Apple to Introduce a Curved-Glass iPhone 5?

MacRumors · May 22, 2011

Digitimes reports that according to industry sources, Apple is planning to adopt a "curved cover glass" for its next generation iPhone.

Cover glass makers are reluctant to commit investment to the purchase of glass cutting equipment due to the high capital involved, said the sources.

According to those same sources, Apple has purchased 200-300 glass cutting machines to be used by glass makers.

There has been no timetable yet for the volume production of iPhone 5 as Apple is currently still working with related suppliers including those involved in cover glass, glass cutting, lamination and touch sensors to improve yield rates, the sources commented.

It's hard to say what type of design a "curved cover glass" iPhone would adopt. It would also fly against recent claims and beliefs that the iPhone 5 will adopt a generally similar-to the iPhone 4 form factor but with only minor modifications.

Apple has previously used curved glass in the previous generation iPod Nano. Image above from DailyMail.co.uk.

The Samsung Nexus S uses a concave curved screen. The reasoning behind the move was for comfort:

Well, our tipster tells us Samsung's been shopping this curved display technology to carriers for a while -- as early as CES at the beginning of this year behind closed doors -- claiming that its research showed such a design improved perceived usability over a perfectly flat display.

Article Link: Apple to Introduce a Curved-Glass iPhone 5?

Obese Lobsters · May 22, 2011

Are we to expect a nexus s shape with iphone 4 metal antenna wrapped around, because that would be interesting.

algiris · May 22, 2011

Curved? I'm not following.

adversus · May 22, 2011

What?

The iPhone 4 already has curved glass. Or are we talking a non-flat surface? My brain just exploded.

42streetsdown · May 22, 2011

like the tapered edges of the iPod touch but in glass?

kjs862 · May 22, 2011

Sounds interesting, mockups anyone?

Icaras · May 22, 2011

back to old school tube television!!

boss.king · May 22, 2011

From my understanding this will be like the Nexus S, where the display has a slight concave. Anyone with Nexus S experience? What's it like?

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Or if I believe it.

Plasmastrike · May 22, 2011

I'm thinking an iPhone with the same design fundamentals of the iPad 2 (curved body, similar buttons).

At least it's pleasant to think about

Firestrife · May 22, 2011

sounds like it's gonna look nice. mock ups needed.

LouieSamman · May 22, 2011

42streetsdown said:
like the tapered edges of the iPod touch but in glass?

Thats what it sounds like.

Im guessing it's going to look like the iPad 2 but in glass.
So it will be flat on the back and it curves at the edges so it won't feel so thick.

3goldens · May 22, 2011

GREAT!
First its glass, now its curved glass.
What I am sure of is that it will be a beautiful design and certainly drive all the case manufacturers CRAZY!

LondonCentral · May 22, 2011

I'm guessing the back will be curved like a pebble to better fit the contours of your hand. This already sounds above and beyond anything competitors have come close to, design-wise.

What would be clever is if they had a luminated, frosted 3D Apple logo etched into the glass back with a laser.

Feynman · May 22, 2011

Let's see a mockup!

LondonCentral · May 22, 2011

"...hold on guys....we've got...one more thing....

....introducing....the iPhone Curve..."

saxofunk · May 22, 2011

yeah, cuz curved glass will make it break less often. oh and easy to fix. file under: (sarcasm)

hankolerd · May 22, 2011

I am guessing curved like the 4th gen ipod nano. I don't really expect Apple to do something like that, but then again they continue to surprise me with each new product release/upgrade. :apple:

arn · May 22, 2011

google search found this old mockup

Kwill · May 22, 2011

This confirms it

In other words, there's a new rumor to support the FACT that no one has a clue what the next iPhone will look like.

alexhasfun28 · May 22, 2011

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)

purchasing machines that curve the glass? then how the hell do they make Magic Mouse glass?

Simgar988 · May 22, 2011

Above and Beyond

Thisis going to be miles ahead of anything else out there. I can picture it perfectly.

locust76 · May 22, 2011

Curved glass? That's so un-Apple!

neven · May 22, 2011

alexhasfun28 said:
purchasing machines that curve the glass? then how the hell do they make Magic Mouse glass?

The Magic Mouse surface is quite clearly plastic, not glass

wordoflife · May 22, 2011

That's cool. I wonder if it will be more prone to breaking from a drop.

algiris · May 22, 2011

alexhasfun28 said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)

purchasing machines that curve the glass? then how the hell do they make Magic Mouse glass?

It's plastic.

Apple to Introduce a Curved-Glass iPhone 5?

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