By Nathanael Arnold
Wall St. CheatSheet, May 11, 2014
As the expected launch date for Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) so-called iPhone 6 draws nearer, the frequency of information leaks from the Cupertino-based company’s Asian supply chain appears to be increasing. The latest leaked information is a series of renderings that purport to show the 4.7-inch model of the iPhone 6. China’s Wei Feng website — where the renderings were first posted — claimed that the images were obtained from “informed sources.” Although several industry commentators have speculated that the source of the leak may be primary Apple supplier Foxconn or one of its subcontractors, Wei Feng did not specify a source.
According to the measurements provided in one of the images, the device appears to be 138 millimeters (5.43 inches) long and 67 millimeters (2.63 inches) wide, which would give the device enough surface area to feature a 4.7-inch screen. Several media outlets have reported rumors that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6 will be available in two larger screen sizes. Most rumors peg the screen size of the smaller model at around 4.7 inches, while the larger-screen model is believed to feature a screen size around 5.5 or 5.6 inches.
Besides aligning with previous rumors about the next-generation iPhone’s screen size, the renderings also show several other design changes in the iPhone 6. The corners of the iPhone 6 appear to be rounder than the current iPhone 5S, while the circular volume control buttons have been replaced with rectangular buttons. The renderings also show that the power button has been moved from the top of the device to the right hand side. According to Wei Feng, the power button was relocated in order to “allow users to adapt to a sense of grip due to changes caused by the big screen.”
The renderings also show that the aperture for the iPhone 6 camera flash has returned to the circular design found on the iPhone 5, rather than the oval “pill-shaped” design found on the iPhone 5S. One of the most interesting design changes that can be seen in the new renderings is an Apple logo cutout. This suggests that the upcoming iPhones will feature an illuminated logo on the back casing; similar to what is seen on Apple’s MacBooks.
While it is impossible to confirm the authenticity of these renderings, it is interesting to note that the dimensions and design elements found in these images appear to align with several previous leaks, as well as predictions made by prominent analysts. For example, iPhone 6 renderings posted on UkrainianiPhone last month featured identical dimensions and design changes. Similarly, in a research note obtained by 9to5Mac, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the iPhone 6 would feature a power button on the side, rather than the top of the device.
Although we won’t know if the information from these leaks is accurate until the day that the new iPhone is unveiled, that day may be closer than you think. Although Apple typically releases a new iPhone model in September, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model may be launched in August, according to a recent report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News via Reuters.
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