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jclo

Managing Editor
Original poster
Staff member
Dec 7, 2012
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Last week we received a tip from Weibo, China's Twitter-like social network, with a small image of a volume button that might possibly belong to the iPhone 6. We couldn't verify the image, but we thought people might want to see and discuss it.

img002ddd.jpg


The image is tiny and difficult to view, but the volume button part appears to have separate rectangular buttons for the up and down controls, rather than the circular buttons of the iPhone 5s. Rectangular buttons have been seen in previous schematics and leaks, so this might very well be a legitimate part.
 

jclo

Managing Editor
Original poster
Staff member
Dec 7, 2012
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Looks like it could be slightly easier to turn the volume up/down with the larger buttons.

Yes, definitely. It has the potential to be a lot easier to use one-handed on a larger device. Also the thought behind the sleep/wake button possibly moving to the right side as well.
 

VSMacOne

macrumors 603
Oct 18, 2008
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The picture shows 4 buttons on the same side. And the two volume buttons are different shapes? Hm....
 

marvz

macrumors 65816
Aug 27, 2012
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Berlin
If this is legitimate, then it seems like they are going back to slate? Seems to dark for space grey.
 

KieranDotW

macrumors 6502a
Apr 12, 2012
623
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Canada
I'm surprised by the "+" and "-" carved in them, it seems that was ditched on the similarly-shaped iPad volume buttons.
 

CarlJ

macrumors 604
Feb 23, 2004
6,971
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San Diego, CA, USA
The picture shows 4 buttons on the same side.
If they've got the room to play with, I would dearly love to see them add a play/pause button like the current iPod nano has; there are times when I have the phone in my hand, listening to music or a podcast, when I'd really like to be able to pause it for a moment without having to look at the screen.
 

acslater017

macrumors 6502a
Jul 25, 2006
716
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San Francisco Bay Area
Looks like it could be slightly easier to turn the volume up/down with the larger buttons.

I doubt these are real, just because they are asymmetrical and shoddily shaped. But you're right, Apple would do everything to keep one-handed use possible:

1) easy-to-use volume buttons/silent switch. Sleep/wake button moved to side.

2) encourage use of swipe to navigate back rather than stretching all the way to the top left "back arrow" (this is present across ios 7)

3) reduce bezels as much as possible, to bring a greater portion of the screen into reach.

4) might be a stretch, but possibly redesign home button/Touch ID to take up less space. It's iconic and comfy for the thumb tip, but takes up an inch on the bottom every iOS device - and for reasons of symmetry, the top as well. If they want to advance their designs, I think they'll have to trim the large top and bottom edges of their future devices.
 

luckydcxx

macrumors 65816
Jun 13, 2013
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Yes, definitely. It has the potential to be a lot easier to use one-handed on a larger device. Also the thought behind the sleep/wake button possibly moving to the right side as well.

i was under the impression that the few leaks/rumors showed the sleep/wake button moving to the top left.
 

Lunfai

macrumors 68000
Nov 21, 2010
1,566
519
Sheffield
The picture shows 4 buttons on the same side. And the two volume buttons are different shapes? Hm....

If you zoom in the last arrow is -> <- thickness. The three labels on the left indicate Volume Slider/ Volume Up / Volume Down. The Up/Down label and buttons are same size. The picture is really blurry though..
 

VSMacOne

macrumors 603
Oct 18, 2008
5,760
2,741
If you zoom in the last arrow is -> <- thickness. The three labels on the left indicate Volume Slider/ Volume Up / Volume Down. The Up/Down label and buttons are same size. The picture is really blurry though..

They're not really the same size. Look at the top of the "+" button. It's flat, unlike the other side that are curved.
 
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