China brimful of iPhone 5 cases, suggesting iPod touch slimness, teardrop shape and swapped mute button

Chinese accessory makers are by now so confident in their iPhone 5 dimension schematics, that more than 40 cases can already be ordered from the wholesaler Alibaba in bulk quantities.

The cases indicate a slimmer iPhone, perhaps as thin as the iPod touch, which clocks in at 0.28" (7.2mm), thinner than even the bikini body of the NEC MEDIAS W-04C, which holds the "thinnest" smartphone title for now, with 0.3" (7.7mm). The cases also suggest a teardrop shape, and there have been numerous rumors of an aluminum back like on the iPad 2.

The most certain take from these cases is that the mute button seems to have been moved around, and went to the other side of the phone.

There is still plenty of room for surprises, but if these wrappings are any indication, the next iPhone should be a rather thin and light device, with big possibility for the rumored larger display, as the cases look a tad wider and longer.

source: Alibaba via M.I.C. Gadget