With so much interest in Apple’s unreleased iOS devices, the Cupertino has had a difficult time trying to prevent leaks of late. We saw numerous components for recent iPads, the iPhone 5, and the iPad mini ahead of their official unveilings, and now we’re beginning to see parts believed to be from Apple’s next generation of devices.
The vibration motor and switches pictured above are reportedly destined for Apple’s rumored low-cost iPhone, which could launch sometime this year.
The image was published by Japanese blog Macotakara, which has been a reliable source of leaked Apple components in the past. They show a dual-head vibration motor attached to a sensor and a set of switches believed to be the volume rocker. Macotakara claims the components are headed to Apple’s budget iPhone.
Why Apple might use a dual-head vibration motor rather than a regular one is a mystery. The company has used single-head vibration motors in every iPhone except the iPhone 4S, which had a quieter linear oscillating vibrator, and they’ve all been strong enough.
Rumors have claimed that the low-cost iPhone might be a little bulkier than the more expensive iPhones, which would provide room for a bigger vibration motor. But I’m still not sure why a bigger motor is needed. It seems more likely a dual-head vibration motor could be for an upcoming iPad instead.
I’m also confused by the trio of push switches, believed to be the volume buttons.
All of Apple’s existing iPhone employ two volume buttons and one mute switch. This component suggests the low-cost iPhone will have two volume buttons and a mute button — not a switch. It’s certainly plausible — maybe buttons are cheaper than switches — but it seems a mute button would be easier to activate accidentally, especially if it’s close to other buttons.
While this may be a genuine budget iPhone component, then, it seems to ask more questions that it answers. Hopefully we’ll see some more leaked components in the coming months that’ll help us piece together other parts of the puzzle.
Recent reports have claimed that the budget iPhone will be made of plastic like the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS, and that it could launch before the end of 2013.
Source: Macotakara
Via: iDownloadBlog
