Remember that redesigned iPhone 5 with a larger screen that everyone was so fired up about? According to sources speaking to Business Insider, Apple actually planned release it this year, but had to scrap their plans and release the iPhone 4S instead.
The source, who claims to have had direct access to an iPhone 5 prototype, offers a number of details about the device: It included a 4 inch screen, an aluminum back, a capacitive home button, a 10-megapixel camera, and more.
According to the report, Apple’s primary reason for not releasing the iPhone 5 was an objection from Steve Jobs that the larger screen would fragment the iOS ecosystem and cause trouble for developers. The device also reportedly had poor battery life.
Business Insider’s track record for Apple rumors isn’t the most reliable, and they themselves remain skeptical about whether the claims are true. Considering the flurry of rumors surrounding the new design, the face that case makers mass-produced cases for the design, and prior claims that it was actually a prototype meant for release in the future, however, the report is nevertheless intriguing.