iPhone 5 set for summer launch, as is tradition…?

Apple may be preparing to line up the iPhone 5 smartphone for a summer launch, according to a new rumour originating from a Foxconn manufacturing plant employee.

The worker at the factory that has a long track record of building Apple goods claims that production has started on the iPhone 5. Given the 6-month production schedule given the iPhone 4S from April 2011 to October 2011, that would put the new handset on track for a June/July 2012 launch.

The worker also claims that four possible handset designs have been touted, each slightly different, but all having a display at least 4 inches in size. None are said to look like the iPhone 4 or 4S, which have shared a design over the past two generations of Apple smartphones.

However, with no finalised handset design in place, how can the plant be preparing for production? It detracts from the validity of the rumour; Apple can’t green-light production if they haven’t settled on a final look for the iPhone 5.

Also, while it’s believable that Apple would up the screen size on the handset, I can’t imagine them doing so if that means the handset itself would have to be dramatically larger, which makes the claims that 4 new prototypes are circulating a little hard to believe.

Via: 9to5 Mac