Apple iPhone 5 Release
Apple’s iPhone 5 is expected for a release date this fall, and another indication that production is in full swing has surfaced. Japan’s Sharp Corp. will begin shipping screens that will be used for the upcoming iPhone 5, according to Reuters. Apple

Another allegedly leaked photo in the slew of what is believed to be images of Apple's iPhone 5 has surfaced. Last week pictures of the smartphone's components surfaced, and now a new diagram that puts these pieces of the reported iPhone 5 in context has appeared online.

On Sunday, photos of the motherboard that is rumored to belong to the iPhone 5 was found in a WeiPhone forum, initially spotted by 9 to 5 Mac. The component appeared to be a prototype of what will be incorporated into the final product, since the alleged motherboard was missing much of the typical labeling.

The new diagram put together by the staff at iFixYouri Professional iPhone Repair has organized these reportedly leaked parts into their theoretical space on the iPhone 5 motherboard. As 9 to 5 Mac notes, the fact that these components fit together nicely on what is believed to be the device's motherboard is evidence that these leaks could be legitimate.

The image posted by iFixYouri Professional iPhone Repair shows where parts such as the camera, battery, volume/vibrate buttons, SIM card tray, dock/headphone jack and reaction flex fit onto the iPhone 5. The SIM card in the diagram that is said to be featured on the iPhone 5 is seemingly smaller, but is close to the size of the current Micro-SIM-standard found in the current generation iPhone 4 and 4S. This lines up with rumors that have indicated the iPhone 5 will include a nano-SIM standard smaller than its predecessor.

The exact size of the purported SIM card slot is unclear, previous iPhone leaks have shown different sizes for this component. This could mean that Apple has been testing various components for different sizes. Now that the iPhone 5 is believed to be in production, the SIM size found in the diagram is likely to appear in the upcoming smartphone, 9 to 5 Mac speculates.

The alleged battery that is said to be slimmer than previous iPhone models is also depicted in the photo, sporting a slim rectangular shape that aligns with previous rumors.

On Sunday when the reported motherboard found its way to the Internet, the image also indicated that more antenna connections are present on the rumored iPhone 5 than the 4S. This could add credibility to rumors that the iPhone 5 will be the first LTE smartphone to come from Apple.

While it must be remembered that these pieces of information have not been confirmed by Apple, 9 to 5 Mac has reported that the user who posted the motherboard photo in the WeiPhone forum was correct when posting an image of the motherboard found in the iPhone 4S in August 2011.

The iPhone 5 may be the most widely-rumored and highly anticipated device in the history of mobile devices, with countless reported leaks and speculations hitting the web for more than a year before its release date. Apple has not even officially unveiled the iPhone 5 yet, but news organizations big and small, from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal to gadget-centric outlets such as Know Your Mobile and Digital Trends carrying the latest updates. The company is expected to announce its iPhone 5 alongside an iPad Mini next month, with an unveil reportedly coming on Sept. 12 and the release date allegedly arriving on Sept. 21.

Be sure to check out the diagram for yourself over at 9 to 5 Mac.

Release Date Rumors And Clues

Apple's suppliers have had a banner in July, indicating that the company is likely to be preparing for one of its biggest launches to date-the iPhone 5. Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets has said that his "Apple Monitor," which is an index of Taiwanese component makers whose revenue largely comes from sales to Apple, has jumped 14 percent from June to July, reported Computer World.

This is the largest month-over-month increase from June to July. The average jump between these two months over the last seven years has been 8.5 percent.

"We believe this strength reflects the Apple supply chain ramping up production of new products for Apple that are expected to launch this September," White said in a research note to clients on Thursday, according to Computer World.

Apple has admitted to yielding a lower margin for the upcoming end of the third financial quarter, which concludes on Sept. 30. The company's CFO Peter Oppenheimer said last month to analysts during an earnings call that the reason for this a "fall transition," which indicates that a major launch could be approaching.

"[This] sets up what we believe will be the biggest second-half product launch in Apple's history," White said, reported Computer World.

Features We May See On The iPhone 5

With the iPhone 5 rumor mill churning harder than ever throughout the summer, it can be difficult to keep track of the various rumors and leaks. Here is a list of features that are likely to make an appearance on Apple's next smartphone in the fall.

  • 4-inch display
  • Improved quad-core processor, likely manufactured using 32nm process tech
  • Improved graphics and a better camera
  • New Dock connection, likely to be Thunderbolt or mini-USB
  • Tougher glass
  • Thinner chassis
  • International support for those 4G/LTE networks which exist
  • Much-improved iCloud integration
  • iOS 6: many improvements in Siri
  • iOS 6: Apple Maps
  • iOS 6: Passbook, potentially though not necessarily featuring NFC payment support
  • iOS 6: Facebook and Twitter integration
  • Bigger, thinner front plate
  • In-Cell touch panels
  • Redesigned speaker grills
  • Migrated FaceTime Camera
  • Migrated Earphone Jack
  • New Camera Opening
  • Advanced Haptics
  • OLED Display
  • Near-Field Communication
  • The iWallet
  • Apple Avatars
  • The Photographer's Timer
  • 3D Photography
  • 3D Object Recognition
  • Multiplayer Gaming

Apple has yet to officially announce some of the above features, but speculation and rumor has started based on the words of Apple executives during conference calls and recent patents filed by the company. Read more about these features in detail here.