Production of Apple iPhone 5S underway at Foxconn?

According to a source who is familiar with the situation, Foxconn has already started production of the Apple iPhone 5S. Because the design of the new model is similar or even the same as the Apple iPhone 5, not much re-tooling needed to be done to allow both models to be run on the same assembly line. As to when we might expect to see the new model launch, Jefferies' analyst Peter Misek said in January that he expected production of the successor to the Apple iPhone 5 to start production in March followed by a launch in June and July. If Misek is correct, and it seems that the beginning of his forecast is right on, we could see the Apple iPhone 5S launch by this Summer.

Just like the Apple iPhone 4S kept the same design as the Apple iPhone 4, we expect the Apple iPhone 5S to keep the same design as the current model as we alluded to earlier. Most changes will be internal, such as the faster A7 processor that is expected to be powering the device. Other changes rumored for the next version of the iPhone include an improved camera or camera lens with a "Smart Flash" that uses white and yellow LED lights to improve color representation on the phone.

Earlier on Tuesday, we told you that Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities was calling for an Apple iPhone 5S this June with all of the above mentioned features but Kuo also sees the phone coming to market with a fingerprint reader. The analyst also expects to see a cheaper version of the Apple iPhone 5 launching this June, with a fiberglass and plastic body that will add heft and weight to the current version of the handset. Instead of using Qualcomm's all-radios-in one-chip, it appears that Apple will have a special version of the cheaper model that will work on China Mobile's TD-SCDMA network.This could allow Apple to finally launch a phone on the world's largest carrier.

Additionally, the report from Macotakara, suggests that NTT DoCoMo-Japan's largest carrier-might start offering the Apple iPhone 5S next year. The carrier has never offered the iPhone before but has reduced its orders for Android phones starting next fall. This has lead rival carriers to expect that DoCoMo will offer Apple's iconic smartphone to its customers for the first time ever later this year.

source: Macotakara (translated) via AppleInsider