Apple allegedly has three new iPhone 5 successors in the works, and according to a new report, two of those iPhone models may release this year.
Citing an alleged source within Apple’s supply chain who posted a report to Chinese microblog Sina Weibo, Brightwire claims Apple will launch the iPhone 5S, as well as a 5-inch “iPhone 6,” in 2013.
“A source told Chinese mobile phone information site Laoyaoba.com that he has seen the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 at Apple’s suppliers,” Brightwire translated. “Both models may be released in 2013, according to the website’s microblog on Thursday evening.”
The source said the iPhone 5S “resembles” the iPhone 5 — it may even have an identical form factor — but the 5-inch iPhone 6 is lighter and thinner.
It’s possible the devices seen by this unnamed source are the same ones shown in these alleged photos from Foxconn, which were posted to a Chinese forum and uploaded to Chinese gadget blog Gizchina on Saturday morning.
The leaked images show the alleged assembly line for the iPhone 5S, as well as close ups of the so-called iPhone 5 successor.
However, since these images are unconfirmed, it’s possible that what you’re seeing is actually just a production line for the iPhone 5, not the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6. Other pictures show the inside of the alleged iPhone 5S, showing off its chipsets and battery, and it looks extremely similar to the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5S is said to feature the same form factor of the iPhone 5, but with a few changes, particularly to the outside speaker grills; in these models, the grills look unchanged.
Dave Smith is a reporter for International Business Times, where this article first appeared.