'iPhone 4S' Cases Already Appearing?

otterbox 4s case box crop
While all the focus has been on potential iPhone 5 cases, @Chronicwire posts new images of Otterbox case boxes specifically labeled for the "iPhone 4S". He goes on to claim that Otterbox has produced 3,000,000 cases for the "iPhone 4S".

otterbox 4s case
While chronic does not have photos of the actual case, the rear of the box curiously appears to show the volume buttons on the right side of the device above the SIM-card slot rather than on the left as in the iPhone 4. But part leaks for the iPhone 4S have not revealed such a change, so it is unclear which is the correct depiction of the forthcoming device.

Meanwhile, BGR had claimed that AT&T stores have already refreshed iPhone 4 cases with a change in the back opening for the camera. BGR initially speculated that the cases could be for a camera sensor that may have been changed for the rumored 8-megapixel camera in the iPhone 4S. But in an update to the post, BGR notes that multiple people have indicated that the new cases are simply a revision of the existing iPhone 4 cases to address issues with LED flash performance.

Earlier this month, we received an unconfirmed tip that at least one Apple store received a batch of iPhone 4 bumper cases that didn't fit quite right. Customer returns had suggested the bumpers were a tighter fit with some slight button alignment issues. The tipster had suggested that this may have been an early batch of modified cases, but we had heard no similar reports.

Apple is planning to release a new iPhone in October, but there have been conflicting rumors about what models they are planning to introduce. A recent report suggested that Apple would only be releasing a slightly modified iPhone 4-like device (dubbed "iPhone 4S") rather than a more dramatically redesigned iPhone 5.

Update: As several posters have pointed out the boxes for Otterbox's existing iPhone 4 case similarly show the buttons on the right side of the device, suggesting that the placement in the illustration was simply a means to show both the volume buttons and SIM-card slot in a single cutaway photo of the case.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...

Top Rated Comments

ap3604 Avatar
168 months ago
Sorry folks no iphone5 this year :(

LIES! ;)

Bigger screen or bust...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Muad'Dib Avatar
168 months ago
You all need to stop thinking iPhone 5 is coming in October. It'll follow the pattern of previous years. Being, 3G, 3GS, 4G and now 4GS. Makes complete sense. There never was going to be a redesigned iPhone 5 and there's absolutely no proof that points towards it. Just rumour sites like this with people thinking what they want to think then making it fact.

Hmmm...I don't recall a 4G.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dr Kevorkian94 Avatar
168 months ago
To be an idiot and get everyone mad:

maybe the hole is bigger because there will be 2 cameras for 3d

hahahahaha!:D
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mad Mac Maniac Avatar
168 months ago
Gosh, these rumors are out of control. Apple, tell us something already!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gramirez2012 Avatar
168 months ago
All this 4S talk is nauseating.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aValerio Avatar
168 months ago
Just to say

Existing cases for iPhone 4 from Otterbox:
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)