Citing a “reliable source at Foxconn in China,” Apple-focused blog 9to5Mac says Apple’s got a handful of sample devices for the next iPhone “floating around,” and that based on previous production scheduling, the company could be looking to release a new model this summer.
The blog also notes some changes on these samples compared to previous iPhone models including a 4-inch (or larger) display, and a form factor that looks unlike the current iPhone 4 and 4S with a “longer/wider” appearance. 9to5Mac also says none of these supposed samples carry a tapered, teardrop shape, a form-factor that rumors leading up to the iPhone 4S unveiling had so heartily suggested.
A return to a summer release schedule would make the next iPhone the first to see a release in less than a year between models. The iPhone 4S was the first phone to get off of Apple’s annual schedule, a move that resulted in record-breaking iPhone sales that were detailed in yesterday’s quarterly earnings
