Video shows purported next-gen iPhone 'uni-body' backplate in detail

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
A new video has surfaced of the alleged next-generation iPhone, featuring a side-by-side comparison of an iPhone 4S and a backplate identical to a part seen in previously leaked photos.

The video from wireless parts company ETrade Supply (via CydiaBlog) gives a highly detailed look at what appears to be an aluminum backplate first seen in May, lending further evidence that the part may be legitimate.

Highlighting the clip is a comparison between the allegedly new part and the chassis and back glass of the current iPhone 4S. The side-by-side clearly illustrates how Apple's next iPhone could sport what the narrator calls a "uni-body" design that does away with the back glass in favor of a metal chassis and front glass configuration. This would be more of a regression to the design of the iPhone 3G/3GS that had the internal components nestled in a rounded polycarbonate shell, however the purportedly leaked chassis allows for a markedly svelte profile not seen in current Apple handsets. The new component is so slim that it is noticeably thinner than the iPhone 4/4S metal mid-section alone.

Besides the obvious height and depth differences, the physical button layout seems to remain unchanged with the holes for volume adjustment and power maintaining their relative positioning to the top of handset when compared to Apple's current iPhone. Also unchanged are the dual-antennas on the top and bottom of the device that were first introduced in the iPhone 4S.





As the narrator moves on to other sections of the phone back, he notes that the SIM card tray found in the leaked unit is noticeably smaller than the piece found in existing iPhone 4S hardware, thus making the two parts incompatible. The tray in the video seems to be the part seen in early May and could feasibly fit the new "nano-SIM" format recently adopted by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

Also making an appearance is the much-rumored "mini dock" at the bottom of the unit which is situated next to revised speaker and mic grills and a newly-positioned headphone jack.

Thursday's hands-on comes less than a week after a video was released claiming to feature the next-gen smartphone's front glass. It is unclear how thick the assembled shell would be if the two sections were put together, assuming that the two match at all, but Apple is rumored to be using in-cell display technology to keep displacement down. Disregarding the thickness of the panel, both leaked parts point to a display with a diagonal length in excess of 4-inches which is consistent with whispers saying the new iPhone will boast a bigger screen.

Apple is widely rumored to debut its new handset this fall sometime between September and October.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 142
    r98266r98266 Posts: 12member


    Wow... I like this a lot better, both in size and color, than what I was imagining after the last few product leaks.

  • Reply 2 of 142


    Same here!

  • Reply 3 of 142
    michael scripmichael scrip Posts: 1,916member
    I understand that companies like this [I]ETrade Supply[/I] sells replacement parts for phones. Lots of companies sell parts like that.

    Assuming this part is legit... HOW do they get parts early for an UNRELEASED phone?

    Are they secretly getting them from Foxconn? Certainly Apple isn't sending replacement parts out into the repair channel this early...

    Where do these small companies get all their parts in the first place?

    .
  • Reply 4 of 142


    Goodbye Gigantic 30 Pin Connector!

  • Reply 5 of 142
    nkingmannkingman Posts: 44member


    Looks better than the leaked photos

  • Reply 6 of 142


    The authentic look of this literally dropped my jaw the moment he flipped it around. I think we may be looking at the real thing here.

  • Reply 7 of 142
    cinder6cinder6 Posts: 38member


    Looks better than I've been picturing it, but I'm still a bit troubled by the glass on the top and bottom.

  • Reply 8 of 142
    tylerk36tylerk36 Posts: 1,037member


    Notice where the Headphone jack is.  On the bottom.  Also is that casing a type of metal in the center where the Apple is?  Maybe black anodized aluminum?  I was hoping that the width of the new iPhone would be wider than the 4s.  I like the Samsung phones screen size.  But maybe Apple won't produce that because of copyright issues?  Still the screen size is better.

  • Reply 9 of 142
    I don't like the colour from the video. Why two contrasting tones between top/bottom and middle?
  • Reply 10 of 142
    davemcm76davemcm76 Posts: 268member
    While I'm still not convinced by the tall and narrow form factor I think it is preferable to the overly wide design of the giant screened android phones of late - you do still have to be able to fit it in your hand after all.

    If the mini dock connector is real then they've just kissed goodbye to compatibility with thousands if not millions of accessories, speaker docks and dock cables that people own which strikes me as a very bad move - this thing had better ship with a few mini to 30 pin adapters included in the box and extras had better be cheap to buy because they are guaranteed to get lost on a regular basis.
  • Reply 11 of 142
    michael scripmichael scrip Posts: 1,916member
    tylerk36 wrote: »
    Notice where the Headphone jack is.  On the bottom.  Also is that casing a type of metal in the center where the Apple is?  Maybe black anodized aluminum?  I was hoping that the width of the new iPhone would be wider than the 4s.  I like the Samsung phones screen size.  But maybe Apple won't produce that because of copyright issues?  Still the screen size is better.

    I prefer the headphone jack on the bottom... just like the iPod Touch and my old iPod Nano.
  • Reply 12 of 142
    They should make the back plate all aluminum instead of just partially aluminum. The hybrid approach looks tacky.
  • Reply 13 of 142

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Splash-reverse View Post



    I don't like the colour from the video. Why two contrasting tones between top/bottom and middle?


     


    To match the front.

  • Reply 14 of 142
    pedromartinspedromartins Posts: 1,333member


    I think it is awesome..


     


    i wish i could buy one.

  • Reply 15 of 142
    technarchytechnarchy Posts: 296member


    The aluminum back is interesting.


     


    Makes me wonder if Magic Trackpad like gestures will be possible on the back.

  • Reply 16 of 142
    macapfelmacapfel Posts: 575member


    Although it's right that there might come a ton of dock connector compatibility issues. But I hope Apples isn't just reducing the size of the connector, but make it worth upgrading, e.g. make it a MagSafe connector. A lot of people will definitely like to have a magnetic connector like in the MacBooks than ripping out the cable now and then.

  • Reply 17 of 142
    mbp-tommbp-tom Posts: 3member
    The only problem with having a MagSafe connector would be the weight of the iPhone. The MacBook range work because of the weight so will detach easily if any pressure is put on the cable. Whereas the iPhone probably wouldn't disconnect.

    The part does look really nice, much better than the photo. It does seem like a parts are coming out very early. Maybe a cheeky announcement around WWDC? That would catch everyone out.
  • Reply 18 of 142

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Splash-reverse View Post



    Why two contrasting tones between top/bottom and middle?


     


    Just a theory: Symmetry for the front and back.


     


    Remember all that talk about Apple having an iPhone with a screen going right to the edge of the device? Well, if that is the case (no pun intended) on the front, it will stop short at the top and the bottom due to both the curved corners of the device, and also to leave room for microphone and earphones for phone use and front camera, etc. Heck, even if the screen doesn't go completely to the edge, I expect it will be far closer than previously. And the result on the front will (in practice) look a lot like that.

  • Reply 19 of 142

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by franktinsley View Post


     


    To match the front.



     


    Sorry, didn't see your post when replying above.


    Agree.

  • Reply 20 of 142
    drblankdrblank Posts: 3,385member


    The only thing that looks suspicious is that the verbiage underneath where it says "iPhone" on the back is not there.  Apple usually has Designed by Apple in California Assembled in China on one line and then the Model number, FCC number and some other stuff printed underneath the iPhone labeling.  Just an observation.


     


    To me, it could be a prototype.

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