First photos of purported 5.5-inch 'iPhone 6' rear shell compare part to 4.7-inch model

A batch of photos out of Asia on Wednesday supposedly reveal a rear shell bound for Apple's "iPhone 6" and show a direct comparison between another alleged handset part.

Purportedly coming from a source "deep within Apple's supply chain," the images posted to evasi0njailbreak.com are claimed to be some of the first to show Apple's 5.5-inch iPhone 6 aluminum chassis. Until now, most unconfirmed parts leaks have been related to the 4.7-inch next-generation handset.

As seen in the photo above, which highlights the disparity the two "leaked" parts' sizes, Apple's "phablet" device design could resemble an enlarged version of the 4.7-inch iPhone revamp. The same hallmarks are present in both variants, including rounded edges, recessed volume controls, side-mounted sleep/wake button and thin profile.

By itself, the alleged 5.5-inch iPhone 6 rear shell bears the same machining marks, anchors and screw bosses seen on previous parts said to be bound for the 4.7-inch version. The larger shell also features an Apple logo cutout that will presumably be filled with a radio transparent material for better signal transmission, an engineering design first seen in the iPad mini with Retina display.

Not much is known about the 5.5-inch iPhone 6, though recent reports claim the unit will sport a 2,915mAh battery to help power the larger display and advanced internals. In late July, a parts leak supposedly pictured the phablet's sleep/wake and volume control flex cables and offered a glimpse at the device's size.

Apple is expected to unveil the next-generation iPhone at a media event on Sept. 9, though the date has yet to be confirmed by the company. Speculation has pointed toward the release of both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch sizes, though recent rumors have said the larger version could be delayed due to production issues.