Imagination Running Wild
The iPhone 5 is widely expected to arrive sometime in September. Or it may appear in October, depending where you’ve heard the rumors about it. But Apple has not actually said when the iPhone 5 will arrive, or even confirm its existence.
With no word from Apple, designers have let their imagination run wild and came up with some amazing concepts for the next-generation iPhone. iPad 3 concepts are not in short supply either, so click through for some of the best designs for this next-generation vaporware.
iPhone Pro
The iPhone Pro concept from Italian design firm ADR Studio has a MagSafe connector for easy charging, a bigger display, and the power button at the top back.
Photo: ADR Studio
iPhone 5G
The iPhone 5G concept from French design studio NAK features a rounded top and bottom and comes in four color options, like the iPod Nano line.
Photo: NAK Studio
iPhone Full Screen
The iPhone 5 concept by Alternative Industries rocks a 4.5-inch edge-to-edge display, has no home button, features an integrated SIM, and is only 4mm thick.
Photo: Alternative Industries
iPhone Evolution
Polish design studio Midsailors have taken an incremental update approach to the iPhone 5, adding an iPad-like metal back and contour, while the front and side remain similar to the iPhone 4.
Photo: Mindsailors
iPhone Air
Federico Ciccarese has merged an iPhone 4 with a MacBook Air, resulting in their love child, the iPhone Air.
Photo: CiccacareseDesign
Glossy iPhone 5
The glossy iPhone 5 concept from Moldavian designer Roman Sima showcases a plastic-covered iPhone, which could make the device lighter overall.
Photo: Roman Vladimir Sima
Glossy iPad 3
Roman Sima also designed a concept for a glossy iPad 3, to match its iPhone 5 counterpart, with a slightly rounder profile and corners, compared to the iPad 2.
Photo: Roman Vladimir Sima
iPad 3 Meets iPhone 4
The iPad 3 concept from Guilherme Schasiepen has an iPhone 4-like glass back, as well as a metal band on the sides.
Photo: Guilherme Schasiepen
iPhone 5 (S)
Guilherme Schasiepen’s iPhone 5 concept is also in keeping with the current iPhone 4 design, but adds ‘invisible [light, proximity] sensors’ at the top, a 4-inch screen, a FaceTime HD camera at the front, and an 8-megapixel shooter on the back.
Photo: Guilherme Schasiepen
Mood LED iPhone 5
This iPhone 5 concept from Kazi Shahriar Ahmed of Bangladesh has an LED in the home button that blinks white when there’s a notification, green for an incoming call or charging, or red when the battery is low.
Photo: Kazi Shahriar Ahmed
Slide-up iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 concept from Joy Studios features a larger, 4.2-inch display and lacks a home button, which is replaced by a touch-sensitive area (slide up to open the multitasking menu).
Photo: Joy Studios
Curvy iPhone 5
This iPhone 5 concept comes from designer Pietro Schirano, who said he was inspired for this mockup by the wildfire of current iPhone 5 rumors.
Photo: Pietro Schirano/Dorian Darko
Size Zero iPhone 5
Antonello Falcone’s iPhone 5 concept features a 4.6-inch display with curved glass edges, in a thin (8.4mm), yet longer form factor and a soft touch home button.
Photo: Antonello Falcone via iSpazio
Back To The Future
This iPhone concept from design company Designed by Item picks up cues from the 3GS, but has an iPhone 4-like rim and back.
Photo: Designed by Item
iPhone 5 Meets iPad 2
This concept from iPhaze is based on rumors that the iPhone 5 will borrow design cues from the iPad 2 and will be as thin as the latest iPod Touch.
Photo: Craig Philips/iPhaze