The fabled iPhone 5 has been generating quite a stir as Apple fans eagerly await a hypothesized fall launch of the rumored smartphone. The latest in the series of the Apple brouhaha is an iPhone 5 photo leak. The photographs of the supposed iPhone 5 were leaked by the gadget blog KitGuru on July 12 and showed pre-release test samples of the much-awaited device. Is the production of the sixth generation Apple phone already underway or are the photos fake?

KitGuru's Yong Lei had posted, "Out in the Far East, an early iPhone 5 has been spotted and we have managed to capture its reflected photons." The site showed comparative side-by-side photographs of the iPhone 4S alongside the iPhone 5, which is a first and enabled one to spot at a glance the differences between Apple's earlier and newer versions of the device.

The leaked images showcase a device that looks relatively bigger than its predecessor. In addition, the supposed iPhone 5 also has a smaller dock connector and a 4-inch screen, features and specs which are all in tandem with the circulating rumors. The fabled phone has a 16-pin port, which is a departure from the previous 30-pin port visible on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. The width and the thickness of the upcoming iPhone seem to be similar to the current iPhone 4/4S.

The images have created quite a furor and there is a big question mark hovering over its authenticity. Cynics opine that the image of the device is photoshopped and suspicions are raised as to how KitGuru came about the pictures in the first place.

To add fuel to the already raging fire, the site removed the post shortly afterwards, citing "external pressure". An explanation on the site reads "Yesterday (July 12) we ran a story featuring multiple images highlighting key design elements of Apple's iPhone 5 which is due for official release later this year. Due to external pressures, which we are unable to detail publicly we felt it necessary to remove this story and all related images."

This move by KitGuru has led many to believe that the photos may have indeed been genuine. Trusted Reviews conjectures that the removal of the post may be due to an Apple objection. However, the veracity of the photos remains open to debate with critics averring that the pulling down of the post may be a ploy on KitGuru's part to get credibility.

The open-ended dispute over whether the images are of a prototype or phony continues to baffle many. The drama surrounding the imminent iPhone 5 continues to grow in gargantuan proportions setting the stage for its eventual launch.