Various sources are reporting that Apple is shifting suppliers for parts of its next iPhone and that the new model, the fifth version of the phone, will be a complete redesign for the product.
The news that Apple is changing suppliers is the latest from the Chinese-language Economic Daily News, reported elsewhere. Apple is said to be turning to Taiwanese manufacturers Foxconn and Foxlink for some parts of the iPhone 5 in an effort to cut production costs.
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At the same time, Engadget cites “sources” in saying the next iPhone will be a “completely redesigned handset.” The report goes on to speculate that the iPhone 5 will have a Qualcomm GSM/CDMA chipset and a new processor called the A5. The phone is said to be a “total rethink,” but supposedly it won’t feature LTE 4G connectivity.
The Qualcomm chip rumor is buoyed by the recent unveiling of the Verizon iPhone, which will have a Qualcomm CDMA chip. Additionally, rethinking the design of the iPhone seems prudent in the wake of the release of several Android phones with screens larger than the iPhone’s 3.5-inch display. The bad press received by the iPhone 4’s external antenna may also be a factor.
If Apple follows its normal product refresh cycle, the next iPhone should arrive this summer, most likely on the heels of a refreshed iPad.
