Apple iPhone 5S Rumors: New Photos Surface Hinting At Improved Battery And Dual LED Flash

A set of new photos, claimed to be of the rear shell and interior of the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 5S, were leaked online on Thursday, suggesting that the 2013 model of the flagship handset will not be a completely new device, but a minor upgrade from its predecessor.

The leaked photos, obtained by MacRumors, showed a battery with an Apple Part Number (APN) of 616-0652, which is more recent compared to the battery found in the current iPhone 5, which has several different APNs, such as 616-0611 and 616-0613.

In addition, the purported iPhone 5S battery apparently has a higher capacity of 5.92 Whr, compared to the iPhone 5’s battery with a capacity of 5.45 Whr. The MacRumors report, however, said that the battery could still be a prototype model as it has room on its surface for regulatory logos could be printed.

The photo of the iPhone 5S’ rear shell indicated that the new handset will feature a pill-shaped, LED flash module, corresponding to earlier reports saying that the phone will sport a dual LED flash. The improved flash, coupled with software optimization, is expected to help the device achieve better low-light performance.

The photo of the handset’s interior also showed a redesigned logic board, which looked similar to the one reported earlier this week. The leaked iPhone 5S logic board is slightly narrower and has a new layout for other components.

The board has a chip with the Apple logo. And as it does not have a label, such as the “A6” found in the iPhone 5, it is still unclear if it’s a new processor or an old processor with the name removed from it to retain secrecy.

The chip also showed a date code on its bottom, reading “1243.” According to MacRumors, the code signifies that the chip was manufactured in the forty-third week of 2012, which falls late in October.

“This would seem to be much earlier than would be expected for a new handset, so it is unclear whether this is a very early prototype that could still be running the same A6 chip found in the iPhone 5 or if it is in fact a different chip,” the report said.

Apple is rumored to be hard at work preparing for a September release of the iPhone 5S. The company is also expected to release a less expensive version of the iPhone with a plastic shell, targeting emerging markets like India and China, where it has been struggling to gain a foothold.