Mystery Headphones for iPhone 5 Leaked, Completely Redesigned

Vietnamese site Tinhte.vn (who have a decent record of leaks) today just scooped themselves by posting photos and a video of what they claim is the redesigned headphones for the upcoming iPhone 5. The video demonstrates the new headphones and compares them to the old headphones provided on the iPhone 4S offering hints of directions Apple could have taken, or might yet take by introducing a redesigned headphone for the sixth-generation iPhone which is expected in September.

The leaked headset is powerful and has a more compact design compared to current headphones with better sound quality and clearer sound. The marking on the cable confirms that the new headphones are manufactured and assembled in Vietnam. The cable reads – “Designed by Apple in California Assembled in Vietnam DV2232452XPO.” According to Tinhte, the new headphones are being manufactured in a Foxconn plant in Bac Giangprovince ofVietnam. The notable difference in design is that the silver “grill” area of the older headphones is absent, and instead there is just a slit for sound to travel through.

A translation of the video is provided below:

In my hands are the new earphones for the iPhone 5 that is about to come out – Apple’s next generation of iPod [sic]. These will replace the current earphones that are on the market. These are manufactured at Phax Co factory in Vietnam. They have the appearance of a horse’s head, not like earbuds. When they are worn, they have a much smaller profile. They have the appearance of a fully integrated, single unit – there’s no part that looks like it would come apart – not like earbuds; the integrated design is characteristic of Apple products. Here I have the old earphones for comparison. The new ones are much smaller; when they are worn, they do not hurt the way earbuds do. You can see on the old ones the surface is a separate part that looks like it can be detached – not like the small surface of the new one. The old earphones were mostly made in China, with some in Vietnam. But the new ones are clearly made in Vietnam

In a blog post, Tinhte claims that the leaked iPhone 5 headphones comes straight from Apple and represent an authentic Apple part:

All factors such as design, quality finishing materials fabricated wire, plastic body headphones are led to the conclusion this is genuine and not counterfeit headphones.

This is the latest in a series of early Apple product grabs for Tinhte. In past, the same outlet got a hold of a 64GB iPhone 4 model last year ahead of such a model arriving with the iPhone 4S. Considering Tinhte having a proven track record of leaking Apple products, we are waiting with baited breath for more information.

Apple Cupertino is largely expected to unveil the next-gen iPhone at a 12 September event and release it on 21 September. Stay Tuned!