AppleInsider Staff
As they have done in years past, case makers are once again betting on unconfirmed designs rumored for Apple's next iPhone, with one manufacturer betting this year's model will sport a larger display and a sleep/wake button moved to the upper right side.
The purported "iPhone 6" cases, discovered on Wednesday by Nowhereelse.fr, show a lock button located directly across from the volume up button. The location of the mute switch and volume controls remain in generally the same spot.
The case also supports claims of a switch to "pill" shaped volume buttons, as opposed to the circular buttons found on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. Elongated volume buttons are currently found on the iPhone 5c, and thinner, longer buttons were also included on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and first-generation iPhone.
Last week, well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities said he was told that Apple might move the location of the sleep/wake button to the right side of the device, rather than the top, where it has always been located to date. It was suggested that this change would be implemented either to help facilitate one-handed use with a larger display, or could indicate a new feature that would require frequent presses of the power button.
Kuo believes Apple will launch two "iPhone 6" models this year: one with a 4.7-inch display, and another larger model at 5.5 inches. The analyst suggested that both redesigned handsets might see the lock button located on the upper right side.
As for the volume buttons being similar to the iPhone 5c, Macotakara first revealed in March that Apple's next-generation iPhone is expected to adopt that and other characteristics of the mid-range handset. The site said that the holes on the bottom of the handset for speaker and microphone will also follow the design established by the iPhone 5c, as will its back, rounded edges.
Finally, the newly revealed cases are also consistent with a rough design mockup revealed by a case maker earlier this month, which also showed elongated volume buttons and redesigned speaker/mic spaces at the bottom of the unit.
William Gallagher
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37 Comments
Moving the sleep/wake button to the right is the most absurd thing I've heard. Well, them thinking this is true; that is absurd! Another case maker with a single-dgit IQ.
[quote name="PhilBoogie" url="/t/178530/case-purportedly-for-apples-iphone-6-supports-claims-of-power-button-on-upper-right-side#post_2517561"]Moving the sleep/wake button to the right is the most absurd thing I've heard. Well, them thinking this is true; that is absurd! Another case maker with a single-dgit IQ.[/quote] Not absurd if the device is getting bigger. Will be easier to reach on the side than the top. But maybe there are camera related reasons it had to be moved. Or this case maker is just guessing and will turn out to be completely wrong.
Also. I'm a bit confused by those who think there will be a summer launch. The last time Apple announced a new phone in the summer the beta software was released to developers in April. iOS 8 beta won't be released until June. Is Apple really going to release a new phone and beta software at the same time? They're not going to announce a phone months before it ships because that certainly would kill current phone sales. How can they release a new phone in June if that's the first time anyone is seeing iOS 8?
[quote name="PhilBoogie" url="/t/178530/case-purportedly-for-apples-iphone-6-supports-claims-of-power-button-on-upper-right-side#post_2517561"]Moving the sleep/wake button to the right is the most absurd thing I've heard. Well, them thinking this is true; that is absurd! Another case maker with a single-dgit IQ.[/quote] I'm growing tired of your uninspired troll comments. Not only does it make perfect sense, it is happening. Enough leaks have confirmed it. It's happening. And I'm glad. Because I'm right handed, and it should have been in the top left all along.
I prefer the power button on the top. On other types of phone with it on the side I constantly got confused as to which was power and which was volume or camera shutter. Result, choppy experience with the phone and occasional swears.
Given the iPhone's power button hardly ever needs pressing (since the menu button wakes the phone up when you need it to and it goes to sleep on its own after a bit) I hardly ever use it. Seems to me silly to move it and break all that muscle memory everyone who owns any iPhone already has.
That said, it's hardly the biggest problem in the world if they do move it. I can think of worse things to worry about!