Is this the new iPhone home button?
According to a part leak on a Chinese supplier's Web site, the home button for the forthcoming new iPhone, widely expected this fall, has been slightly redesigned.
Last fall the Internet was abuzz about Apple's apparent iPhone redesign for what eventually became the iPhone 4S. Much to the dismay of the media and some louder consumers, the iPhone 4S retained the same design profile as the previous-generation iPhone 4.
At the time, the redesign was expected to feature a teardrop back casing, a bigger screen and, among other things, an ovular home button. If the shape of the home button is any indication of a complete redesign, the latest part leak from Chinese supplier TVC-Mall.com (via Apple Bitch) may not win over many of the iPhone 4S design detractors.
As pictured, the new iPhone home button appears to maintain the original circular profile, though it may actually be a bit smaller than the current iPhone 4(S) button. For its part, TVC-Mall has a pretty good track record at leaking parts for upcoming Apple products. Before the iPad launch, a variety of internal parts were made available to preorder on the site.
Even with the new iPhone launch likely several months away, expect to see a gaggle of rumors concerning various parts of the hardware. Many will claim to have intimate knowledge of Apple's production plans, but as we saw last year, nothing is certain until Tim Cook takes the stage and shows us in person.
Should the new iPhone undergo a complete redesign? Would you buy a new iPhone if it looked like the iPhone 4(S)? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!