Several MacRumors readers have pointed out that case company Otterbox, which gained some publicity yesterday for the discovery of boxes for a new "iPhone 4S" case, is currently featuring a promotional banner on its website that some have suggested could be a hint at Apple releasing both iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 models next month.

otterbox iphone 4s 5 banner
But TUAW answered the question by reaching out to Otterbox for comment, with a company representative noting that the banner is simply intended to suggest that Otterbox will be ready with case offerings no matter what Apple announces.

We gave Kelly Richardson of Otterbox a call today and she clarified the matter. "We're not even quite sure ourselves," she told TUAW, talking about whether there would be one model or two.

She explained that the ad reflected the current conversations going on in the blogosphere. "Like many, we are watching the rumor sites and using information to plan ahead as much as we can." Otterbox promises support for whatever iPhone debuts, but they're emphatically not stating or leaking anything further. "We do not have any confidentiality agreements with Apple," Richardson told TUAW.

Richardson also addressed yesterday's case box leak, reporting that it was simply a packaging design and not any specific iPhone 4S case ready for launch.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

MultiMediaWill Avatar
188 months ago
Whatever Apple decides to call it, if it is not a major redesign I'm gonna be upset. What were they doing for 16 months?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
188 months ago
Richardson also addressed yesterday's case box leak, reporting that it was simply a packaging design and not any specific iPhone 4S case ready for launch.

So they just checking the 'S' on their printers?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mad-B-One Avatar
188 months ago
Business as usual

I guess their business depends on being on the market early. Everything - literally EVERYTHING they can do before launch, they will do. Makes sense. Having product design ready like cover design for the box. It is just too funny when stuff like this causes big waves. :D

If you see it from their perspective: iPhone XX comes out, you won't get off work until your part in product design or marketing is done. So, in order to get to sleep anytime soon after the launch/presentation, you do as much as you can in advance. :o
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kas23 Avatar
188 months ago
Whatever Apple decides to call it, if it is not a major redesign I'm gonna be upset. What were they doing for 16 months?

Making OS X look more iOS and filing lawsuits against every mobile electronic company in existence. And, yeah, they also changed CEOs.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cere Avatar
188 months ago
Sort of a non-denial denial. She didn't say they are not certain about the iPhone 4S, she said they weren't certain whether there would be one or two models.

And her statement about the pictures "What was circulating yesterday was not a case image for the iPhone 4S but a packaging design", also doesn't make a lot of sense in light of the context of the photos being from units that have arrived in AT&T corporate stores. Is she saying they are in the habit of doing a 3 million unit production run, shipping them into AT&T stores (without a PO in place for those specific units) as a way to test the packaging?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tcphoto Avatar
188 months ago
Opps, nothing a sticker won't cover up if needed. BTW, how do these case manufacturers get the dimensions for unreleased electronics?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...