AppleInsider Staff
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.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Andrew Orr
31 Comments
So, is this concept phone fake? I want this with iOS7
You make the mistake of assuming the CPU size is based on the process used. Apple could go from 32nm to 22nm, while keeping the package size the same. This is what would happen if they dedicate more space to a larger GPU or add one or more extra cores. Further, Apple puts many cores in it's SoCs with custom processors for audio and video processing, etc, and thus even a "dual core" part that's seems to be just like the "dual core" part from last year, might actually have more CPUs on it. 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.
Stop the freakin presses, a screw has been moved! Really, this is Apple news?
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.
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.