Case for Lower-Cost iPhone with Thicker Profile and Curved Edges Surfaces - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Case for Lower-Cost iPhone with Thicker Profile and Curved Edges Surfaces

Mac Otakara points to a blog post [Google translation] from case design firm MGM showing off a new case intended to fit Apple's rumored lower-cost iPhone. The photos reveal a case that is largely identical to iPhone 5 cases, with the exception of being approximately 2 mm thicker.

iphone_5_low_cost_case_1iphone_5_low_cost_case_2

iPhone 5 case (left) vs. lower-cost iPhone case (right)

Mac Otakara has also posted a hands-on video of the case. In the video, an iPhone 5 is placed into the case and appears to fit fairly well. It is clear, however, that the case is intended for a device with rounded edges rather than the squared edges of the iPhone 5.


Descriptions of the lower-cost iPhone having curved rear edges date back to a January report from iLounge that suggested the device would adopt curvature similar to the iPod classic, while appearing as a cross between the iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch in other respects.

Apple's lower-cost iPhone is expected to be introduced in the September timeframe and has been rumored to be including a number of color options in order to help differentiate the device from Apple's main iPhone line.

Case designs have accurately hinted at Apple's design plans a number of times in the past, although case makers have on occasion been fooled as was seen in 2011.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple to Launch These 15+ New Products Later This Year

Friday March 27, 2026 2:03 pm PDT by
March has been an incredibly busy month for Apple, with the company unveiling more than 10 new products and accessories. We said hello to the MacBook Neo at the start of the month, and we bid farewell to the Mac Pro at the end of it. Nevertheless, there is still a lot more to come this year. Beyond the usual annual updates to iPhones and Apple Watches, Apple's all-new smart home hub is...
iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
Mac Pro Feature Teal

Apple Confirms Mac Pro Is Dead, No Future Models Planned

Thursday March 26, 2026 2:04 pm PDT by
Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro and has removed the machine from its website, reports 9to5Mac. Apple said it does not plan to design a new version of the Mac Pro, and no new model will be coming in the future. The Mac Pro was last updated in 2023, which was when Apple added an M2 Ultra Apple silicon chip, but the chassis has not been refreshed since 2019. Apple redesigned the Mac Pro to...

Top Rated Comments

Drunken Master Avatar
167 months ago
Ugh. I guess it's back to the 3GS level of uglyness for iPhone.

Dude, whatever.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M-O Avatar
167 months ago
Teardrop iPhone 5. lest we forget...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PNutts Avatar
167 months ago
Ugh. I guess it's back to the 3GS level of uglyness for iPhone.

The 3GS is my favorite form factor, but the 5 gave me some appreciation for the 4. She's a brick... house.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Popeye206 Avatar
167 months ago
Not sure what to think of the case... however I'd vote the Video music as one of the most annoying... X-Files like. :p
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blackburn Avatar
167 months ago
Today I was passing by an cellphone store and went inside to see what's new, the store is almost overrun with Samsung phones, from the 20€ basic to the S4 that costs like 800€. There were a few other brand phones but not much.

The iPhone was stuffed in the corner, and only the iPhone 5 was exposed. I used to ear lots of people talk about the iPhone this and that, but lately I only ear people talk about Samsung phones.

Apple really needs to have an cheaper iPhone at least in Europe. Most folks use prepaid not 2 year contracts. I think if they could hit the 300€ mark it would be great.
And btw run more advertising since the only ads that I see are from Samsung.

I'm not bashing Apple, but I think they are fading away on people's minds.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M-O Avatar
167 months ago
this screams ipod touch to me and not iphone.

you could fit 3 iPod touches in that case. it's way too thick.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)