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Physical Mockup of 'iPhone 5' with Tapered Design

Thursday September 29, 2011 11:38 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Although hope for the redesigned iPhone 5 seen through third-party case designs is waning as evidence continues to stack up for the "iPhone 4S" design and no sign of the larger, tapered iPhone 5, that hasn't halted interest in the iPhone 5 design.


And while we took a stab at some renderings of a potential iPhone 5 based on the case designs, benm.at has now taken things a significant step further and created a physical mockup of the device.
Based on CAD designs, hardware components, several leaked hints, cases and recent, believable mockups we created a three-dimensional computer model. This virtual model was then used to build a very detailed, true prototype that you can hold in your own two hands.

The process to create this prototype is the same that’s used to create the iPad. The back was machined from a sold block of aluminium, which was later treated with glass pearls to get the same slightly rough touch that we already know from the iPad.
The mockup offers an excellent view of what the rumored iPhone 5 design might look like, and while the actual device may not be making an appearance next week, it is possible that the design may have been from a prototype that Apple could be working toward for a future generation of the iPhone.




Left to right: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, "iPhone 5" mockup


[ 353 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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basesloaded190
97 months ago

I hate the "rectangle" design. Seriously, It's ugly.


Aren't all the iPhones "rectangular"? :p
Rating: 50 Votes
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theperipheral
97 months ago
i went from 6 to midnight just now.
Rating: 39 Votes
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adcx64
97 months ago
That's sexy. I'd buy it. It reminds me of the iPad 2.
Rating: 31 Votes
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soco
97 months ago

Face it guys .. Apple touched the perfection with the iPhone 4 design. Really, I can just look at it and just enjoy it. This "5" is cool indeed but I still like the 4th much better.


Face what, exactly? Your opinion?
Rating: 24 Votes
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eddieairplanes
97 months ago

I had some speculations that the iPhone 5 wouldn't look "Apple" enough, but this confirms my thoughts that the iPhone 5 will NOT look like that. That looks nothing what Apple would do with a phone.


Tons of people said that about the IP4 design.
Rating: 19 Votes
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Roessnakhan
97 months ago
And in standard fashion, some MacRumors users call something ugly until its introduced by Apple themselves, then it'll be praised.

Aside from the giant Apple on the back, I like it.
Rating: 15 Votes
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xFenixKnightx
97 months ago
Looks SUHWEEEEEEEEEET! One thing though. If the mock-up is shorter than iPhone 4 how do you explain these cases being way bigger than the iPhone 4?
http://youtu.be/TU7iCNIumpc
Rating: 14 Votes
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Dubthedankest
97 months ago
I didn't like the idea of this redesign before but... that's pretty baller.
Rating: 13 Votes
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LagunaSol
97 months ago
Am I alone in the opinion that the iPhone 4 is a beautiful design and shouldn't be tossed aside yet?

It's just a very high class looking (and feeling) gadget. Glass + stainless steel sandwich = a winner.
Rating: 12 Votes
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aeaglex07
97 months ago
all that hard work for a physical mockup and they present it with bad photography.

seriously though, cool design.
Rating: 12 Votes

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