Rumor: iPhone 5 could adopt iPod Touch style design

By Trevor Mogg April 22, 2011

What’s that noise? Listen carefully. Can you hear it? Do you know what it is yet? Go on, take a guess. That’s right, it’s the sound of the iPhone 5 rumor mill gently creaking back into action.

Former Engadget editor Joshua Topolsky, now part of This is my next, has come out with some interesting revelations, although it should be noted that they’re attributable only to “a variety of sources,” which is a little vague, to say the least. But you never know, they may be bang on the money. Or they could simply be throwing out random iPhone 5 rumors trying to churn up traffic to their new site – Apple related news tends to have that affect.

While many rumors of late have been suggesting a faster processor (the A5) and better camera (8 megapixel) for Apple‘s next iPhone, structural changes were not thought to be likely. This is my next, however, is saying quite the opposite.

The iPhone 5, thought to be preparing for a September release, is said by the unnamed sources to look “more like the iPod touch than the iPhone 4.” That means a thinner design than the current iPhone, and possibly even a teardrop shape akin to that of the MacBook Air.

As you can see from the mock-up image above (based on sketches provided by the sources to This is my next), the screen covers almost the entire front of the phone, expanding the display significantly to 3.7 inches. Another difference you might have noticed is the larger home button, which could mean it’ll be responsive to gestures.

Topolsky also mentions that “while the art we’ve seen shows some form of inductive or touch charging, our sources can’t confirm whether or not Apple’s working on its own version of cable-free juicing.”

With the physical design of the iPhone starting to look a little dated, it’s well within the realms of possibility that Jony Ives and his band of merry men and women have been delving deep into their large bag of technological tricks and pulling out some new features such as an edge-to-edge screen and gesture-responsive home button.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

Best iPhone 14 deals: Unlocked and refurbished

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro's camera module

While the iPhone 15 may be Apple’s most recent iPhone release, that only makes the iPhone 14 a better way to save. The iPhone 14 isn’t far removed from being among the best phones on the market, and it’s still a powerhouse option for most smartphone users. There are a lot of ways to save on an iPhone 14, with shopping refurbished models being one of the best. You'll get a good warranty and a large return window shopping refurbished with most major retailers, which makes them some of the best iPhone 14 deals you'll find. With so many to take advantage of right now, we thought we’d do the heavy lifting and put all of the best iPhone 14 deals together in one place. Reading onward you’ll find some impressive savings on all models of the Apple iPhone 14.
Apple iPhone 14 -- from $479, was $699

With the Apple iPhone 14 you’re getting what is still one of the most popular smartphones on the market. This is the iPhone 14 model that’s meant for everyone. It holds back a few features you can only get on the Pro model, but it still has an impressive 6.1-inch display, an impressive camera, and dozens of ways to personalize your iOS experience with widgets and fonts. The phone can reach up to 26 hours of battery life on a single charge, and it’s powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip. Face ID, emergency SOS via satellite, and super fast 5G cellular connectivity round out the top features of the Apple iPhone 14.
Buy Refurbished at Amazon — from $479

Mobile

How to turn off call forwarding on iPhone and Android

A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus, showing the camera.

If you’re mysteriously missing calls on your iPhone or Android smartphone, it may be because call forwarding is activated on your line. In that case, all your incoming calls could be going somewhere else.

Call forwarding shouldn’t typically be active unless you’ve specifically turned it on, but another person or app may have done so without your knowledge. And since call forwarding is a carrier feature, it could still be enabled on a line you inherited from someone else, even if you’ve swapped their SIM card into your phone or transferred it to a new account.

Mobile

iPhone 16: news, rumored price, release date, and more

A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

We're more than six months removed from the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, so you know what that means: iPhone 16 rumors are in full force. Talk is heating up about everything from design leaks and rumored specs to camera changes and more.