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Design Drawings Reveal Case Makers' Expectations for iPhone 5S and Lower-Cost iPhone

Wednesday June 19, 2013 6:37 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Following yesterday's photos of a case said to be based on the expected design for Apple's lower-cost iPhone, AppleInsider now shares design drawings from a case maker showing expectations for the exact dimensions and profiles of the both the lower-cost iPhone and the iPhone 5S.

iphone_5s_low_cost_design_front
Unsurprisingly, the dimensions of the iPhone 5S are nearly identical to those of the iPhone 5, with case makers also apparently expecting the same layout and size of the physical features.

The lower-cost iPhone, which is rumored to be adopting a plastic shell that will requires a slightly larger body than the iPhone 5/5S, is expected to be approximately 0.6 mm taller, 0.6 mm wider, and 0.8 mm thicker than the current design. The drawings also show rounded rear edges that have been rumored since a January report from iLounge. That report also offered similar claims of the relative dimensions for the device compared to the iPhone 5.

iphone_5s_low_cost_design_bottom
The new design drawings also appear to show the exact same set of physical features as described by iLounge, including pill-shaped side buttons rather than the round ones seen on the iPhone 5, as well as a bottom edge reminiscent of the iPod touch with four holes for the speaker rather than the larger grille seen on the iPhone 5. The lower-cost iPhone would also include a pair of screw holes, one on each side of the Lightning connector, and a single microphone hole located very close to the device's headphone jack.

iphone_5s_low_cost_design_rear
Case makers have on a number of occasions offered accurate pictures of upcoming Apple product designs, although they have also been incorrect at times, most notably with the 2011 tapered iPhone design.

Both the iPhone 5S and the lower-cost iPhone are expected to debut later this year, with September being the most popular rumored timeframe.

[ 69 comments ]


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notjustjay
76 months ago

I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create :(


Yeah, now all those "other people" can have iPhones too! Ewwww! Who's going to envy me now? :mad:
Rating: 14 Votes
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Sky Blue
76 months ago

This is obviously a fake. Schematics are meant to be very precise. Why would Apple include a graphic on one home button and not the other?


"design drawings from a case maker"
Rating: 8 Votes
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Rogifan
76 months ago

I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create :(


The same Steve that approved the iPod nano and shuffle? Did that tarnish the iPod brand?
Rating: 8 Votes
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Drunken Master
76 months ago
In a perfect world, the cheaper iPhone would look like this:



And I'd buy it.
Rating: 7 Votes
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themcfly
76 months ago

I've been hoping they move the charing connector to the top of the phone. The cables on my desk come from behind the desk, the cables on my nighstand also come from behind the nighstand, the cables in my car come from the front of the car. In all these arrangements, having the cable at the bottom results in stress at the connector and an awkward angle.


Won't be any awkward trying to use your docked phone upside down...
Rating: 4 Votes
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renosausage
76 months ago

I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create :(


The iPhone 4 tarnishes the brand too. They shouldn't be selling that iPhone model at all.

Most people by that model because of the price, but they have no idea they are getting a chip that originally came from the iPhone 3gs.

Its too slow to be used and makes the iPhone lineup look like junk.

Just as you said it tarnishes the brand.

An iPhone Light would not do this
Rating: 3 Votes
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ValSalva
76 months ago
Tim Cook is either laughing or his head is about to explode.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Bhatu
76 months ago
A cheap iPod,
A cheap phone,
A cheap internet mobile communicator...
these are NOT three separate cheap devices!
And we are calling it iPhone...Lite!

Beat it Samsung!:cool:
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Raftysworld
76 months ago
I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create :(
Rating: 2 Votes
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Kwill
76 months ago

The size does not make any sense. What do you get (or save) cost wise by making is slightly larger??

FWIW
DLM

EDIT TO ADD: Maybe a bigger, cheaper battery? I would hope they would not put a larger battery in the low cost version...


If the core (inside mechanics) are the same size but the material on the outside (plastic instead of aluminum) changes, this can account for slight changes in overall dimensions. Plastic may need to be thicker to prevent breakage.
Rating: 2 Votes

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