A Couple of iPhone 5 Design Mockups

Friday July 29, 2011 12:08 AM PDT by Arnold Kim
After the release of the purported iPhone 5 design document, we've received a couple of mockups what the iPhone 5 might look like. While we don't normally indulge the purely speculative mockups, the recent rumors have given us some guidance as what the iPhone 5 might look like.

The first comes from MacRumors user bikr who we asked to try to closely approximate the leaked document, with a tapered design and elongated home button.


The design has a slightly sloping taper to it from top to bottom, reminiscent of the MacBook Air.

Meanwhile, CiccareseDesign has created their own mockup but was a little more free with their design choices. They retained the top-to-bottom taper, but ignored some of the other elements. They call this the "iPhone Air".


A few of the other images show that the designer took some liberties, retaining the squared off design of the iPhone 4. Obviously, this is not likely to be predictive of what the actual iPhone 5 might look like.


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nathanjbrown
111 months ago
I have a hard time buying the tapered design. Holding the phone in portrait would be fine, but in landscape it would feel lopsided; out of balance and, therefore, out of the norm for an Apple product. When the iPhone 4 was released, engadget likened it's weight and construction to a Leica camera. A lofty claim! When I got my hands on mine, I completely agreed. The fit and finish - the feel of it in hand - was superb. That tapered design would be a step in the wrong direction.
Rating: 9 Votes
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stanluca
111 months ago
Makes me feel

like I'm living a Teenage Dream!
Rating: 4 Votes
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bikr
111 months ago
Some important notes here..

I was asked for a iPhone 5 mockup that resembled the cad drawings that were released, from the iphone 5 case rumor.

I didn't conceptualize this design at all, nor did I submit this to MacRumors unsolicited.

I was approached by MacRumors for a mockup, and I provided a really early, trivial piece I was working on personally. I was told that a few of the details didn't match, and I offered to revise it and make it match the CAD drawings more precisely. The image you see is what resulted..

I'm a little perturbed that the article made it seem like I sent these in as original concepts and unsolicited.. Not nearly what happened..

(http://skitch.com/bikr/fcgkx/keyshot-2.1-pro-floating-license-untitled.bip-64-bit)

Click for large view (http://skitch.com/bikr/fcgkx/keyshot-2.1-pro-floating-license-untitled.bip-64-bit)
Rating: 2 Votes
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itsmemuffins
111 months ago

Qwerty! Qwerty! Qwerty! Qwerty!


No! No! No! No!
Rating: 2 Votes
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myrtlebee
111 months ago
I'm sorry- I've worked in design for years and the second mockup is simply not practical. The weight distribution would be a nightmare- in both portrait and landscape. The thing would be entirely top-heavy and extremely awkward to hold (for a few seconds, let alone an entire phone conversation). Forget gaming.

The first is a bit more subtle and practical, but still would not be optimal for a phone by any means.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Liquinn
111 months ago
If it looks anything like that I won't buy it.
Rating: 2 Votes
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NightFox
111 months ago
I know a lot of people are getting really excited about the prospects of a wall-to-wall screen, but personally I find it just looks so aesthetically wrong in the mockups that have surfaced so far; I'd even go as far as to say ugly. Each to their own I guess!
Rating: 2 Votes
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the8thark
111 months ago
Design Mockups?

Is there not enough (might be true) rumours out there that you have to write articles on (totally wrong/fake) rumours?
Rating: 2 Votes
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winston1236
111 months ago
edge to edge screen is the way to go
Rating: 1 Votes
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NightFox
111 months ago

I'm sorry- I've worked in design for years and the second mockup is simply not practical. The weight distribution would be a nightmare- in both portrait and landscape. The thing would be entirely top-heavy and extremely awkward to hold (for a few seconds, let alone an entire phone conversation). Forget gaming.

The first is a bit more subtle and practical, but still would not be optimal for a phone by any means.


I'm no fan of this 'wedge' design (second one looks like a 70's LED desktop calculator), but why does everyone keep mentioning the weight distribution? Just because a bit of the phone might be fatter doesn't mean it has to be heavier surely? I'm guessing that the components that make up an iPhone vary considerably in their density.
Rating: 1 Votes
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