Next generation iPhone unscrewed from Vietnam (update: video!)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 12th 2010 3:23AM
posted May 12th 2010 3:23AM
The kids at Taoviet have really outdone themselves. From the looks of these images, the Vietnamese site has nabbed an honest to goodness 4th generation iPhone -- a 16GB model to be exact. It's clearly pre-production judging by the XXX placeholders on the backside stamp and likely lacks a bootable OS, just a "Bonfire" test routine. Nevertheless, it looks authentic enough that we expect Apple's henchmen to be busting down the guy's door before he pries it open to reveal Apple's chipset of choice. A few more pics in the gallery.
Update: We've spotted a difference from this model and the unit that Gizmodo bought. Notably, the pair of screws at the bottom of the device are gone. The cleaner design could indicate a newer prototype (closer to the actual retail model) though both the iPhone 3G and 3GS went to market with a similar pair of screws. Comparison shot after the break.
Update 2: Oops, too late Apple, teardown pics added showing an Apple branded processor. Note the black "N90" text on the white sticker -- that's the rumored internal codename for Apple's next generation GSM iPhone. Yeah, that looks like the A4 processor to us.
Update 3: Video! Unfortunately, this sucker's never going to boot to the OS. And if the translation in our comments is correct then the unit was purchased for US$4,000.
Update: We've spotted a difference from this model and the unit that Gizmodo bought. Notably, the pair of screws at the bottom of the device are gone. The cleaner design could indicate a newer prototype (closer to the actual retail model) though both the iPhone 3G and 3GS went to market with a similar pair of screws. Comparison shot after the break.
Update 2: Oops, too late Apple, teardown pics added showing an Apple branded processor. Note the black "N90" text on the white sticker -- that's the rumored internal codename for Apple's next generation GSM iPhone. Yeah, that looks like the A4 processor to us.
Update 3: Video! Unfortunately, this sucker's never going to boot to the OS. And if the translation in our comments is correct then the unit was purchased for US$4,000.
Rất xấu năm cho Apple.
@furquanatique
This just put a ding in the universe
@furquanatique rat vui duoc gap! i can't do the accents, i'm too lazy. lol.
@furquanatique He must have founded it in a Vietnamese Bar...
@furquanatique
Take a good look at that guy's face... it's the last anyone will ever see of him....
call the cops
@Michael Scrip
Sad but true LOL
did anyone ever find about the chinese guy working for one of the plants manufacturing apple devices after his leak?
@furquanatique I don't think showing your face is a good idea.
@derekdevine
Please don't sack the guy that lost it, he's just a kid.
@furquanatique
I swear, this phone is so damn ugly. anyone agree?
@furquanatique
I gots to put it down for my click, screaming out VIETNAMESE! cause i'm down for my ish
@furquanatique
What the pho!!
That dude doesnt know it yet, but he's about to become Steve's new gimp.
@liftedngifted1
Beside the removed screw now also the camera has changed...its much bigger and has a tiny chrome bezel(in the previous prototype the tiny bezel was around the flash hole)
Bring it On!!
Some translation for you guys:
- This prototype has a microSim slot on its side
- Camera on the front for video call
- Flash next to the camera
- Scratch-resistant sapphire layer on the back
- Solid build
It is said that the prototype was bought by a businessman from an unnamed source at a whopping price of $4000... We'll see if it's true. :-)
@furquanatique Looks like the bald version of Bryan Chen . ha!
@robott you will just be able to find these down the market soon enough. Apple wtf, learn from the first one
@TickLe MY eLMo
It looks like something HP would make...
(looks like a mini version of that tab they were gonna bring out)
@furquanatique Google Translate = FAIL
@furquanatique
gotta love that guy, smiling and enjoying his last days on earth...
@tvu732
Thanks for the translation but strangely enough even though I could not understand a word the man was saying the video was clear and I could understand all the points about the phone including build quality (the tapping on the phone).
@tvu732
That's nice, the price is already down from the $5000 Giz had to pay. So, in June we might be seeing $699? I just wish the curve would go on from there…
@furquanatique HAHAHAHA Gizmodo just wasted a whole lot of time and money and possible jail time for nothing. Well done Engadget.
@TickLe MY eLMo
I beg to differ, since beauty.. really lies on the eyes of the beholder, to each his own of course!
: )
@TickLe MY eLMo not as ugly as the android phones.
Probably doesn't matter this time as we've seen it already.
I'm actually glad to have seen it beforehand because the first impression wasn't good but I've warmed to the design.
Still looks like an iPhone though and it's still gonna be expensive so I'm not really sure why Apple care so much about it being a surprise.
This new glass back isn't going to be too good for people customizing it either.
@TinWard
The smart way to leak something:
- shave your head
- Grow out a fingernail
- even let yourself get your photo taken but squint your eyes a little
- Use some skilled close-up shots, and throw in some Mr. BlurryCam for good measure
and the most important one:
- leak it to the press by saying it came from another country!
@tvu732 They're using the microSIM on all their devices from now on? *gets knife and scissors ready...
@Michael Scrip
0323E - Story breaks
0325E - Phone rings at Jobs mansion
0330E - Phone rings at Jack Bauer's NY apartment. Its Jobs calling in a favor...
0345E - Private jet takes off from JFK headed for Vietnam
Word to the Vietnamese guy that showed his face. Watch Monday's episode of 24 and immediately go into hiding! :)
@furquanatique I really don't believe that this happens to apple for two times, in such a short period of time. This really seems more like a viral marketing campaign, even if surely nobody at Apple would admit it. Well anyway, let's see how this one plays out. I just hope they'll still release that verizon iPhone though. http://j.mp/4g-verizon-iphone-dream
@furquanatique
Relax people. Steve Jobs and Apple can suck it on this one. This is a different country. The legal process won't even come close to nabbing these guys. Haha on Apple.
You want to be the world dominator of tech. Then deal with this kind of stuff...
@hyundaifanscom hahaha
0350E Steve aborts the mission cause how deep is your love is his all time fav track...
is that the ipad nano?
Count the pixellllsss!!1!11!!!eleven
@furquanatique
there, that triggers the war between U.S. and Vietnam
@Dig Deep
I thought that was Steve Jobs!
Is everyone on Engadget still drinking the Koolaid®? Uncle Steve himself was the businessman who said take this apart show them there is an Apple A4 in there.... tell them how magical it is... I can't wait to read the blogs RSS fed to my iPhone!
@hyundaifanscom Jack Bauer uses a Palm Prē. I'm not sure he and Steve are friends.
@furquanatique man when these guys keep stealing them they need to bring a box so they can't remotely wipe the system.
@Michael Scrip You wish, he's Vietnamese, he kick ass.
@furquanatique
oh no ! I don't want Steve Jobs to have a stroke because of this...!
@Michael Scrip LOL! Like the Mafia you never reveal your sources or you'll get clipped...
@Michael Scrip - Chu! chu! as the silenced muzzle flashes from the window across the street, ejecting a Teflon coated talon round moving at mach 2, creating a perfectly symmetrical circle in the cafe's window, on it way to the targets dome. We squint, cringe and momentarily turn away in anticipation of the ghastly brain splatter carnage that is sure to ensue. SPLAT!! The wall is instantly painted chunk red, the crowd scatters in horror as the lifeless headless body drops to the floor...
Act5 Scene2 from "a leak of iPhone 6G in 2015 A.D."
(The "Job-O the Hutt" syndicate is at the height of it power and leaks are no longer tolerated!)
@TickLe MY eLMo
"I swear, this phone is so damn ugly. anyone agree?"
I think it looks pretty good. I have a 3G and am eligible for an upgrade now (past the 18 month mark) I skipped the 3GS because it wasn't new enough, this phone (if it has a better camera and a second front facing camera along with a faster processor) does.
@furquanatique Is it just me or is the design of the Iphone no appealing at all. Its pretty much an iphone 3gs with slightly improved hardware with a lack luster operating system and the design of the phone is a cross between the iphone 2g and iphone 3g. What happened to Apple's innovation with "revolutionary" devices. Everything you see here has been done before. it isn't offering anything new to the table.......
@BMills
He's not squinting his eyes intentionally.
@liftedngifted1
it was found in a vietnamese bar. it was stolen....in a vietnamese bar.
@liftedngifted1
it wasn't found in a vietnamese bar. it was stolen.....in a vietnamese bar.
@realar
My translation was from what I read on the Vietnamese tech forum, tinhte.com. They didn't post the video then. In the video the OP said it is slimmer and longer than the previous generation. The width is about 4mm less. It's a little heavier but more solid. Apparently the screen has been locked, but not remotely. His guess was that the original owner of this machine had been given some kind of code, and if it's not entered regularly the screen would lock itself automatically. That's why they can't test the OS if there is one.
Btw, the guy who posted the video is not the owner. He's just a forum's admin (or member?) who had a chance to play with the prototype and write the review.
@Frankenstein Black
Sounds good. Keep working on your script/novel; I'd like to finish it.
@Eraser "Call the cop" ??? Haha - For what, that won't work in Vietnam.
@Eraser Call the cops not because someone is in possession of the new iPhone HD, but for the BeeGees music playing in the background.