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.
who gives a damn what steve jobs thinks, he is an asshole for all i care, why couldnt he be a kool guy like bill...this world aint perfect , i love when stuff like these get leaked early lol
Hey there is writing on the screen in the lower left of the iPhone screen. What does it say
Picture 3 side shot of left. Writing on screen very faint
6 lines across bottom of screen on iPhone below explosion that says inferno
6 lines what does it say. Under the explosion and the inferno writing
Will apple fans now start calling the 2-3 yo old HTC, LG and Samsung phones KIRFs on the new iphone?
Boooorrrrring
I wouldn't be surprised if Apple's throwing out red herrings. Then when they debut iPhone 4 at MacWorld next month, it'll be nothing like that. Can't you see The Steve building (at least) two decoy prototypes and planting them around the world just to really see the jaws drop at his keynote? Could even use old prototypes they abandoned early in the design phase.
@antisplatter agreed, anyone fooled by this has got to be struggling with basic motor skills and toilet training, so it's surprising that they're able to comment on Engadget. It just proves miracles are happening every day.
i guess the debug software is called inferno? it reads across the explosion graphic.
iPhone 4?! I'ts look like LG GD880 or Meizu M9 ... I like HTC Evo - that is a great phone ... and I can not understand why the screen is so small ... the margins beetween the screen and case are to large ... the same s**t at Nokia ...
Apple gestapo incoming in 3...2...
Looks high res
Is that an organic coke spoon on his little finger?
WTF's up with that finger nail?
I want to see Apple release something completely different from what has been leaked. I would find that hilarious. Tho it would need to beat out the current features on that phone.
Not this shit again.
Three things on this phone
1. We now know the back plate of the phone is unfortunatly not ceramic but instead plastic like the 3g from looking at the prongs.
2. The chip is probably has a pared down A4 chip
3. Instead of screws to hold everything in place they are using Steve Jobs' sheer force of will.
Good teardown
@RealdudePRO Didn't somebody already translate the info to indeed have the ceramic back? The prongs are probably attached to the (probably) plastic frame around the glass. A lot of speculation...
But does it run Flash?
I just wanted to say...
Are you guys actually confusing that "Micro SIM" card slot as a Micro SD slot? You all can't be serious...
-Spart
any info on the cameras ?
So will Apple hire Blackwater to invade Vietnam now? Or will the cultists sign up to wage war on behalf of Supreme Admiral Marshal Jobs?
Aw snap! The dude took a pic of himself with the iphone.... I wonder what will happen to him... dun dun dun....
I thought apple from 2010 would use MicroUSB on all it's devices?
How come we never get to see any "leaks" from other mobile device companies? Is it to feed the trolls cause they do seem to eat it up like children in a candy store.
There have been leaks of yore from other companies winding up on Engadget. HTC Passion/Dragon later called the Nexus One, the EVO (leaked outside and after it's announcement in a Sprint store), the Devour and the N8, numerous upcoming Dell devices. Oh and don't forget the Moto Twist and Backflip. I can't however say that some of those leaks (sans the EVO, N8, Dell, Nexus One) has sparked as much excitement as this.
Vietnam war 2 is coming: Apple vs. Vietnam
Apple has become the kind of the Nazi Party, with Steve Jobs in Hitlers role and the Apple logo replacing swastika. Banging down doors as they please making people disappear. Tsk Tsk Apple has stepped beyond being uncool is a douche brand now. Hope Apple doesn't knock my door down for the comparison.
average looking phone.
They should make the phones more tiered, keep the 3G but as a super-cheap low-end iPhone, it's still blazing fast compared to other phones with similar hardware, especially with 4.0 coming.
3G should be the really cheap iPhone.
3GS should be the consumer iPhone.
4G 16GB as it appears should be the prosumer and 32Gb and 64GB should be the professional, with more bumps in hardware.
This way they could have different 4 different markets to cater to while not getting too fragmented.
@zebrainez
Interesting speculation. Let's hear some potential prices for that line up.
@zebrainez I could actually see them doing that. Dropping the 3G to $49 if there's enough stock left.
Maybe when using this new iPhone every time the user talks bad about Apple it gets reported back to Apple HQ and Steve Jobs send his hunch men to bust down your door. Apple The possibilities are endless.
Interesting that he doesn't turn it on at all
@stither1
It is on.
@xmonkey That's what Steve said.
The long fingernail is for picking your nose and/or cocaine.
What's with the three black seams on the metal band that goes around the edge? There's two on the left and right sides of the phone near the bottom and one on top by the headphone jack. They look terrible.
I am wondering what this means for the next gen iPod...
The back looks like a fingerprint magnet already too.
ANOTHER DIFFERENCE: I don't know if this was said already, but the tiny hole by the headphone jack is smaller on this model than the previous.
I see a lot of greasy fingerprints.
what's he saying on the video?
Now my wife will get one of these and tease me that my 3gs is crappy.....
Sigh
This iPhone "can" be recognize by iTunes in DFU mode, but it needs a newer iTunes version for restoring... more infor in pictures below
http://img508.imageshack.us/i/138094bea762802033scree.png
http://img295.imageshack.us/i/138094bea76289a1ddscree.png
http://img185.imageshack.us/i/138094bea7625e48e7scree.png
fixed image link
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9836/138094bea762802033scree.png
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/1331/138094bea76289a1ddscree.png
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/7602/138094bea7625e48e7scree.png
Take That are still huge in Vietnam?
@abulkasam lol =)) it's just a random song dude =))
translation please
There won't be much point in Steve Jobs doing the keynotes presentation before long...
anybody can translate his sayings?