies that memory and I/O busses are all the same width. That's about it. They could easily put a 22 or 28 nm SoC and whatever higher density RAM in there using identical packaging.
(Cheap skepticism and sarcasm edited/deleted)
Maybe iphone 6..... Man that is nice!!!!
They release a phone like this and the stock will be up to 700+ in no time!