Reports suggest Apple’s next iPhone shall use an iPhone 4 style design, featuring glass and stainless steel
According to supply chain sources, Apple is looking to ditch the aluminium backing from their next flagship handset, with the company rumoured to be bringing back the amalgamation of glass and stainless steel first introduced on the iPhone 4 in 2010 and continued in 2011 with the iPhone 4s.
The next-generation iPhone is expected to abandon its conventional aluminium back cover design and will adopt a new design using two reinforced glass panes and a metal frame in the middle. The metal bezel will be made of stainless steel using a forging process to enhance its sturdiness and reduce costs and manufacturing time.
Fuelling the reports that Apple is looking to re-introduce glass to the iPhone is the overwhelming success of the Jet Black iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus alongside the rumours of a glossy ‘Jet White’ variation which was supposedly leaked last week on the official Beats by Dre Instagram account.
With Apple celebrating 10 years of iPhone yesterday, it’s widely expected that this years iPhone release, dubbed as the ‘iPhone 8’ will be one of the biggest updates that the iPhone line has seen, with some suggesting Apple will adopt curved OLED display technology and an embedded home-button to the device.
If Apple does indeed switch to stainless steel for the next generation handset, this could mean Apple could expand part of the iPhone production into America, with St. Petersburg based manufacturer, Jabil, expected to be the main component supplier.