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iPhone 6 shell with embedded Apple logo seemingly seen for first time

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:49PM EST
iPhone 6 Rumors
Image: Mark Pelin

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We have good news and bad news, Apple fans. The good news is that the increasing volume of iPhone 6 parts leaks is almost certainly evidence that the new handset is entering mass production. The bad news is that if the latest leak is authentic, rumors that the back of the iPhone 6 might not be as ugly as it appears on the many dummy mockups we’ve seen might not pan out.

FROM EARLIER: iPhone 6 and next-gen Retina iPad mini rendered by design master

As rumor has it, the schematics for Apple’s next-generation iPhone 6 and “iPhone Air” phablet leaked from Foxconn several months ago. Using those schematics, people have been creating iPhone mockups that supposedly feature the same size and design as the real next-generation models.

The biggest concern with these dummies, however, is that they’re surprisingly ugly; the thick plastic strips on the back that are thought to cover the antenna look terrible on all of the mockups.

Thankfully, a recent report from Nikkei suggested that those lines in the schematics actually designate areas where the iPhone 6 will have glass inserts similar to the ones on the iPhone 5s. The news was a relief, and we’ve seen how amazing the iPhone 6 can look with glass panels on the back — but unfortunately, that report might have been misguided.

A new leak from uSwitch supposedly shows the aluminum shell from the iPhone 6 with the Apple logo inlaid for the first time. More importantly, however, those thick plastic inserts are still present on the back of the phone.

Will future iPhone 6 and iPhone Air owners have to deal with these unsightly plastic strips on the backs of their phones? We won’t know anything for sure until Apple unveils the device later this year, but keep your fingers crossed.

The leaked photos follow below.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.