A YouTube video claims to show the prototype for a plastic, low-cost iPhone obtained by a Melbourne blogger.
The six-minute video shows a rounded white plastic shell which resembles the iPhone 3 and is slightly thicker and wider than the iPhone 5.
American author Michael Kukielka says in the video he was sent the prototype by fellow tech blogger Sonny Dickson.
Dickson runs a self-titled blog from Melbourne, famous in tech circles for leaking pictures of Apple prototypes like the iPad mini.
He told AAP via email he obtained the prototype phone shell from Chinese contacts involved in Apple's manufacturing chain, calling it the "iPhone 5S".
Earlier in July, he posted pictures showing it in a number of colours including green, blue, pink and yellow.
Rumours of a low-cost iPhone have spurred speculation Apple is looking to appeal to customers in lower-income countries.
"The budget iPhone is going to be a really good handset for people who want an iPhone but don't have $600 to get one," Dickson said.
The video has been viewed more than half-a-million times in two days.
