The two authors are giving great weight to a number of purported iPhone 5 casing and components that have emerged over the past few months, especially those by the Japanese electronics repair site, iLab Factory. The iLab photos show what at first appears to be a longer version of the iPhone 4S.

AnandTech notes several significant differences, though none are as dramatic as the fanciful imaginative Photoshop renderings so beloved by the iOSphere. The changes noted by AnandTech:

+ the all-metal back, with apparently narrow at top and bottom for signals;

+ the longer body, to accommodate a taller (4 inches diagonal), but not wider screen, with 640 x 1136 resolution;

+ the apparent switch to a "more chromed" side metal band compared to the current brushed metal band, possibly with a beveled edge;