Unconfirmed photos of what is alleged to be the packaging for the iPhone 5S have been released by Chinese site C Technology [Google Translation]. The photographs depict a standard white iPhone box, similar to the boxes Apple has used as packaging for previous versions of the iPhone.
A black iPhone is printed on the top of the box and the phone's home button is surrounded by a new silver ring and pictured without the iconic square in the middle. The design is in line with rumors suggesting the iPhone 5S home button will be slightly altered in order to accommodate an expected fingerprint sensor, but there is no way to confirm the veracity of the images.
The solid black background on the phone is suspect as Apple typically uses a wallpaper for a background, but leaked images of purported iPhone 5C packaging have also shown a solid colored background.
While KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated the iPhone 5S will feature a sapphire-covered convex home button to support the fingerprint sensor, other reports have disagreed with this conclusion, with 9to5Mac suggesting a non-distinct design for the home button that might possibly contain a shinier border as seen in the photo.
Apple will unveil the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C during an iPhone event next Tuesday. In addition to a fingerprint sensor, the iPhone 5S is expected to have an upgraded processor, an improved camera, and a new "champagne" color option.
Update: C Technology has now posted higher-quality versions of the original two photos, as well as two additional photos of the box.
Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by Juli Clover
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week.
Past Launch Dates
Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Monday December 1, 2025 2:16 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down from his position and retiring in spring 2026, Apple announced today.
Giannandrea will serve as an advisor between now and 2026, with former Microsoft AI researcher Amar Subramanya set to take over as vice president of AI. Subramanya will report to Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, and will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and ...
Monday December 1, 2025 4:36 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Netflix has quietly removed the ability to cast content from its mobile apps to most modern TVs and streaming devices, including newer Chromecast models and the Google TV Streamer.
The change was first spotted by users on Reddit and confirmed in an updated Netflix support page (via Android Authority), which now states that the streaming service no longer supports casting from mobile devices...
Cyber Week is here, and you can find popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more at all-time low prices. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Specifically,...
Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent.
Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by Tim Hardwick
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop.
Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
The updated specs of the M5 iPad Pro may point toward a major new feature for Apple's next-generation Studio Display expected in early 2026.
Apple's latest iPad Pro debuted last month and contains one display-related change that stands out: it can now drive external monitors at up to 120Hz with Adaptive Sync. The feature should deliver lower latency, smoother motion, and fewer visual...
Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released.
iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC.
Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple.
Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
Are you guys joking about this being "questionable?"
The only ones that don't believe the leaks so far are the ones who still grasps onto the mere fact iOS 7 is going to change the way it looks and it's still tacky, ugly, and pathetic compared to "being innovative". These are the same folks who yap out "it's a beta!" - when we are on the final release due in a few days.
This is the real iphone 5S - there are NO MORE SURPRISES. If there were anything out of the ordinary, you would've seen it leaked by now. Let me sum it up for you again, Tim Cook Style:
(in no particular order):
- "wooo-woooo-woooooo obnoxious crowd screaming when lights dim and some cheesy U2 song is playing in background"
- tim cook appears. Slow starting speech. Announces how successful iOS is yet again for the 7th time. Praising App Store success, apps being downloaded more than McDonald's being served. Compares to competitors and how iOS still dominates everything (but in reality, it is just not true). Begins to compliment how successful iBooks is and how it enables children to learn (while not being told the truth that more and more children have worse and worse vision staring at the LCD all day long). Talks about how great apple stores are and opening another one in vietnam. Blah blah blah, more slow un-titalating speeches about how great apple is. Trying to distort reality but his abilities are really not at the jedi master level yet.
- Of course you see mr. wart himself, Phil comes on stage. Bam, talks about improving iPhone 5. How great the iPhone 5 is (and it is a nice phone). Then talks about how crappy passwords are and how millions don't lock their devices. Introduces iPHone 5S - fingerprint sensor, talks on and on about how it's so great. How others failed and how apple succeeded. Goes on to introduce iPhone 5S itself and the new processors, updated camera, and the same old shhhhh as the iPhone 5. How great 4" screen is and how the new 5S camera can shoot 60fps 1080p video. Just that the iPhone 5 LCD can't even display 720p :rolleyes:
- More features shown on iphone 5S camera, comparisons to other cameras, knocking on nokia 1020 faux 40+ MP camera. Then the biggest surprise, iPhone 5C colored iPhones. Crowd goes bezerk.
- Tons of the same old same old same old presentation with the same product but trickled improvements from previous because who will buy an iPhone when they do everything now, they will milk everything slowly so they can call it an iPhone 6 next year.
So there you have it, sums up everything - you have seen the real deal already and unless there is an AMOLED 4" screen, some kind of super processor, or a huge battery pack, it's already all seen and done before.
You people who are doubting the reality of this leak, come this tuesday, you will just clap away like a clown and smile then wait a week to order the SAME iPHONE 5 with an S at the end of the iPHone 5!