Neil Hughes
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told AppleInsider on Monday that Apple's anticipated fifth-generation iPhone will sport the same 512MB of DRAM as the iPhone 4. In addition, the hardware will feature a glass front and back, just like the current iPhone.
The so-called "iPhone 5" is also expected to have an improved antenna design, potentially addressing concerns that arose last year when it was discovered that covering the bottom left corner of the iPhone 4 could reduce reception. Though the antenna will be improved, Kuo indicated there will be little change to its shape, and users will not see a discernable difference in its appearance.
Dubbed "N94," the new iPhone model will reportedly also use the same Gorilla glass for its back panel. Kuo also said it will be available in both black and white models at launch, and 60 percent of units assembled so far have been of the black variety.
Echoing a report from earlier this month, he also said that Foxconn will be responsible for manufacturing 85 percent of Apple's fifth-generation iPhone units. The other 15 percent will reportedly be assembled by Pegatron.
In all Apple is said to be planning to build 30 million fifth-generation iPhone units by the end of calendar 2011. If Apple were to meet that goal and sell all of the handsets in the holiday quarter, it would easily best the record 20.34 million iPhones Apple sold in its June 2011 quarter.
The next iPhone will also reportedly have a higher resolution 8 megapixel camera. According to Kuo's industry checks, the camera modules for the iPhone 5 will be made by Sony and Omnivision, and the module will be almost the same height as the one found in the iPhone 4.
The higher resolution of the new camera module is said to have presented a design challenge for Apple, which is looking to keep it the same height as the lower 5-megapixel camera found in the iPhone 4.
The size of the rear camera module is said to be one of the main reasons that the next iPhone will not have a radically changed design. Kuo said the handset is expected to look similar to the iPhone 4, with components sandwiched between two pieces of glass.
Bon Adamson
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
AppleInsider Staff
Amber Neely
179 Comments
My impression is that if the iPhone 5 looks exactly like the 4.... They may be building too many of them. There will be many disappointed fence-sitters.
My impression is that if the iPhone 5 looks exactly like the 4.... They may be building too many of them. There will be many disappointed fence-sitters.
Agreed. The thinner build with a bigger screen design and a touch sensitive home button for app switching would be enough to sell me.
Just an A5 chip and world phone capabilities would bore me. Apple knows how to add new features when they're necessary to make sure demand is greater than supply. It'll be different enough that it'll get lots of hype.
Otherwise same with me, Im keeping my iPhone 4 with iOS 5.
With all the rumored improvements coupled with case designs leaked from various sources, I'd be very surprised if the newest iPhone looks the same as the iPhone4. Perhaps I need to prepare to be "very surprised". . .
Yea! Let's rehash the same thing a million times and call it breaking news!
Hopefully this time the antenna really is improved so I will be able to get reception at my house again, like I did with my original and 3GS iPhones.