Asian manufacturers already selling accessories

A new iPhone 5 case design may validate recent leaks, says 9to5Mac. Critically the site claims to have got its hands on an actual case from an anonymous source, rather than schematics or a mock-up. A photo shows the design matching the earlier information, including a thinner shape, rounded edges and a camera cutout distinct from that used on most iPhone 4 cases.

It's uncertain whether the new case is based on the same data used to produce the earlier images. The source is, however, described as having previously leaked accurate schematics for the iPad 2. 9to5 also says that Asian case manufacturers are now selling iPhone 5 case designs to vendors so they can impose their own branding, which may suggest that the source is with a manufacturer, a vendor, or even Hon Hai (a.k.a. Foxconn), Apple's main manufacturing partner.

Any iPhone 5 design leaks would likely have originated with a source at Apple or Foxconn. By necessity, the latter company receives blueprints ahead of production. Multiple leaks have emerged from Foxconn facilities in the past though, something generally attributed to accessory makers paying off workers for a competitive edge. In June a Chinese court sentenced three people to prison for a similar scheme involving the iPad 2.

By Electronista Staff