iPhone 5 Release Date Approaches As New Earbuds Are Leaked

The new iPhone 5 earbuds. (Photo : Tinhte.vn)

With the iPhone 5's release date of September 21 fast approaching, the rumor mill is slowly dying down as most of the information about Apple's next-gen iPhone has already been speculated on to death. But one new tasty pic seems to have leaked out recently: Apple will be introducing new earbuds along with the iPhone 5.

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This time, it's courtesy of Vietnamese website Tinhte.vn. The website claims to have sources inside Apple's supply chain, and these headphones supposedly came from a Vietnamese Foxconn plant. Foxconn is a major manufacturer of Apple iPhones and iPads.

"In my hands are the new earphones for the iPhone 5 that is about to come out," said website MacRumors in a video.

"All factors such as design, quality finishing materials fabricated wire, plastic body headphones are led to the conclusion this is genuine and not counterfeit headphones."

It looks like the earbuds will be one single unit, and won't have parts that you can pull apart like previous offerings. This seems to be more in line with Apple's current philosophy of creating fully integrated devices (look at the new Macbook Pros and iPads).

If these are indeed the actual new headphones of the next-gen iPhone (and every next-gen Apple product), then it would be the first redesign to them since the original iPhone came out. Back in 2008, Apple did add an in-line microphone and remote control, but the aesthetic stayed virtually the same, unlike this supposed-redesign.

Apple is expected to officially unveil the next-gen iPhone at a press conference on September 12. The smartphone should then be available for purchase by September 21, as indicated by rumors and moves by wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon.

Watch a video showcasing the new earbuds, and read a translation from MacRumors after the break:

"In my hands are the new earphones for the iPhone 5 that is about to come out - Apple's next generation of iPod [sic]. These will replace the current earphones that are on the market. These are manufactured at Phax Co factory in Vietnam. They have the appearance of a horse's head, not like earbuds. When they are worn, they have a much smaller profile. They have the appearance of a fully integrated, single unit - there's no part that looks like it would come apart - not like earbuds; the integrated design is characteristic of Apple products. Here I have the old earphones for comparison. The new ones are much smaller; when they are worn, they do not hurt the way earbuds do. You can see on the old ones the surface is a separate part that looks like it can be detached - not like the small surface of the new one. The old earphones were mostly made in China, with some in Vietnam. But the new ones are clearly made in Vietnam. (Reading from the wires): "Designed by Apple in California, assembled in Vietnam."

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