As it happened, there was no iPhone 5 in 2011 after all, but the company did announce the iPhone 4S.
However, the iPhone 5 is still on the cards - we're expecting it to debut in the middle of this year. So we've gathered together all the latest iPhone 5 rumours and rounded them up below.
First though, why not read our complete iPhone 4S review?
It's the phone that appeared when the whole world was looking forward to the iPhone 5 anyway, so make up your own mind whether to make the jump to Apple's latest now or save those pennies for the 2012 iPhone 5 release.
iPhone 5 release date
UPDATE: For the latest on the new iPhone 5's release date, check out our regularly updated article iPhone 5 release date.
Given the pattern of Apple's iPhone launches, we're expecting the next-gen iPhone 5 to debut in mid to late 2012. We reckon it's most likely to be shown off at Apple's Worldwide Developer Event (WWDC), which usually takes place in early June.
Rumours that we reported on 18 October claim an iPhone 5 release date of Summer 2012. Analyst Ashok Kumar claimed that the absent iPhone 5 was meant to be the big announcement at the recent event where the iPhone 4S was launched.
iPhone 5 form factor
Unlike the iPhone 4S, it'll be a completely new design from what has gone before, so that means an entirely new casing as we saw with the iPhone 3G and, later, the iPhone 4.
Interestingly, someone who claimed to have seen a larger-screened iPhone 5 prototype said in November 2011 that Steve Jobs canned the new handset and opted for the iPhone 4S because of the larger screen size of the new device. According to Business Insider, it was feared that a new size would create a two-tier iPhone ecosystem.
Beatweek also claimed in November 2011 that the 5-inch was scrapped "because Apple wouldn't be able to do it properly" this year. However, the Daily Mail (make of that what you will) then suggested that a four-inch version was likely and that Sony has already shipped top secret demo screens to Apple.
iPhone 5 specs
Based on the roadmap of mobile chip design specialist ARM (of which Apple is a licensee), we'll see a quad-core processor debut in the iPhone 5 - probably called the Apple A6. We know that we'll see other quad core handsets debut in 2012, so it's not too much of a stretch to say that the iPhone 5 will be the same.
iPhone 5 will have 4G/LTE support
With many 4G handsets already announced in the US, it can't be long before the iPhone supports 4G technologies - even if we won't even have a UK spectrum auction until 2012.
Cnet.com quotes Will Strauss from analyst firm Forward Concepts, who says that the next iPhone will feature LTE technologies."They're saving iPhone 5 for the LTE version and that won't be out until next spring," said Strauss.
Steve Jobs' iPhone 5 legacy
Many sites have reported that Steve Jobs was working hard on the iPhone 5 project, which will apparently be a "radical redesign". We shall see...
Your comments (61) Click to add a new comment
jennifergrey
February 16th
61. I would like to thank you for the efforts that you have made in writing this article.This is exactly what I need,Thanks a lot.Keep blogging.
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wandap123
February 11th
60. <a href="#">hi</a>
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naturekid
February 1st
59. hi!here am i. iphone is innovation nowadays.I have recently learned about on-line help resource hahaped, which I remember now to you!
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richmurrills
February 1st
58. @nelas - Just a small point, but the 10 year anniversary of the September 11 attacks was last year. Just sayin'
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praveen89
October 24th 2011
57. And just months after Apple launches the iphone 5, Samsung launches GALAXY S3. Loving the s2, will definitely wait for the s3 :D
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duskrider
October 19th 2011
56. I think the iPhone 5 will come at a time when Siri is mature enough that it could be the size of an iPod Nano, or smaller.
It will remote start your car, control your ceiling fan, pump information from your computer onto any screen and of course have a button dialler on the back for deaf mutes. It will speak soothing words to you when you are having a down day. Dinner? No problem. Get you a beer? Check.
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rose
October 4th 2011
55. All this rumour and conjecture are pointless and a waste of time - it's not news it's gossip. Just be patient and wait for the launch.
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caimbeul
September 28th 2011
54. +1 to comment 51
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akku
September 8th 2011
53. waiting for iphone 5 hope as some rumours say it might get bbm please it should get bbm
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lysochanda
September 4th 2011
52. I hope that iphone5 would equip with 12MP camera Just like another phone like Nokia N8, with high resolution 4" screen, and acceptable price
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shm1ck
August 31st 2011
51. @ nelas, After those stupid comments I hope you deleted your accont just as fast as you created it!
Not a good start for your first post! Grow up buddy!
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tanricks
August 25th 2011
50. @nelas - 9/11 - I think a few more people died each day during World War 2 than died on 9/11. And WW2 lasted 4.5 years, so I guess that means we can't launch anything ever because people died every day?
A few Polish, French, Russian and Yugoslavian people might disagree with your xenophobic, blinkered views.
And then we can discuss WW1.
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ntheorist
August 23rd 2011
49. I'll guess it has an autostereoscopic screen, like the nintendo 3DS
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nelas
August 19th 2011
48. I hope nobody REALLY THINKS that the iPhone will launch at 12 September - a day after the 10 year anniversary of WTC. Or doesn't that matter to you Mac-freaks? Come on, have some common sense.
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tickledpink
August 15th 2011
47. @tylerama - Depends on which part of the country you're from, obviously. Here, you hardly see anyone with an iPhone but everyone seems to have a Blackberry. Not a big fan of either. Your view of Blackberries is also outdated. It's no longer a business brand and they've done a very good job of taking their latest devices to the masses. The Bold is quite a sexy looking thing, especially in white. Still wouldn't buy one, though, although we've had to get my daughter one as a replacement (she wanted one because all her friends had one) for the Samsung Wave my wife lost.
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judgenic
August 12th 2011
46. Is it true that the new iPhone will be waterproof (or resistant). I guess it makes sense in that being a lifestyle device we now take them everywhere yet can't risk having it by the pool when on holiday.
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tylerama
August 4th 2011
45. I'm amazed anyone thinks as a BB and an iPhone as the same ? BB's are business devices, for those who never sleep and like to send work emails at 7 am on a sunday morning. It is truly shocking sitting on a tube train in London just how many folk have iPhones, probably 10 iphones for every 2 blackberrys.
And then you get folk sharing their blackberry messenger pin no's on facespace! WhatsApp knows who in your contact list has the app and you can just send them a message. Simple, really.
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masterpfa
July 23rd 2011
44. So are iPhone 4 users disappointed with their phones, considering all the features they would like in the iPhone 5? Then again Apple could bring out a brown box it would still sell
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saxieboy
July 20th 2011
43. Earthen80 some may say that is clever marketing, no one likes looking an idiot and will then buy the latest phone. But it is also exactly what prevents me joining the Apple Brigade
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