The iPhone 5S appears to be in production now, according to one Japanese publication. Macotakara has reported accurate information about unreleased Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) products in the past, and the publication now says it appears as if production on the iPhone 5S has begun at Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s Foxconn factory in China.
There have been reports that the next generation iPhone will likely be out this summer, and if the device is going into production now, those reports could be accurate. According to Macotakara, Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd. (TPE:2354) has just finished test runs of the iPhone 5S and now is pushing the device into the manufacturing phase. It also said the process hasn’t seemed to change much from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 5S, so the device will be built on the same production line.
The publication also reports that a key Japanese wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo might start supporting the iPhone on its network later this year. The carrier is reportedly cutting back on its Android device orders as well this year.
Thus far there hasn’t been a lot of speculation about what the iPhone 5S will look like. CNET reports that it could have a new A7 Apple chip, an LED camera with a Smart Flash, and possibly a fingerprint chip. The device could also support China’s TDD standard, which means it could be compatible with more of the nation’s wireless network than previous models of the iPhone. The device is expected to be the same size of the iPhone 5.
Forbes also reported today that in addition to a summer release of the iPhone 5S, we could see a new iPad in April. The report calls for the release of not one, but two new iPads this year, possibly the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2. The devices could be out as early as April.
