iPhone 5 Reportedly Ready for Production, Summer Launch Likely

Following Apple’s industry leading Q4 2011 results, iPhone 5 rumors are back in full swing. Unlike most of the crazy iPhone 5 rumors from last year, however, this one comes straight from the mouth of a Foxconn employee. 9to5Mac reports that this is the same source who refuted the iPhone 5 last year claiming Apple would only release an incrementally upgraded iPhone 4S.

According to the Foxconn employee, there are several different new models for the iPhone floating around the factories, none of which look like the iPhone 4/4S. Apple may be in process of determining the best model for mass production. Furthermore there are no teardrop-shaped devices, everything spotted so far has been symmetrical in thickness. The devices are also longer and wider than the current iPhone 4/4S models due to a new 4+ inch screen being tested. Foxconn declares at least one of the new iPhone models had a screen made by LG.

Apple didn’t begin mass production of the iPhone 4S until late Spring of last year, giving the phone roughly a 5 month break from the October release date. If we follow that pattern, it looks like the iPhone 5 may be gearing up for a Summer release again. Take into consideration that reports of the phone actually being in production are far more reliable for determining release dates than what sources familiar to the matter might claim.