iPhone 5 Release Date: Design Sample Surfaces

Front of iPhone 5 engineering sample. (Photo : GottaBeMobile)

If you haven't already jumped on the Samsung Galaxy S3 bandwagon (or are simply a frustrated Verizon customer), then chances are the only other smartphone that interests you is the iPhone 5. Rumors about the device are everywhere on the internet, but website GottaBeMobile has reportedly got their hands on pictures showing an iPhone 5 engineering sample.

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The pictures seem to verify some of the rumors around the web so far and can hopefully keep you satisfied until the September/October launch.

The pictures, according to GottaBeMobile, are "exclusive photos of an iPhone 5 engineering sample straight from a factory in China." Apparently, a trusted source inside of Apple's supply chain leaked the photos to the website.

The photos show that the iPhone 5 will be slightly larger than the current iPhone 4S. The width will remain the same, but the next iPhone will be taller by about 5 millimeters, confirming that Apple is going for a bigger, 4-inch screen. Despite the increased size, the iPhone 5 will still not sport as large as screen as Android phones such as the Galaxy S3.

The rear-facing camera and the camera lens cutout will essentially be the same as the iPhone 4S. It also looks like Apple will be redesigning the antennae layout.

The rumors of Apple using a metal backing this time around might also be true. GottaBeMobile believes that Apple will use two materials for the iPhone 5's back.

"The middle part could possibly be made of metal, possibly even Liquidmetal, while the top and bottom of the device could feature glass, plastic, or something else entirely."

If the engineering sample photos are true, then it looks like the iPhone 5 won't have space for a bigger battery. Instead, Apple might rely on more efficient quad-core processing and improvements in the iOS 6 to extend the phone's battery life.

Read the full GottaBeMobile post here, and a LatinosPost wrapup of the iPhone 5 rumors we know of so far.