iPhone 5's super-slim dimensions may cause shipping delays

The iPhone 5 will be thinner and lighter than the iPhone 4 -- so much so that it could cause delays in production. That's according to component suppliers who apparently spoke to The Wall Street Journal.

We took it for granted that the iPhone 5 would be thinner and lighter than its predecessor, but the possibility of manufacturing delays is a new rumour.

The chairman of Taiwanese company Hon Hai, which assembles Apple's gadgets, has already admitted that the slender nature of the existing iPhone and iPad make it difficult to produce units sufficiently quickly. The problem is that it's difficult to cram so many components into such thin devices.

If the iPhone 5 is indeed thinner than the iPhone 4, then Hon Hai will have an even harder time of it.

The Wall Street Journal's sources also claimed there will be an 8-megapixel camera in the iPhone 5. Sony chief Howard Stringer has already said that his company would provide 8-megapixel sensors for Apple's device.

The rumoured delays don't bode well for the 7 September release date we've been hoping for, but it isn't out of the question. It's possible that the phone might be announced on that day but we may have to wait a while before it arrives in stores.

Let us know what you want to see from the iPhone 5 in the comments section below or on our official Facebook page.