iPhone 5 with Metal Chassis and Less Than 4" Screen? - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 5 with Metal Chassis and Less Than 4" Screen?

Digitimes offers a bit of a strange report this morning that just seems to reinforce some details that have been previously reported about the iPhone 5.

The strangest bit, however, is that their report attempts to refute a fake "leak" video that circulated on YouTube earlier this month.

Despite rumors about iPhone 5 featuring a 4.2-inch panel circulating within the IT market for a while, following a leak from Apple's website in Switzerland in early August

The referenced "leak" video was a clear fake. They seem to have taken the video seriously, but at the least they refute the details of the leak citing "upstream panel suppliers."

Instead, their sources indicate the iPhone 5 will include a 3.5 to 3.7-inch panel "with a design to allow the bezel of the panel to become thinner and make the screen look larger." They also report that the glass back of the current iPhone 4 will be changed to a "metal chassis".

iphone5iPhone 5 artist rendition with 3.7" screen and circular home button

Despite the confused nature of the report, these details come at an interesting time, as the vision of the iPhone 5 has become increasing confused.

Last week, we saw a number of part leaks for a device that looks just like the iPhone 4, but carrying an upgraded A5 processor. That device carried an internal name of 'N94' which was previously believed to be the iPhone 5. Over the last few months, multiple conflicting sources have described the iPhone 5 as both thinner and lighter as well as largely identical to the iPhone 4. The "largely identical" report came from Reuters who did say that the new device would have a "bigger touch screen".

The only concrete design that we've seen is one of a leaked design spec but we've not yet seen any related parts leak out into the supply system.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Oled iPads and MackBook Pro Notch

5 Apple Products to Get OLED Displays

Thursday August 20, 2026 6:50 am PDT by
Apple plans to upgrade several iPads and Macs with OLED displays over the next three years, according to a new DigiTimes report. The following five devices will receive OLED displays between 2026 and 2029, according to the Taiwanese publication's industry sources:iPad mini: 2026 MacBook Pro: Late 2026 or early 2027 iPad Air: 2027 iMac: 2028 or 2029 MacBook Air: 2028 or 2029OLED...
Apple Silicon Teal Feature

Apple's Bid to Use Chinese Chipmaker as Leverage Backfires

Thursday August 6, 2026 4:53 am PDT by
Apple's attempt to use Chinese memory maker CXMT as leverage against Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix has backfired, with the two Korean chipmakers ending up with more pricing power rather than less, ml">DigiTimes reports, citing South Korean and Chinese trade press. This year, Apple has explored CXMT and fellow Chinese chipmaker YMTC as potential DRAM suppliers, and had progressed to testing...
iPhone Handoff Feature

iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

Wednesday September 2, 2026 12:35 pm PDT by
Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time. ...

Top Rated Comments

196 months ago
Anything smaller than a 13" screen on the iPhone will be a disappointment.

I want people to cower in fear when I answer the phone.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RobertMartens Avatar
196 months ago
Can we just get a date for the event

Look, MacRumors is exactly that, a rumors site. It is not an escort service. You are going to have to find your own date. There must be someone at work you can ask. Good luck.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Žalgiris Avatar
196 months ago

i agree, even iOS looks dated and getting boring. they can change the hardware as much as they want, the OS is still gonna be boring after having owned 3 generations

Yep let's change things for the sake of change. When people talk this nonsense, makes it clear they have no idea what they are talking about.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
montycat Avatar
196 months ago
I hope it has the bigger screen.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
196 months ago
i agree, even iOS looks dated and getting boring. they can change the hardware as much as they want, the OS is still gonna be boring after having owned 3 generations

And each generation got better & better, kinda like the evolution of MacOS which has been around for 10 years. Or Windows XP, we had that for 10+ years. Not sure what it is you're wanting. A brand new OS isn't something a company like Apple (or any other) can pop out every 3 years or so.

Perhaps what you need is to use another mobile OS for a while (Android comes to mind). That should make you appreciate your boring ole iOS.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
196 months ago
looks like Apple is better at blurring the rumors related to the future iPhone... this time...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)