Edible Apple

Some tantalizing iPhone news today, folks.

According to information obtained by Seth Weintraub of 9to5Mac, Apple this year will in fact be introducing two brand new iPhone models. One will be a lower end model that will look like the iPhone 4 while the second model, as the leaked cases have indicated, will feature a completely new teardrop design.

Regarding the cheaper iPhone 4 model (perhaps this is the iPhone 4S), Weintraub writes that Apple is planning to have 10 million units ready by launch day and that they will be “priced aggressively and be everywhere.” It’s also worth noting that Apple’s next line of smartphones will be “offered in both prepaid and post paid plans.”

Okay, so far so good, but the picture isn’t as rosy concerning the aforementioned teardrop-shaped and larger screen iPhone 5.

It appears that the tear-drop shaped iPhone 5 with larger screen and thinner, rounder body is seeing continued design and production delays, at least on one assembly line (Apple has multiple production sources – Pegatron, Foxconn, etc). We therefore think that iPhone 5 will be delayed slightly at the very least and may see shortages all the way into 2012.

The iPhone 5 itself is a sight to behold, we’ve been told. It is impossibly light, yet much firmer than Samsung Galaxy phones which are backed in plastic. The camera rivals point and shoot cameras and will be a major marketing point for this device.

Well that’s somewhat frustrating and intriguing all at the same time.

Yesterday the NYT claimed that an official iPhone announcement is just weeks away, and with a rumored launch date set for early to mid-October, we can only hope that Apple’s iPhone 5 production problems are resolved and get into stores in time for the holiday shopping season.

So at this point we have to assume that all of the leaked iPhone 5 case schematics, renderings, and case moldings are all accurate. That said, the iPhone 5 will be longer, thinner, and wider than the iPhone 4. It all looks to be pretty sleek and should further cement Apple’s position at the top of the smartphone food chain.

Below are photos of an iPhone 4 resting snug inside of a large iPhone 5 case.

Note the tapered design here.