The rumored release date for Apple's iPhone 5 is quickly approaching, and it seems as if new allegedly leaked photos and speculations are surfacing each day. In the past week there have been numerous reports including images of what is said to be the assembled front panel of the iPhone 5. In the latest news to circulate across the Internet, Apple Insider has spotted a video and set of images which compare the front body of the iPhone 5 with that of the iPhone 4S.

The photos come from Shenzen-based cell phone parts company SINOCET, and reportedly show the front plate assembly for the iPhone 5. Although photos of what is believed to be the iPhone 5 front plate have already leaked earlier this month, the new video and images highlight the differences between the next-generation and current front plates.

"The validity of the images cannot be confirmed, but they appear to be in line with the multitude of reports coming from various sources," writes Apple Insider.

A recently leaked image indicated that an unidentified chip is situated above the display near the earpiece. This was initially believed to have been the Near Field Communications chip, but other speculations have said that this is not possible.

When comparing the images of the two front face plates, the difference in size is the most striking feature. The iPhone 5 looks as if it will come with a display that is slightly taller and a bit slimmer than its predecessor, just as rumors have indicated thus far. The body appears to be thinner as well, with a design that could provide even more competition to Samsung's Galaxy S3.

In the beginning of the video, the protective covering is being pulled off of the alleged iPhone 5 front panel, revealing its slender and tall design. The footage also puts the two front plates back-to-back against one another, showing viewers the exact size difference between the two panels.

The touch screen technology implemented in the upcoming iPhone 5 will utilize in-cell panels, which integrate the screen's touch-sensing elements with the LCD portion. There are three separate companies that are reported to be manufacturing this display, which includes LG, Sharp and Japan DIsplay. LG has just announced last week that production of in-cell screens has begun, and in July Sharp said that it had started shipping screens, although the company did not specify what these screens would be used for.

This screen is expected to measure in at 4-inches and feature a Retina Display, just like Apple's latest iPad which was unveiled in August. In addition to differences in the physical design of the iPhone 5 and the size of its display, there are other expected changes from Apple's most recent iPhone iteration.

The current iPhone 4S runs on a dual-core Apple A5 chip, a step up from the single-core A4 chip found in the iPhone 4. According to PC Advisor, the iPhone 5 is likely to stray from these past releases, and will feature an A6 processor that may be quad-core.

In terms of storage space, the iPhone 5 is expected to come equipped with the same capacity as previous models, with 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of space.

The release date for Apple's iPhone 5 is expected to come next month, with the company unveiling the new device on Sept. 12 before it is available in stores on Sept. 21. These rumors have been supported by recent reports that have indicated some cell phone carriers are preparing for what could be the largest handset launch in history.

A Verizon executive reportedly told Tech Crunch that an all-staff vacation blackout was planned for Sept. 21 through Sept. 20. According to the technology news source, this is a clear indication that the iPhone 5 release date will fall in that time period.

Earlier in August, a "trusted AT&T source" told BGR that the company intends to release the iPhone 5 during the third or fourth week of September.

However, Apple fans will have to wait until next month to see if the Cupertino, Calif.-based company actually makes any announcements about the rumored iPhone 5. Below is a list of features that the next-generation smartphone is predicted to come with:

  • 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

Check out the video below to see the different front panels for Apple's alleged iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S. Apple Insider has the photos.

Apple Iphone Iphone Features