All Things D: Yes A Gold iPhone 5 Is Happening

Posted by Amy Eichelberg

Monday, August 19th, 2013

Say it isn’t so. A gold iPhone 5? Yes, you heard right. Well, at least that is what All Things D is reporting. Apple is expected to launch their next big thing on September 10th and apparently something in a gold hue will make its grand debut. The device is expected to be designed with “an elegant gold tone” and we’re probably looking at more of a champagne color than anything too obnoxious. The report also details that the flagship will likely sport a white face with a gold gilded rear.

So, the question becomes why the color gold and why now? There’s the first argument that it may be easier for Apple to produce a gold phone. According to Rene Ritchie of iMore gold is actually one of the “easiest colors to anodize onto an iPhone”. Much easier than say black. This may explain why the current iPhone 5 is more of a slate versus a true black color.

The second argument is that gold is one of the most chosen aftermarket color adjustments for current iPhones. This includes gold aftermarket cases.

The third argument, which many analysts have spoken of already, is that a gold iPhone would most likely see significant success in the Chinese and Indian markets. The gold color for wireless devices already does well in these markets, so this would make sense for Apple to move in that direction.

Here are a few mock-ups down by iMore, we are thinking that the real phone will resemble more of the champagne model versus the brazen gold model (pictured below). Thoughts on this? Are you a fan of the gold or think this is an unwise move on Apple’s part? Tell us what you think in the comments below.