One of the so called reliable sources regarding leaked Apple information claims that, currently, there are three different iPhone 5 prototypes.
Out of these three models, one seams to stand out more than the others, by the fact that it is pretty similar to a regular iPhone 4, but it also has a slide-out physical keyboard.
The slide-out mechanism is pretty popular amongst smartphones, however it is pretty hard to believe that Apple is going to change the iPhone this way. And that is because the iPhone has become famous thanks to its exclusive touchscreen, and Apple made us believe that they hate buttons, of any kind.
About the other two iPhone 5 prototypes it is said that they are pretty similar to the current model ( maybe just a bit smaller in dimensions ).
So, if one of these two prototypes models are going to become the next iPhone, maybe we should not expect significant changes, besides an 8 MP photo camera and improved battery autonomy.
And, we cannot help but wonder: if Apple is going to release the iPhone 5 in this summer of this year, why they are still testing three prototypes? Maybe they haven’t made up their mind regarding the final product ? Or these are only traps created by Apple to keep the truth about the real iPhone 5 smartphone a secret ?
Supplements
I think they will keep iPhone in the same line, not with a physical keyboard in any event!
xsufcewrbf
thats not the iphone5…. it is an atatchment of a keyboard. you can buy it off ebay
Code Red
Apparently it's also going to include a floppy disk drive and SCSI interface too…
Keyboards are dead technology. Apple always leave stuff like that for third-party manufacturers.
Paul
i dont really like that
yellow playdough
i like the keypad!!!!!!
Tito
its a boxwave keyboard you can buy on amazon for the iphone 4. I've owned one for 5 months.
Miffy
You can tell that the keyboard isn't attached. The iphone has a cover on it and then the keyboard is just under it, and as said below, you can buy the attachment. This artical is stupid. Some of you people are stupid to actually believe that Apple would incorporate a permanant keyboard to the iphone 5. They are the touch screen masters, they are not about to change their angle.
lovely
that shape is the same as iphone 4 but they just add the keypad thats it iphone 4 is better then iphone 5 i don't like the keypad.
notastepmom
very HTC like .. double input option is viable especially for those who experience issues with the virtual keyboard
Andre B
If they do this, I will change from my HTC Android. But I tend to agree with your sentiment, Apple has invented the touchscreen as a well adopted replacement for the QWERTY. So I really don’t see this prototype going into production.