Never seen before Apple iPhone 5s prototype shows up on Twitter

There was a fourth colour model, which Apple may have been testing ahead of the launch. It never came out but we are seeing the prototype in 2021.

Apple iPhone 5s. (Unsplash)

Apple iPhone 5s, the smartphone that came out almost eight years ago, built its own fan following for the flat bezel design and the TouchID that was once a revolutionary tech in handsets. Apple launched this product in three colours, which were also its iconic ones back in the day – Space Gray, Gold and Silver. All three had dual tone look that made them unique in their own way. But there was a fourth colour model, which Apple may have been testing ahead of the launch. It never came out but we are seeing the prototype in 2021.

The prototype iPhone 5s was revealed by a Twitter user named @DongleBookPro. In the series of four images, the user showcases an iPhone 5s in a darker "slate gray" back cover along with a matte top and base section instead of glossy like the original three colours. The user even added that this model was manufactured in December 2012, which was almost a year before the iPhone 5s was launched, and soon after the iPhone 5 was revealed. 

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iPhone 5s Prototype

This unit has a slate gray iPhone 5 style housing (likely to try and conceal the device) with numerous differences from production (matte top & bottom)

Additionally it was manufactured in December of 2012, months after the 5 was released pic.twitter.com/qmKBxCuih7

— Dongle (@DongleBookPro) January 17, 2021

It's worth mentioning that although this prototype never saw the light of the day, the look is still preferred by many at today's date. Even the latest iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max have a matte-finish metal back. Surely, Apple may have thought that this look might not be a hit upon launch. But we can still say, the company was indeed moving in the right direction.

The iPhone 5s was launched in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage versions. There was a 4-inch IPS Retina display, A7 processor, 8-megapixel iSight camera with f/2.2 aperture and a 1.2-megapixel front camera as well.

Talking about prototypes, Apple is rumoured to be testing two prototypes of folding iPhone. The latest leak suggests it to be testing these with Samsung's flexible screen.