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iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor

By | February 28, 2011, 10:20am PST

Summary: Speaking of leaked Apple bezels, 9to5Mac has also posted a picture (from a a Chinese reseller, natch) of what it believes to be a bezel from the iPhone 5.

Speaking of leaked Apple bezels, 9to5Mac has also posted a picture (from a a Chinese reseller, natch) of what it believes to be a bezel from the iPhone 5. How a Chinese reseller might have obtained such a part (and posted it on their site, no less!) is a valid question, but let’s take it at face value and assume that it’s real.

9to5Mac believes that it’s the digitizer panel for the fifth generation iPhone’s touchscreen. Its design is similar to the current iPhone 4, and past iPhone models, but with a larger screen cutout area.

No measurements were included, but when compared to the iPhone 4 digitizer (above) the new cutout could house a four-inch display. This meshes nicely with previous rumors coming out of China that Apple is working on a larger four-inch panel for the next iPhone to better compete with the larger displays now shipping on several Android phones. The current iPhone 4 includes a 3.5-inch touchscreen.

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Topics

Apple iPhone, Digitizer, Apple Inc., Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Jason D. O'Grady

Jason O'Grady is a journalist and author specializing in mobile technology. He has published six books on Apple and mobile gadgets and his PowerPage blog has been publishing for over 15 years.

Disclosure

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady is the creator and editor of O'Grady's PowerPage, which has been publishing mobile technology news since 1995. He maintains an advertising relationship with the following legacy advertisers on the PowerPage:

  • Amazon Associates
  • Google Adsense
  • Tekserve

    • Advertising on the PowerPage is brokered by a third-party agency (BackBeat Media) and he recuses himself from these negotiations.

Biography

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady developed an affinity for Apple computers after using the original Lisa, and this affinity turned into a bona-fide obsession when he got the original 128 KB Macintosh in 1984.

He started writing one of the first Web sites about Apple (O'Grady's PowerPage) in 1995 and is considered to be one of the fathers of blogging. He has been a frequent speaker at the Macworld Expo conference and a member of the conference faculty. He also co-founded the first dedicated PowerBook User Group (PPUG) in the United States.

After winning a major legal battle with Apple in 2006, he set the precedent that independent journalists are entitled to the same protections under the First Amendment as members of the mainstream media.

O'Grady is the author of The Nexus One Pocket Guide, The Droid Pocket Guide, The Google Phone Pocket Guide, and The Garmin nuvi Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press), the author of Corporations That Changed the World: Apple Inc. (Greenwood Press), and a contributor to The Mac Bible (Peachpit Press). In addition, he has contributed to numerous Mac publications over the years, including MacWEEK, Macworld, and MacPower (Japan).

When he's not writing about Apple for ZDNet at The Apple Core, he enjoys spending time with his family in New Jersey.

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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 11th Oct
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
Hasam1991 28th Feb 2011
SWEET! No more Android for me!! Count me in!!
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
Rama.NET 28th Feb 2011
@Hasam1991
I think you have already claimed that and moved away from your Android for iPhone. Why are you saying "Count me in!!" again?
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How many Android phones did you buy?
Will Farrell 28th Feb 2011
@Hasam1991
You've moved away from Android at least twice a week.

Are you stockpiling iPhones now?
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
dixonrf 28th Feb 2011
@Hasam1991 What did Stevie pay you to slobber like that?
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
kroguej@... 28th Feb 2011
@Hasam1991
I'm thinking a 4" screen is the perfect size for a phone. If its not a 4G phone then there will still be better options with android phones.
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I guess size does matter after all. (nt)
psquared007 28th Feb 2011
nt
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
Matthew A. Sawtell 28th Feb 2011
I have to laugh about the surprise that even Apple has "IP leakage" in P.R. China... NO ONE is 100% secure when any part of the design/engineering process is "farmed out".
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
dheady@... 28th Feb 2011
Speculation, especially about an Apple product is always fun. Is this actually in 'response' to larger screened Android phones or is it simply part of Apple's long term evolution of design? I have had an iPhone 3G and now have an iPhone 4 and while the retina display is a pretty nice improvement I'm not sure a few extra millimeters scree space would make that much difference.

If Apple follows past development patterns iPhone 5 will be a minor upgrade using similar body design, battery, et al. The real upgrade will happen with version 6, IMHO. Same could be said for the iPad II about to be announced. I suspect it will add those features that we all thought were missing from version 1 but not be a huge leap in design.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
dave95. 28th Feb 2011
@dheady@...

Agree. I think Apple is moving at their own pace, not following others with larger screens. It's part of the long term evolution of their hardware design. For instance I am sure the iPad 3 is well into its development as the iPad 2 is about to be released.
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As an Android lover....
jivester Updated - 28th Feb 2011
I use a 3.7" but have played with my friends 4.3" (I know dirty right), and I have to say that all the things that I love on my phone, I love it more on a bigger screen. If they, and I am sure Apple will, keep the profile slim it will still fit nicely into people's pockets and look GREAT with a retina display.

@dave95. But I have to say to think that Apple in all their glorious perfection is impervious to Android is fanboish (stress the boyish). Cmon, can you say Droid X and Evo and all their success have nothing to do with it (if its true)...The technology coming into these phone development periods is happening at a breakneck pace. A bigger screen is definitely a response to consumer need. If Apple was a bulti-billion dollar company - and they are - they probably have any number of potential forks for product development that they then merge features as the tech need arises.

Just my novice thoughts-
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
mrxxxman 28th Feb 2011
@dave95. Apple is behind the curve on phones. Android development is quicker, more nimble than Apple. Apple is more about milking it's user base and profit margins.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
non-biased 4th Mar 2011
@mrxxxman I won't argue that the Android market isn't more nimble but the fact of the matter is no Android OEM has caught up to Apple in sales so apparently it's not an issue of Apple milking the user base as much as it's a matter of them providing what the consumer wants.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
jp_reality 28th Feb 2011
@dheady@...

"response' to larger screened Android phones or is it simply part of Apple's long term evolution of design"

Yes the divine Apple has so bequeathed that they were to grow the screen larger and larger each year, so that the ipad and phone become one, such has been the plan since the newton.

Come on, I enjoy a larger screen like the next person however I don't think this was part of the divine plan from the beginning, it is too coincidental. Too bad though, always liked the iPhone for the sleekness and ability to fit into my pocket. Larger does not necessarily mean better. It's a phone, not a tablet device.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
cgarrett 28th Feb 2011
@dheady@... Or is it just a part from a cheap iphone knockoff designed to look like an apple part.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
dave@... 28th Feb 2011
@dheady@... well, Jobs has been repeatedly on record that there would be no larger iPhone or smaller iPad.. the current sizes are, by royal proclamation, perfect for everyone. Of course,/as with any other marketing statement, this is true until its not. Android users have a multitude of choices, and as long as Apple only does one actual iPhone model per year (memory choices don't count, everyone else just lets you add your own Flash card if you need more). But Apple also tends to keep an older model or two around with the new one. So an iPhone 5 with a larger screen definitely makes them more competitive (an issue that didn't matter to Apple before, but is becoming important). That, also, depending on other upgrades... they'd probably get some flack if the improvements are substantial, but only in the larger model.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
raggi 1st Mar 2011
@dheady@...
I hope you know that the phrase "Retina Display" is marketing gimmick and totally untrue?
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
Goldcds 2nd Mar 2011
@raggi What do you mean untrue? It is only a naming convention like what your parents named you. How can you say a name is untrue. Are you saying it is not part of an eyeball? DUH I think most people know that. Is the name of Apple untrue because it is not a fruit? What are you saying here?
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
Rick_K 28th Feb 2011
Unless Apple has a larger display on the iPhone 5 then this is just pointless speculation. Would a larger display work? Yes. Is it a mandatory thing? No. I would wait till Apple gives official word on the new phone before speculating all sorts of fantasy rumors.
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Agreed....
James Quinn 28th Feb 2011
@Rick_K

Pagan jim
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
Rama.NET 28th Feb 2011
@Rick_K
I totally agree with you on this.
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There's space for a button
nrfong 28th Feb 2011
This bezel puts to rest the rumor that Apple will be doing away with the Home button in favor of 4- or 5-fingered gestures. Remember that?
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iPhone 5 means cue the naysayers
Ron Burgundy 28th Feb 2011
The Apple Hater Steps For Hating

1. Get a rumor about the next iPhone/iPad release
2. Start speculating about how crappy it's going to be
3. The closer to launch it gets, the more flaming and FUD gets thrown
4. Launch day comes, desperation sets in as reports of record launch day sales are reported, more FUD
5. As sales records shatter, FUD turns from current version to the next version as all hope is lost, or continues current FUD tactics calling it a "fad".

Sound about right?
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Apple behind the curve, not leading it anymore.
mrxxxman 28th Feb 2011
You Apple fan boys are such hypocrites. I remember not too long ago a whole slew of comments how the "Retina" display made up for the small 3.5" screen compared to the Droid, etc. I knew deep down inside that you guys were jealous. Now it's apparent.

It's critical for Apple to have a larger screen on it's phone if it wants to continue to compete. Still can't compete with my Dell Streak 5. LOL Still behind the curve.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
non-biased 4th Mar 2011
@mrxxxman I constantly read your posts and think, this guy can't be this clueless can he? Then you make another post and there is no question. So you really think they have to have a larger screen to continue to compete? Does the current iPhone with it's 3.5" screen not outsell all the larger screened phones? Does it not outsell all of them combined? Who are they not competing with? I have no problem with the current screen size and also would not have a problem if they made it larger without increasing the overall size of the phone. This would change the aspect ratio but I don't need a phone that is any larger.
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
briank@... 28th Feb 2011
So, iPhone 6 will be an iPad? Or is that 7?
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
hngquan@... Updated - 28th Feb 2011
haha , the other phones just copy Apple touch....So don't fight , LOL
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
sambellis 1st Mar 2011
@hngquan@...
That's ridiculous, Apple wasn't the first touchscreen phone at all, the first fully touch cell phone was the LG Prada, so Apple is copying LG.
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Nothing but rumours
Gis Bun 2nd Mar 2011
I wonder how many care about rumours such as this. Aside from the fact it came out of China who knows if the pictures are for an iPhone 5 - maybe it's an iPhone 4 variation [after all the AT&T and Verizon models aren't exactly the same].

Next we'll start seeing 5 & later 6 inch screens. So the iPhone will start to look more like an iPad than an iPhone and it won't fit in your pocket. May need a brief case.
0 Votes
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RE: iPhone 5 bezel leak supports 4-inch display rumor
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 11th Oct
That remarkable internet website online has quite a bit of practical guidelines. mulberry bags You will find right here all you may need to understand.

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