Hands-on with the first batch of 'iPhone 6' cases (pictures)

The iPhone 6 is expected to be announced at an Apple event on September 9. And one thing's for certain: the new iPhone is getting a complete redesign with a larger screen. That means that the existing menagerie of cases -- which were largely interchangeable between 2012's iPhone 5 and 2013 iPhone 5S -- also need to be completely redesigned.

 (This photo shows the iPhone 5 sitting in a case designed for the theoretical iPhone 6.)

But how do you design a case for a phone that doesn't even officially exist yet?

The answer falls somewhere in between the realms of "educated guess" and "industrial espionage."

Case manufacturers -- like Spigen, shown here -- will make prototypes and mock-ups based on leaked specs and rumored sizes.

Companies may also attempt to get "real" specs from manufacurers in Apple's supply chain in Asia. (Whether the information is accurate -- or if they're getting the "final" sizes -- is anyone's guess.)