Apple’s Redesigned iPhone 5 Will Land In Fall 2012 With Aluminum Back, Rubber Bezel [Rumor]

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iPhone-5-by-BGR

Having been forgotten at Apple’s ‘Let’s talk iPhone’ event back in October, the completely redesigned iPhone 5 is now on track for a Fall 2012 launch, according to a “close source” who is familiar with Apple’s plans. And like the iPad, the sixth-generation device will reportedly sport an aluminum rear casing, with a rubberized bezel much like Apple’s iPhone 4 bumper cases.

The Gorilla glass that currently houses the fourth- and fifth-generation iPhones — which is notoriously susceptible to cracks and smashes — will be replaced by aluminum for the sixth-generation device, according to the source, who has passed information on to Boy Genius Report. The device will also adopt a rubber or plastic bezel that is designed to cover the antennas:

We have also learned that Apple is planning to use a rubber or plastic material — similar to the material used in the company’s bumper cases — that will be built into the new iPhone case. In all likelihood, this material will be used as a bezel surrounding the front edge of the phone (like the iPhone 3GS bezel) and it will serve two purposes. First, it will join the glass iPhone face with a new aluminum back plate. It will also cover a redesigned antenna system that surrounds the device, allowing Apple to build the rear case out of aluminum without having to use a large plastic insert above the antennas as the company does on its iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G.

Rumors claiming an aluminum casing will feature on the iPhone 5 have been circulating for many months now — long before the release of the iPhone 4S — but this is the first we’ve heard of a rubber or plastic bezel. It certainly sounds like a good idea, but will it be pretty?

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