Right now, it’s looking unlikely that the next iPhone will be a true new design, a real iPhone 5. Instead, it looks almost certain that Apple will announced the iPhone 4S on Tuesday instead… an upgraded device that looks almost identical to the iPhone 4.
That said, the sheer volume of reports that say that Apple has been working on a thinner, teardrop shaped iPhone with a bigger screen are hard to ignore, and many industry folks’ best guess is that that device will come in 2012. And here’s what it will look like.
The guys over at Benm.at created a mockup of the teardrop iPhone, and have a fantastic gallery of the results. Here’s how they did it.
Based on CAD designs, hardware components, several leaked hints, cases and recent, believable mockups we created a three-dimensional computer model. This virtual model was then used to build a very detailed, true prototype that you can hold in your own two hands.
The process to create this prototype is the same that’s used to create the iPad. The back was machined from a sold block of aluminium, which was later treated with glass pearls to get the same slightly rough touch that we already know from the iPad…
Even though our prototype is a bit wider than the iPhone 4 (59.94 mm vs 58.6 mm) the design, in combination with the larger 4 inch touchscreen makes it more compact and easier to handle.
Thanks to the rounded design it also feels much nicer while holding it in your hand. Compared with an iPhone 5, the old phone even looks and feels a little chunky.
These guys really did some fantastic work.
Check out their full post for more. I’d go ape if Apple showed off this phone on Thursday. What do you think?
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
27 responses to “This Magnificent Physical Mockup Of The iPhone 5 Is Made With Real Aluminum And Glass [Gallery]”
“if Apple showed off this phone on Tuesday”
#correction
You know what? I wouldn’t mind if the thickness was the same as the existing iPhone 4 – if it meant a significant increase in battery life. You could probably double the battery thickness this way.
in regards to the last sentence in the post. On thursday? Dont you mean on tuesday the 4th?
I’m sure John Brownlee never reads through anything he has written.
don’t give brownie a hard time guys, he still does a good job despite him not proof reading his shit before hitting submit. :) good read.
This is pretty much the only Blog that does not refer to this mockup as “wishful thinking”…
does anyone realize the 4S leaks and the omission of a 5 in the database are immaterial? OF COURSE apple is too careful with the 5, and the 4S is not even a surprise, it’s expected because of the Antennaegate issues.
And people who worry about the “1” in the the invitation:
Here’s the deal>>>
THE “1” DOES mean ONE iPhone…… BECAUSE the iPhone 4S isn’t really a new phone, it’s just an iPhone 4 without Antennaegate!
Therefore the ONE iPhone will absolutely be an iPhone 5.
I say it again, Apple would not be stupid enough to bring out ONLY a “3GS”-like model with such competition out there.
:) can’t wait!
“This is pretty much the only Blog that does not refer to this mockup as “wishful thinking”…”
You have to consider the author ….John Brownlee, regular readers of CoM are already aware of his shortcomings.
Also a video with this great mockup. http://www.iphone365.eu/2011/0…
I do not see how it would be unlikely for Apple to unveil the iPhone 5. First of all everything that we see the actual unveiling means nothing. Apple does not reveil it’s products to anyone until the date that plan to share it with the world. I do have an opinion, in that, I think it would be a bad idea for Apple to bring out an almost similar phone to the one that’s out because all the people expecting the 5 who have the 4 will most likely not buy the “4s”. I’m sure Apple knows this. So I am reassuring myself that there will he a whole new phone especially after the period of time it is taking for it to come out.
Before the actual unveiling*
This explanation is better than the ones I’ve been seeing in blog posts. ;)
More on topic, I have to say that the mock-up these guys made is a lot like what I’ve been picturing in my mind when someone brings up the iPhone 5. I’d LOVE it if this was the one they gave us.
P.s. And yeah, like others have pointed out, the different authors on this site have different blogging styles. ;P
After viewing the gallery, the ONE problem I see with this mock-up is that it doesn’t have that black plastic bit for the antenna like you see on iPads and the first iPhone. That said, it’d be stellar if Apple has discovered a way to work around it.
Wow now this really looks like a Samsung Galaxy S2, I really have a feeling come Tuesday apple will ruin the announcement with a Galaxy S2 clone that everyone will call magical.
In defense of John Brownlee, Im sure it will be thursday somewhere in the universe.