Last week we saw some images that were supposed to have been of a 4th generation iPhone, and then they were noted as not being the real deal.

Except, now maybe they are. The latest image, which was again posted on Engadget (and can be seen below) may be real. It turns out the iPhone in question was sitting next to an iPad prototype in an image that has been circulating for a little while now.

“Upon further inspection of these pictures today, the aforementioned editor discovered that the new iPhone 4G we’ve just gotten photos of is actually sitting on the table beside the iPad prototype!”

That and, Daring Fireball has also dug up an old Apple patent from 2006 that is referring to a “high-durability ceramic enclosure.”

Other details from that patent include the casing has a “glass-like appearance and feel but far stronger and more scratch resistant.” Also noting that the casing is “radio transparent.”

So real or fake I cannot really say, but this latest evidence does make it much more believable. At this point it seems to become more of do you like the next iPhone or not?

[via Engadget and Daring Fireball]