iPhone 5 parts caught on video?
Via Boy Genius Report, we've seen a video from a company called GlobalDirectParts which claims to show parts from the next-generation iPhone, or iPhone 5. The company's video shows several differences between the metal case of the current iPhone and the purported next-gen model. Most notably, the "break points" in the case (the black bands) have shifted position, presumably to address the iPhone 4's antenna attenuation issues.
The case design is not radically different compared to the iPhone 4, which could mean that rather than being a next-gen model, it's a slight "iPhone 4.5" redesign for the (supposedly) forthcoming Verizon model of iPhone 4. The case does have a cutout for a SIM card, however, which makes this a somewhat less likely proposition -- unless this "iPhone 4.5" is intended to be a universal GSM/CDMA phone. Naturally, the part could also either be an earlier prototype design or an outright fake.
It may seem early for possible iPhone 5 part leaks, but repair firm iResQ got hold of the iPhone 4's front faceplate as early as February of 2010. The similarities between this new case and the iPhone 4 case also gel with what I've suspected, that the iPhone 5 will most likely be a 3GS-style mini-update of the iPhone 4 rather than a major design shift. GlobalDirectParts claims to have details on this supposedly new iPhone's display and motherboard, too, and will be showing those off next week. In the meantime, click "Read More" and have a look at the video of the case.
Update: The video has been taken down due to a copyright claim from Apple. That certainly strikes out "fake Chinese knockoff" from the TUAW office betting pool. Now we're just wondering if this is an iPhone 5 or iPhone 4.5. Time will tell.
