Take this with a grain of salt for the time being. A Gizmodo reader detailed a recent iPhone 4 replacement that seems to be… different. It has a slightly different stainless steel edge than the launch model, and doesn’t drop calls.

So yeah, I’m skeptical. If Apple was replacing models, I imagine the Internet would explode.

The reader wrote in,

Well, when I got the new phone it was different. It was different hardware. The black [plastic] bezel isn’t as black on the new one. I couldn’t see the proximity sensor at all on the previous iPhone 4, now I can. The stainless steel band on the new phone is less ‘steel-y’ and more matte. I’ve also tried to replicate the signal drop and failure. While I can’t say for sure that it is entirely fixed, there is certainly huge improvement. I’m guessing they coated the steel with something, took some black out of the bezel and sent them out without saying too much about it.

Two things: Could the manufacturing process be altered fast enough to accommodate the rumored changes (this goes for any company)? If true, is Apple preparing to ship future models with such a coating to prevent issues for new consumers?

As a curious guy, the reader has certainly piqued my interest about Apple tactics, but I doubt such dramatic changes could be performed so quickly without a bit of Internet mania. Gizmodo attempted to replicate “the trade,” but received “the same” unit in return. This could indicate that perhaps the reader was lucky in receiving an updated model (new models could be in the pool, but aren’t being directly chosen for distribution). I suppose I better stop here before I conjure up any more conspiracy theories, and I’ll rest on my belief: doubtful and highly unlikely, but makes for a good conversation piece.

[via Gizmodo]