Prediction: iPhone 5 Concept With 4 Inch Screen And ‘Home Dock’

Posted on February 16, 2011 by AppleBitch


Several rumors have been circulating recently suggesting that Apple would apparently be increasing the screen size in the next generation iPhone and that the iPhone 5 may come with a 4 inch screen rather than the current 3.5 inches (via Digitimes).  While the source of this information may be accurate, it is possible that the dimensions have been misinterpreted.  Some excellent concept mock-ups of an iPhone with a screen that is 4 inches measured diagonally have appeared, among them this one from 9to5Mac.  However, we would suggest that Apple would not be looking to increase the screen size when measured diagonally, but would rather get rid of the Home button and increase the screen dimensions vertically.

As can be seen from our concept above (and yes, we do appreciate that we are rather crap when it comes to Photoshop) , the new iPhone would have a 4 inch screen measured from top to bottom.  The main difference in this concept would be that an extra dynamic ‘Home Dock’ would be added at the bottom of the screen which would provide not only the core functions originally provided by the Home button such as returning to the home screen or engaging the search function, but would also provide additional functionality.  This portion of the screen, almost an inverse version of the excellent SB Settings app available on the Cydia Store, would essentially remain separate from the rest of the display, meaning that Apple could still retain the original iPhone resolution, making it easy on developers.

The new ‘Home Dock’ would act as an area where all the core functions of the iPhone could be controlled (we also appreciate that our icon selections in the picture do not make sense, but you get the idea).  The volume buttons on the side of the iPhone could disappear, as could the lock button on the top of the iPhone.  The new ‘Home Dock’ could control functions such as power, locking, volume, search, brightness, NFC, Mobile Hotspot and Bluetooth as well as a number of other functions.

The lack of a Home button fits with recent rumors that have circulated suggesting that the next generation iPhone and iPad will lose the Home button. This new ‘Home Dock’ function may or may not appear in the next iPhone, but a 4″ vertical screen is worth thinking about.

Image credit: ‘Home Dock’ concept icons via SB Settings app.

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  • Nicole

    Not keen!

    • http://www.applebitch.com AppleBitch

      Haha – yep – it does look weird doesn’t it.

  • Ahmad Halimi

    THe screensize will not change! think about all the apps on the app store. THey’re made for a 3.5″ screen with certain aspect ratio. if apple changes the screensize and ratio every app will be effed up.

    • http://www.applebitch.com AppleBitch

      Precisely the point we were making

    • xblazestormx

      yes but as seen when u jail brake your iphone you can download an app called shrink which can make them smaller

  • ViewRoyal

    That’s actually a great idea. I hope that Apple is on the same concept-track as this.

    It would be really useful to finally have an iPhone with a 16:9 ratio display. The “always-on multitasking tray” that can also be used for additional controls makes real sense. Also, with the keyboard shifted down slightly, more of what you are working on will be in view.

    In landscape mode, and at the same pixel density as the iPhone 4, you would have a wider, more readable view of Web pages.

    And, of course, with a 16:9 ratio display, videos can be watched without cropping or letter-boxing (something I really hate about the current 3:2 iPhone display).

  • http://twitter.com/xbuzz Chris

    A larger physical device doesn’t seem to likely. Have you seen the larger phones? They look obnoxious. If they increase the screen (which I doubt) they grab that extra half inch by extending outward and reducing the non-viewable lining. Again I doubt this will see the light of day in the next generation iPhone.

    • http://www.applebitch.com AppleBitch

      It’s not a larger physical device – same size, larger screen

  • Paul

    Nah, I reckon if they make it 4″, they’ll keep the home button, keep the current aspect ratio and just make it bigger in all directions. The 960×640 display will still look awesome at 4″.