New iPhone 5 Cases Suggest Longer and Wider Form Factor

Friday July 29, 2011 2:27 pm PDT by Eric Slivka

Mockup created by bikr

If new images of purported iPhone 5 cases obtained by 9 to 5 Mac are to be believed, it appears that the next-generation iPhone will offer a somewhat longer and wider form factor than the iPhone 4. The cases also reiterate other apparent changes such as the mute switch being moved to the opposite edge of the device and the form factor including a very slight "teardrop" design and rounded edges.


The most important change certainly appears to be the size, although it is difficult to say for certain just how much bigger the iPhone 5 would be than the iPhone 4 based on these cases, given that only exterior case dimensions and not interior dimensions are known.
Our new images are clear and there are appears to be a slight – not major – tear drop in the design. The case goes thick to thin from top to bottom. In addition, the sources who provided us with these two new cases have shared some dimensions. According to them, the case is 5 inches tall and 2.8 inches wide. These are tight cases so the iPhone 5 dimensions should only be a few millimeters smaller than those numbers. For comparison, the iPhone 4 is 4.5 inches tall and 2.31 inches wide.
A larger form factor naturally points toward Apple using a larger screen in the new iPhone, a claim that has been made by a number of sources. It is unclear, however, how Apple would deal with potential issues related to screen resolution, either keeping the same pixel density and increasing pixel count by a small amount or decreasing the density and maintaining the same 960x640 resolution.

Tag: 9to5mac.com
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javaGuru
109 months ago
How do we know this case isn't for a new iPod touch?
Rating: 19 Votes
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outlawarth
109 months ago
I will reserve judgement until oficially announced but here's one question: wouldn't a "teardrop" design be akward to use in landsdcape mode?
Rating: 10 Votes
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Patriot24
109 months ago
I wouldn't mind it being slightly larger to accomodate an enlarged screen, but I don't want it to be the same size as some of the Android handsets out there right now. A coworker was showing me her new HTC Thunderbolt, and it is ridiculously large. I'm not really interested in something that large.
Rating: 10 Votes
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malias4
109 months ago
If its gonna look like the mockup above i ll buy 3 of them, it looks awsome:eek:
Rating: 10 Votes
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AppleMactablet
109 months ago
Here Apple take my money already!!!! I been waiting 4.5years for my first iPhone and im so ready.:apple:
Rating: 8 Votes
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Megagator
109 months ago

How do we know this case isn't for a new iPod touch?


Headphone jack at the top? Space for a flash? Mute switch?;)
Rating: 7 Votes
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chrmjenkins
109 months ago
Did some quick calculations to ascertain possible screen size. For simplicity's sake, let's assume bezel width has stayed the same and the added length and width are purely devoted to screen real estate.

iphone 4: 4.5 x 2.31"
Screen: 3.5" diagonal ratio: 3:2 (2.91" tall, 1.94" wide)

iphone 5: 5.0 x 2.8"
Screen: xx" diagonal

Since both dimensions increased by half an inch, only the longer dimension (screen height) can increase by that much, else the 3:2 ratio would be broken. So, screen height increases by 0.5" and screen width increases by (2/3) * 0.5" = 0.33"

So,

Screen: 3.41" tall, 2.27" wide -> 4.096" diagonal screen. So, a 4" or 4.1" screen.

Assuming 960x640 resolution: 281 PPI. Just below "retina" resolution of 300 PPI.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Keva161
109 months ago
Looks like an iPod Touch...
Rating: 6 Votes
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javaGuru
109 months ago

Headphone jack at the top? Space for a flash? Mute switch?;)


Could be for the NEW iPod touch. We know what the current iPod touches have and don't have but we are not sure what the new ones will look like. If the rumors that the updated iPod touches will have 3G are true I would assume a complete redesign.
Rating: 6 Votes
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xFenixKnightx
109 months ago
As a Samsung Galaxy S owner I am VERY happy Apple is finally going with a larger screen. I think 4" is perfect. My Fascinates 4" screen is just right. EVO's 4.3" is too big IMO and iPhones 3.5" is just too small.

Huzzah! Finally, Apple has a phone I can get down with. =D
Rating: 6 Votes

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