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2017 iPhone to Feature Glass Design With Stainless Steel Frame on High-End Models

MacRumors said:



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KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has outlined further predictions for next year's iPhone lineup, claiming the popularity of Jet Black models will encourage Apple to return to glass casing for 2017 models, as the material tends to have a higher gloss finish than metal.Kuo believes Apple is more likely to stick with slightly curved 2.5D cover glass on the 2017 iPhone, as used on iPhone 6s, rather than adopt a fully curved 3D design, in light of mass production considerations and drop test performance. Kuo previously said Apple will launch a 5.8-inch iPhone with a curved OLED display and glass casing next year, which a subsequent report said will be a high-end model. The other models would retain LCD displays with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes.

Kuo said the new glass casing will be reinforced by an aluminum metal frame, while stainless steel will be used for high-end models.The analyst believes Foxconn will be the sole supplier of high-end iPhone models next year as the exclusive manufacturer of the new stainless steel frame. Meanwhile, glass material supplier Corning and glass casing makers Lens Technology and Biel Crystal are said to be beneficiaries of the new glass design.

Article Link: 2017 iPhone to Feature Glass Design With Stainless Steel Frame on High-End Models
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"As stainless steel has a better look than aluminum and costs more"??? iPhone 4/4s called to say "NO stainless steel does NOT cost more".

4-inch size is required. No one wants a fourth generation iPhone 5 5s SE...
 
"As stainless steel has a better look than aluminum and costs more, we expect only high-end new iPhone models to come with a stainless steel frame next year."

So average joe can't afford it ? I beg to differ MR
 
from Wikipedia:

"Glass-ceramics have the fabrication advantage of glass, as well as special properties of ceramics. Glass-ceramics do not require brazing but can withstand brazing temperatures up to 700 °C"

Well, that's good to know...

Light as ever, can also withstand extreme heat :) Bet people will be putting *this* to the test.

We should see allot of users tossing their ceramic iPhones in a fire.

Now, get it out ...
 
zhang96 said:
It would be heavier, but look at the Apple Watches. If there is a black finish like the Apple Watch Stainless Steel, it would be amazing.
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shk718 said:
ceramic!!!!!!!!!!!!
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zhang96 said:
It would be heavier, but look at the Apple Watches. If there is a black finish like the Apple Watch Stainless Steel, it would be amazing.
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Why do people keep referencing that dumb watch? HAHAHAHA. It's so fugly one and two, it's off topic on this thread. When you can do on a smaller footprint like the dumb watch, you can't just transfer that over to a large clunky phone LMAO!

iPhone 4s still looks sexy today.
 
More product fragmentation? Steel only for the very highest of the high end? I thought all iPhones were supposed to be high end? Steel and glass did just fine with the iPhone 4/4S so why do they need to be ultramega premium now?

I call BS. Apple are not this stupid.
 
CarlJ said:
Ceramic is used in tactical vests as a special purpose insert plate to stop armor piercing rounds. They'll take an immense impact once, needing to be replaced afterwards (if I understand correctly). Ceramic was used in tiles on the space shuttle's underside because it can withstand immense heat. Neither of these properties has much use in a phone. It is a terrific material, but it is not magical.

I agree that we're likely to see Apple use more ceramic, and I'm looking forward to that, but please see it as the interesting material that it is, with its own advantages and disadvantages, don't ascribe magical properties to it. There are uses for which steel, aluminum, or glass are much better. There is no one winner.
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Nobody said ceramic was freaking magical but it is a more suitable material for a phone casing than steel or glass. I mean seriously dude, get real.

Ceramic plates in tactical vests is a standard for [US] military. And yes, ceramic plates take an immense shock from a rifle bullet... force that is far in excess of an impact from falling out of a pocket. It is light AND impact resistant. It doesn't rust nor does it block RF signal. But I didn't claim ceramics make great windows or weights for the gym.
 
MasterRyu2011 said:
I hate huge bezels. It's the worst part of the iphone's design (and any other phone). Took them 10 years, but I'm glad Apple will finally reduce the bezels (we hope). Regarding Google's efforts, go find a picture of Google's last year phone the Nexus 6P. It too had humungous bezels. So if anything they started copying iphone's design last year,not this year.
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Even weirder yet is the 2014 Nexus 6 had the smallest bezels--certainly smaller than last year's 6P. WHY would Google want to copy the iPhone's ugly front with those disgustingly outdated chin and bezels is crazy. Good luck with that Google. (FYI consumer's aren't buying iPhones due to their "fashionable" bezels.)
 
What does he mean by high end models? Is that just referring to the Plus models or is there going to be like a three iPhone models next year being the 4.7 inch, 5.5 inch, and a Pro model? I would hope it is just going to be 2 models cause three sounds like it would be too much and would cause a lot of differences between the models.
 
Anyone else pissed off that Apple is now reserving its better features to just the largest iPhone model?

I don't want a massive 6" iPhone, and definitely don't want to be forced to buy once since Apple is now moving towards a "smaller screen = lower end model" philosophy.

Thats BS...I don't have a problem paying an extra $100 for the high end features, but don't limit it to just the larger phones.
 
Col4bin said:
Even weirder yet is the 2014 Nexus 6 had the smallest bezels--certainly smaller than last year's 6P. WHY would Google want to copy the iPhone's ugly front with those disgustingly outdated chin and bezels is crazy. Good luck with that Google. (FYI consumer's aren't buying iPhones due to their "fashionable" bezels.)
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Umm, I don't see an issue and bezels give users a place to hold device.
[doublepost=1475191528][/doublepost]I hear it as two models but with a high end spec variation rather than an entirely distinct model. Similar to how the watch line was.
 
Col4bin said:
Even weirder yet is the 2014 Nexus 6 had the smallest bezels--certainly smaller than last year's 6P. WHY would Google want to copy the iPhone's ugly front with those disgustingly outdated chin and bezels is crazy. Good luck with that Google. (FYI consumer's aren't buying iPhones due to their "fashionable" bezels.)
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FYI iPhones sell like hot cakes. Have been for close to a decade. The look is iconic, almost generic at this point. Hell, most smartphone icons are made to look like an iPhone, because everyone recognizes it. Like it or not, the iPhone shape is built into our culture. Google knows this.
 
Col4bin said:
Even weirder yet is the 2014 Nexus 6 had the smallest bezels--certainly smaller than last year's 6P. WHY would Google want to copy the iPhone's ugly front with those disgustingly outdated chin and bezels is crazy. Good luck with that Google. (FYI consumer's aren't buying iPhones due to their "fashionable" bezels.)
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Trying to understand the bezel hatred. Upside of smaller bezels puzzling, unless they're "fashionable".
 
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