Rumor of the new iPhone, fully redesigned

On the heels of rumors that Apple may launch a mini iPad in 2012, the rumor mill is churning as BGR reports that their inside sources claim Apple will launch a fully redesigned iPhone in the fall of 2012, around the time of year the iPhone 4S was released.

The report claims the next iPhone will utilize an aluminum back panel rather than the glass found on the iPhone 4 and 4S, incorporate a rubber or possibly plastic bezel covering much like those used on iPhone bumpers, with the covering acting as a protection of the device’s antennas from directly contacting the skin and blocking signal. The rubber or plastic is said to be likely used like the iPhone 3GS bezel on the front of the phone.

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This rubber/plastic bezel will be what holds the glass iPhone face with a new aluminum back plate as well as act as a cover for a redesigned antenna system surrounding the device which will now allow Apple to build the rear case out of aluminum rather than having to use the large plastic insert above all antennas.

BGR has often been accurate with Apple rumors, but is not always correct, so analysts are taking these rumors with a grain of salt, even if prototype photos leak, as the iPhone 4S launch defied rumor mills and did not match all of the photos leaked to tech bloggers.

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