While the latest sixth-generation iPhone 5 which released in September this year is still selling like hot cakes, recent rumors indicate that Apple has started making the next-generation of the iPhone a.k.a iPhone 5S or iPhone 6. Leaked images point towards an outer shell of the purported iPhone 5S/6.

Many tech experts are of the opinion that Apple will launch the next-generation iPhone in mid-2013, and that the trial manufacturing of 50,000 to 100,000 units of the smartphone has already begun.

"From the background, it seems that the pictures were taken at the assembly line of an operation stage. The photographer has showed the front and rear side of the housing, which looks very similar to the iPhone 5. However, the reason why we say it is a suspected iPhone 5s rear housing is that the specific information below the logo, which are replaced by "X". Usually, the parts with "X" stand for test prototype," reported iPhone5Parts.net.

iPhone5parts.net claims that they found some changes to the outer shell of the leaked images of the iPhone 5 when compared to the iPhone 5S. The Web site reports that per the leaked images, the iPhone 5S has two less screw holes on the left side which are used to fasten the LCD.

Furthermore, the position of three screw holes (used to fasten the logic board) has been removed.

The origin of the images is unknown, which means that it may be possible that the leaked image is of an old iPhone 5 prototype design that was discarded in favor of the design that was ultimately used. Also the image could also be a fake. However, the possibility of the leaked image being of the iPhone 5S cannot be ruled out as well.

The rumors of the next-generation iPhone have already begun and only Apple will know what the next iteration of the iPhone will look like and what will be the hardware built.

Till the next iPhone is launched, one can only glean information from the leaks and rumors for one of the most wanted devices in the smartphone industry.