Judging by the feedback to the leaked next-gen iPhone front and back plates, you guys either love it or hate it. I can’t say that’s very surprising. After all, it’s a pretty radical design change from the sleek, smooth design of iPhones in the past. And even though I’m pretty happy with the leaked design, it’s definitely not perfect. It seems like everyone has their own opinions about what could make the next iPhone great. Of course, it would be impossible for Apple to please everyone, but it’s still fun to imagine a phone designed to your own specifications.

If I had free reign to make my perfect iPhone, I think it would be a combination of the first generation, iPhone 4, and this latest aluminum/glass design. I much prefer an aluminum backing over glass – it’s stronger, more sturdy and I think it looks better. Like many of you, I would extend the aluminum to cover the entire back of the device instead of leaving the top and/or bottom to be glass or plastic. The darker finish on the black iPhone displayed in the leaked photos looks pretty awesome, so I would definitely employ a similar look for my perfect iPhone, with the classic black glass front panel we’ve come to know and love. The white version would rock the lighter finish on the back.

As far as the body of the device is concerned, I would take the thinness of the iPhone 4 and combine it with the smooth, curved edges of the first generation iPhone. The headphone jack would stay on top of the device simply because that’s what I’m used t0. I would keep the aluminum volume buttons and mute switch that first appeared on the iPhone 4, as well as the lock button. As far as the speaker grills go, I like the design of the larger, precision-drilled holes that appear in the leaked photos and there would be room for them because there would be a Thunderbolt port would replace the 30-pin dock connector on the bottom of the device. There would be no breaks in the border of the device for the antennae either.

As far as the display goes, I think a 4-inch Retina display is the perfect size. Again, what appeared in the leaked photos seems pretty good to me. Centering the FaceTime camera above the earpiece is also a welcome design change. Of course, the home button would stay where it is.

All in all, my perfect iPhone would be a thin, dark, aluminum-backed device with a 4-inch Retina display. What would your perfect iPhone look like? Let me know in the comments section below or on twitter!