Design Drawings Reveal Case Makers' Expectations for iPhone 5S and Lower-Cost iPhone

Following yesterday's photos of a case said to be based on the expected design for Apple's lower-cost iPhone, AppleInsider now shares design drawings from a case maker showing expectations for the exact dimensions and profiles of the both the lower-cost iPhone and the iPhone 5S.

iphone_5s_low_cost_design_front
Unsurprisingly, the dimensions of the iPhone 5S are nearly identical to those of the iPhone 5, with case makers also apparently expecting the same layout and size of the physical features.

The lower-cost iPhone, which is rumored to be adopting a plastic shell that will requires a slightly larger body than the iPhone 5/5S, is expected to be approximately 0.6 mm taller, 0.6 mm wider, and 0.8 mm thicker than the current design. The drawings also show rounded rear edges that have been rumored since a January report from iLounge. That report also offered similar claims of the relative dimensions for the device compared to the iPhone 5.

iphone_5s_low_cost_design_bottom
The new design drawings also appear to show the exact same set of physical features as described by iLounge, including pill-shaped side buttons rather than the round ones seen on the iPhone 5, as well as a bottom edge reminiscent of the iPod touch with four holes for the speaker rather than the larger grille seen on the iPhone 5. The lower-cost iPhone would also include a pair of screw holes, one on each side of the Lightning connector, and a single microphone hole located very close to the device's headphone jack.

iphone_5s_low_cost_design_rear
Case makers have on a number of occasions offered accurate pictures of upcoming Apple product designs, although they have also been incorrect at times, most notably with the 2011 tapered iPhone design.

Both the iPhone 5S and the lower-cost iPhone are expected to debut later this year, with September being the most popular rumored timeframe.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...

Top Rated Comments

notjustjay Avatar
165 months ago
I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create :(

Yeah, now all those "other people" can have iPhones too! Ewwww! Who's going to envy me now? :mad:
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
165 months ago
I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create :(

The same Steve that approved the iPod nano and shuffle? Did that tarnish the iPod brand?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sky Blue Avatar
165 months ago
This is obviously a fake. Schematics are meant to be very precise. Why would Apple include a graphic on one home button and not the other?

"design drawings from a case maker"
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Drunken Master Avatar
165 months ago
In a perfect world, the cheaper iPhone would look like this:

design drawings reveal case makers expectations for iphone 5s and lower cost iphone image

And I'd buy it.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
themcfly Avatar
165 months ago
I've been hoping they move the charing connector to the top of the phone. The cables on my desk come from behind the desk, the cables on my nighstand also come from behind the nighstand, the cables in my car come from the front of the car. In all these arrangements, having the cable at the bottom results in stress at the connector and an awkward angle.
Won't be any awkward trying to use your docked phone upside down...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
renosausage Avatar
165 months ago
I really don't think Steve would have approved of a lower-cost iPhone. It tarnishes the brand they've worked so hard to create :(

The iPhone 4 tarnishes the brand too. They shouldn't be selling that iPhone model at all.

Most people by that model because of the price, but they have no idea they are getting a chip that originally came from the iPhone 3gs.

Its too slow to be used and makes the iPhone lineup look like junk.

Just as you said it tarnishes the brand.

An iPhone Light would not do this
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)