For months, we’ve been talking about the possibility of two iPhones: a speed bump upgrade called the iPhone 4S that may end up also being Apple’s low-cost, prepaid option, and the iPhone 5, the radically redesigned next gen device.
Over the last month or so, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that the iPhone 5 is going to show up next month. There’s no evidence for the device in the supply chain, while there’s tons of evidence that the iPhone 4S is coming.
The image above of a new Otterbox case for the iPhone 4S might be the nail in the iPhone 5’s coffin, though.
Jailbreak hacker Chronic posted the above image of a new Otterbox case specifically designed for the iPhone 4S. Reportedly, Otterbox is so sure of the design that they’ve already made 3 million of them.
Otterbox isn’t just some no name Chinese case maker: these guys are one of the big boys in case design. If this is what they are banking for when it comes to the the next iPhone, we should all pay attention.
My guess is that the iPhone 5 is slipping to 2012 due to supply issues and design challenges… possibly as an early to mid year device. In the mean time, Apple will launch a speedbumped iPhone 4S just to keep appetites whet. What do you think
[via MacTrast]
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.
107 responses to “This Otterbox Case Is The Latest Evidence That Says Not To Expect The iPhone 5 This Year”
This doesn’t prove anything about the iPhone 5.
Fake, if there was no design change just a speed bump the box would read compatible with iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S the same way 3G and 3GS cases are the same
So because we get a random photo of the 4S, the iPhone 5 is unlikely to come out this year? Umm, OK…
It just proves there is still no evidence of redesign.
I’ll be pissed if there’s no iphone 5 this year. I havent waited 7 months with an available upgrade for nothing…
Err… how would they know it would be called the 4S anyway? From what I’ve heard, Apple doesn’t tell companies what their next iPhone will be called, so this is all guesswork.
@cdebc1c6565658d7058ff8b4b2889ccd:disqus There was one change the camera sensor is bigger so the case naturally has to change on the backside so that sensor can work properly.
http://twitter.com/#!/OtterBox looks like the are speculating
There is no way they are not releasing a substantially upgraded model. The fanboy blogosphere has been talking about it for months; Wall Street analysts have been waxing eloquent on it. If there were no such animal, Apple would have stepped in with expectation-limiting leaks a long time back. They cannot afford for the first post-Jobs product release to be a huge disappointment.
So there’s a 4S, but there is also definitely a 5.
Then the case would specifically need to mention (not compatible with original iPhone 4) to avoid consumer confusion
I agree with Tim Cooks first Keynote is a lame one it will make him a joke
I just hope Apple puts their power and free time into a) freeing Lion of Bugs b) making iCloud and iOS 5 work and c) a 15 inch MBA / redesigned MBP
I don’t see just a “4S” comming out, it would make Cook look horrible take the blame for no iphone 5 and it would make apple appear weaker which they have gone to great lengths to prevent with the step down of Jobs.
Secondly, if it was going to be a “4S” comming out why wait? It would have been out in June, there was nothing to hold back a “4S” from the normal timeline.
Thirdly, with all the hype about the iphone 5, if things got too hyped up Apple would employ hype controls to bring it down a notch. Remember Ipad 2 with retna display everyone raved about? Then Apple sent word through WSJ to lower expectations. Apple wanted you to leave the announcement wanting the new phone not walking away feeling disappointed. Apple is good at watching public opinion.
Terrible analysis. One pic of one box (which most agree is either fake or inconclusive at best) does not automatically lead to ANY kind of conclusion. If I show you a pic of a diet pepsi at my grocery store, does that mean they won’t/can’t also sell regular pepsi? Your theory posits only one iphone release in October, when we’ve seen dozens of reports of Al Gore say there will be a plurality of iphones released in October (at least more than one). I honestly don’t have any idea how you arrived at this conclusion from just one picture. Paint me befuddled.
If it’s a 4S, I hope they add HSPA+ support.
Although, I’d be willing to skip this year’s upgrade for hopes of an iPhone 5.
I’ve already skipped upgrading my Mac Mini second gen including fourth gen’s model.
Evidence for the iPhone 4s ? evidence against iPhone 5. I’ve heard this several times, but if there was NO evidence for the iPhone 5, why would we know basically what it looks like? There is a lot of evidence for it. That being said, there may simply be an ANNOUNCEMENT for the iPhone 5 on October 4th, followed by a delayed release date. Hopefully not.
If this entire event only launches iPhone 4S APPL stock will tank. I will not do anything until 5…period. It will be such a let down!
I would not want to be Tim Cook in his first “launch” that will be viewed as iDud!
It will also be a huge strategic risk for AAPL to postpone 5 until next year giving Win8 and businesses more time to further plan deployment of Win Phones with integrated enterprise apps (like my company and another friend’s is already doing).
Apple’s lock on the ecosystem may be dwindling, and I’m frankly bored to death with my iPhone 4…time for some life, bigger screen, new interface. I find myself lusting after the Droid’s fresh screen appearance and since I already use Windows for a living, the moves MS is making will spawn many like me to STRONGLY consider their options when contract time comes around.
Apple: love your products but don’t take me for granted!
If there is no iPhone 5 and if there was no major redesign then why is the iPhone launch delayed. I hope Apple has something better than iPhone 4S otherwise iPhone launch will be the biggest disappointment of the year…
What a case manufacturer puts on their box proves nothing at all. Apple doesn’t give out the names of products previous to announcement to their own employees, why would they tell Otterbox?
Also, if there are two phones coming out, then the existence of a 4S is meaningless, and if there was only one phone coming out, why would they name it 4S when they could just name it “iPhone 5”?
This is just more meaningless nonsense that the blogs are grasping onto to keep themselves busy while waiting.
There is a design change. Volume buttons are on the other side.
Re: No iPhone 5?
Absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence.
No way apple releases the iPhone with volume buttons on the other side. The phone is specifically designed for the left hand thumb to manipulate them while the right have operated the touch screen. this would turn the iPhone 4S into a left handed phone
All this means is that Otterbox has….a box.
I believe that there WILL be physical changes to the next iPhone therefore it wont be an S. When you factor in the 16 month gap, the infiltration of “competitors” into the smartphone industry, the continuation of magic post-steve, and my knowledge of the world, a change is inevitable. A 4S is not a continuation of magic…it’s more of a prolonging….but faster.
Does otterbox usually put a sim card slot in their cases? Theres no way thats legit
Finally something I can agree with you on. Well said.
Notice how it is just an EMPTY box. I have a box full of DREAMS doesn’t mean I’ll actually accomplish any of them. lol
Anything is possible, but this case doesn’t at all agree with the casemate picture, with ports in totally different spots. If the 5 was a reworked 4 with an A5, they could have had that out a long time ago. NYT rumor expert says the new phone is pretty different. Would an identical phone with a different processor be described pretty different, and the casemate cases described as pretty close to what Nicky heard? There are negative predictions from analysts, but there are positive ones, too, like JPM’s yesterday…our research points to two new phones. It is easier alibis for when you say you have evidence for one phone when there are two, than the other way around. What evidence did you have that there were two phones. Finally, Apple is pretty savvy about consumers. How do the fanboys on this post respond? They don’t want to tick off their fan base, and a lone 4S would likely do that.
Take this with a grain of salt as nobody really knows what the phone will be called and how it will be typed. But if this is a “4S” model, wouldn’t you think that Apple would refrain from altering the emphasis on iPhone 4 with adding an S after it? Wouldn’t it be labeled much like the 3GS where the S is smaller and boxed next to 3G?
Check Otterbox’s packaging for their 3GS cases; the S is smaller and boxed like the logo. That makes me incline to believe that this is either an edited image or Otterbox is one of the very, very few companies (maybe the only case manufacturer) that knows has access to Apple’s upcoming logos.
Otterbox has an article right on their website headlined — “iPhone 4S or iPhone 5? Yes! Notify when it’s ready”
They are preparing for either or both iterations of the phone!
Debunked John! Do your research.
Thats a good point, the S would most likely be isolated in a similar fashion to the 3GS, apples picky on uniformity of trademarkings
Mabye iOS 5 and iCloud is the reason of delay…
On the rubber part they do. I have this particular case. You do however have to take the hard shell off to access the sim.
A 4s iPhone wouldn’t necessarily make Cook look bad. Holding a special event for an iPhone 4s would make him look bad.
LOL Otterbox did all this to draw attention to their brand. They didn`t make 3M cases already. It`s all just marketing and buzz generation. They know nothing.
how would they know? like really? It’s not like they have a crystal ball or something. All case design are simply worthless cause the people making them are just going off of rumours like us.
Interesting, but youd figure if the mockup displays the simcard slot it would also display the docking station?
Would Apple even both having an event if there was only an iPhone 4s. In this market not having a completely new iPhone would not bode well for Apple.
apple does not tell anyone a freaking thing about the iPhones!!!
Otterbox has no credibility as far as knowledge goes.
Apple will be making a monumental mistake without an iPhone 5. I think they know that.
very very good points.
I don’t think so. Apple products keep being outed by case manufacturers. As is clearly the case (pun) here as well. Apple is much more concerned with the secrecy of the iPhone 5 as opposed to the iPhone 4S. It’s pretty clear, based on precedent, that the next low-end iPhone would be the previous gen model. It happend with the 3G, the 3GS, and now it’s happening with the iPhone 4. Companies already making cases for the 4S is a no-brainer. They are certain that it’s coming. Additionally, they ride the wave of anticipation. Having worked with PR, I can tell you that the value of impressions generated by “leaks” like Case-Mate’s and Otterbox’s are priceless.
Apple won’t make the same mistake twice by giving away it’s future designs in the form of case specs. The only reason Otterbox isn’t making 3 million iPhone 5 cases is simply because it can’t be completely sure what the phone will look like. And if they’re wrong about it, they’ll incur a huge loss. With the 4S, they know it’s coming.
Another thing to consider is the competition. While Apple faces no real competition with tablets, this is not the case with smartphones. The latest and greatest Android and Windows Phone 7 phones come out every few weeks. If these phones have shown anything, it’s that people are no longer satisfied with 3.5″ screens, no matter how sharp they are.
Apple cannot afford its flagship to have the same design, with an outdated screen size for a total of 2 or more years. This may have worked in the days of 3G/3GS, but not now when competition is more fierce than ever, and Android commands 50% of the market.
Make no mistake, the iPhone 5 is coming out next month. It appears likely that there were delays with manufacturing, hence the launch coming 4 months later than the usual. Four months in a fast-moving sector like smartphones is a lifetime. Apple won’t risk its stock value, and reputation, simply to come out with an A5 iPhone 4 (a year and) four-months later. If a slightly spec-bumped iPhone 4 is the only thing being released next month, Apple stock will the a huge hit. Couple that with Jobs’ departure, and analysts will sound the alarm. It would be Cook’s first failure.
There is clearly some confusion. This confusion has to do with the heart of the next low-end iPhone. The $49-$99 iPhone will have an A5 chip. This has thrown analysts off, because they keep thinking that the A5 is the determining factor to what the next-gen iPhone will be. It’s not. Perhaps both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 will have A5s, or perhaps the iPhone 5 will have a slightly overclocked A5 (in addition to more RAM), or even and A6. It’s all about economies of scale. If the same chip is in all their devices, it becomes much cheaper. Apple also has incentive to make their phones more powerful, as it makes the app experience (especially in gaming) much more compelling, and therefore sells more apps, which themselves sell more phones. Entry-level iPhones with A5s all but guarantee the death of dedicated handheld gaming. This is a market that Apple is clearly interested in. Also, Apple has no need to maintain artificial differentiators like processors, when they can do it with tangible specs like design, screen-size, and enhanced UI features such as wide capacitive home-buttons. On a related side now, my personal prediction is that the iPhone 5 will feature multi-tasking similar to WebOs, and the gesture-capable home button will be used to jump between apps.
To sum up. iPhone 4S is coming. And nobody will care. That’s because the iPhone 5 will make it look much older than a year and four months.
I sincerely hope your dead wrong about the iPhone 5. I have waited patiently for six months to switch from dreaded AT&T to Verizon and the new iPhone 5. This would be a heart breaker for me.
I WANT AN IPHONE 5 :'(
first thoughtful post on iPhone 4S / 5 I’ve read so far. Well said.
The biggest thing that I don’t get is this:
If all these case people are getting their hands on engineering specification drawings from Apple (and they would have to be, in order to get *precise* measurements for making injection molds) – SOMEONE would have leaked a copy of the drawings by now. Period.
No way all these multitudes of companies out there would be able to keep something like that secret.
Dear COM,
Give this guy a job. He is better than all of your writers.
Love,
The world.
This guy is a shape-shifting Reptilian who infiltrated Apple HQ. Only explanation.
Why wouldn’t the size of the iphone4 sensor fit inside a bigger opening for a larger sensor?
I’ll be extremely disappointed if Apple’s next iPhone isn’t significantly redesigned. All of the iPhones competitors are now sporting larger and wider screens. It would be tragic for Apple to continue with its tiny (by today’s smartphone standards) and square screen and I for one will not upgrade. My 3G will have a longer wait until retirement.
Just to play devil’s advocate, what makes us think that Apple MUST come out with a new iPhone? From what I understand, there is still huge demand for the 4.
For the record, like everyone else, I do believe there will be a new iPhone coming out soon.
Totally agree. Not to mention the “duh” part about how making new cases for a phone that has the same form factor as the previous model is a lot easier than ramping up new molds and production for a new form factor.
Steve Jobs wouldn’t have retired if he didn’t know the iPhone 5 was in the can. Remember, his wealth is still based largely on Apple stock.
they MUST come out with a new iPhone because the market demands it. Too many Android phones with bigger screens and better cameras, etc. It’s a death wish for Apple if they just release a 4s.
Agreed, his post was well written, and used logic. Unlike the actual article that just jumped to conclusions. I might add that just the other day CoM you posted an article stating that the iPhone5 was a sure thing because of cases emerging from China.
Please use some thought when you write articles CoM…. please!!!
Yep. You were right. I’m a bit shocked to be honest. Iphone 4s sounds good, but I think a redesign was needed immediately.
They needed a bigger screen along with the voice control….ouch. Don’t know what they were thinking to be honest…