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iPhone 5 Cases Invade China: Point to Super Thin Design, Swapped Mute Switch

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One way to figure out what the iPhone 5 will look like is to look at the iPhone 5 cases which are already being mass-produced in China. While these cases aren’t always correct, and there’s always a chance that they are imitating rumors, the fact that manufacturers are beginning to mass produce them has led many to conclude that the manufacturers know more about the iPhone 5 than we do.

These iPhone 5 cases come to us by way of M.I.C. Gadget which spotted them on Alibaba and in Shenzen, a known place for knockoff cell phone goods. If these cases are the real deal, we can expect an incredibly thin iPhone 5, perhaps as thin as the iPod Touch, with a swapped mute button. The moved button is presumably moved because of a thinning design.

iPhone 5 cases

Do these iPhone 5 cases show what the next iPhone will look like?

We’ve seen several iPhone cases before, which have led to mockups, and until Apple announces something or we find the missing iPhone, cases are about the best info we have.

I won’t go all in on these cases, but it is standard practice for case manufacturers to purchase and obtain information about Apple’s products ahead of launch in order to get their products designed, manufactured and shipped to the U.S. in time for launch. Companies take these steps in hopes that they can capitalize on early iPhone 5 sales, without telling customers they will need to wait 3 weeks for their new iPhone case. We’ve seen companies bet big on this in the past and succeed, so there is a possibility that these cases represent the general design of the iPhone 5.

M.I.C. Gadget describes the cases as being designed for a device as thin as an iPod Touch, being wider and longer as well as a slightly tapered back. If that sound familiar, it’s because there have been several mock ups that look like this.

Who knows if this is legit, or if it’s an example of case makers relying on an artist rendering.

Visit M.I.C. Gadget for a full rundown of presumed iPhone 5 cases.

Via TNW

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. landonempey

    09/01/2011 at 11:50 pm

    i think this is an ipod touch case because a hole for the silencer is missing

    • stephan

      09/01/2011 at 11:59 pm

      the silencer switch was moved to the opposite side of the phone, it is not missing.

    • stephan

      09/01/2011 at 11:59 pm

      the silencer switch was moved to the opposite side of the phone, it is not missing.

  2. landonempey

    09/01/2011 at 11:50 pm

    i think this is an ipod touch case because a hole for the silencer is missing

  3. Paul

    09/02/2011 at 1:38 am

    Pretty sure Apple is over providing info to other companies about it’s releases and having them leak the surprise. Also, with the iPad 2 Apple had the smart cover on the market before any other company had access to the iPad 2. This allowed Apple to make money on case sales before anyone else. With the iPhone 5 it would make sense that Apple would create their own case for it, maybe even a mini smart cover like the iPad. Then once the iPhone 5 is on the market the case manufactures can get it and design cases leaving Apple as the only source for cases in the beginning…

  4. Eventronics Management Co.

    09/02/2011 at 3:21 pm

     Thinner iPhone 5 revealed in iPhone cases [Pics] https://bit.ly/qEZdVq

  5. Raven27

    09/26/2011 at 12:10 am

    Do not buy Casemate products. I threw away $30 on one of their cases for my 3GS. It reduced the signal strength by 40%. It also came with a screen protector that did not fit the screen. With so many phone case companies out there, the first thing to do is make sure it’s not a Casemate.

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