Apple to Forge 'iPhone 8' Chassis Frame From Stainless Steel Instead of Aluminum

[randyhudson]

It's stronger than steel by weight, but overall steel takes the cake: http://www.wenzelmetalspinning.com/steel-vs-aluminum.html

Strength of a metal is measured proportional to a size, not weight.

 

[Apple 26.2]

Apple is said to be planning to position the OLED iPhone 8 as a "Premium" model that will perhaps be sold alongside standard flat display 4.7, 5, and 5.5-inch iPhone models, but details relating to size, configurations, and materials used remain sketchy.

I just hope the Premium isn't the size of a gaudy phablet.

 

[kdarling]

I suppose they've solved the radio through metal problem then?

I thought the intention was to make the outside chassis ring out of steel, but the actual front and back would be glass?

 

[t0mat0]

So what do all the milling machines go and do - a new aluminium device, or another product/material?

 

[lordofthereef]

"Alumininium" isn't even a word... "Aluminum" is the American spelling and pronunciation, and "aluminium" is the British spelling and pronunciation.

Anyways, I would be very happy with a steel iPhone. There seems to be a craze in the market with lighter phones, but I'd rather have a dense phone that feels more substantial. At these sizes, higher weight may also make the phone easier to hold.

Ok. Yes. You're right. I had a typo. Appreciate you pointing that out.

 

[BMcCoy]

Whatever material is used, I'm hoping for a return to a flat-sided phone (a la 4/5/se) rather than the slippery curved edges of the 6/7.
I have a feeling I will be disappointed...

 

[nofear1az]

I can remember the internet arriving and 1200 baud modems.
I remember the introduction of VHS, CDs and DVDs
I can't remember the introduction of colour tvs, but can remember watching a black and white portable tv and main colour tv.
I can remember getting a microwave.
I remember the introduction of the mobile phone.
The arrival of satellite tv.
I remember computers with 1k ram.
And digital watches.
I remember life before the IBM PC

- You were fortunate. I remember the days of 300 baud modems. Now that was crazy slow even back then, but still amazing.
- I remember my Commodore VIC-20 hooked up to a color TV. Had a tape deck for saving BASIC programs on.
- Tandy 1000 PC - no hard drive, just a good ol' 5.14" floppy disc with EGA graphics. (not VGA).
- I remember playing Sierra adventure games such as Space Quest, Leisure Suite Larry, etc.
- Before the Internet, I was a SYSOP that ran a BBS using RA. People dialed in on their phones. Started the BBS out at 2400 baud then 9600 baud and upgraded it to 1440 baud. Shutted before 56K baud arrived.
- 286-16Mhz was my first real IBM compatible PC after the Tandy with a 20MB RLL hard drive and VGA.

Good times it was. I'll never forget my friend getting the first iPhone. At the time, I was using a Blackberry and loved my physical keyboard. Now'a'days, I cannot stand those BB keyboards. Give me a virtual keyboard any day.

 

[Brien]

Only $750 for the year if you upgrade with Apple's program. Well worth it... should it be as gorgeous as pictured. Hoping it will be a piece of engineering worthy of drool. For now, they remain as appliance-worthy as a Honda.

I want that, "New Porsche," feeling again.

If they are in fact planning to slot this in above the Plus model (I would assume a 'Pro' suffix if they keep with tradition) I could see them going with a polished SS case and sapphire/ceramic front/back "glass" - akin to the higher end Apple Watch. And yes, probably $1500+.
[doublepost=1484076704][/doublepost]

So what do all the milling machines go and do - a new aluminium device, or another product/material?

The lower end phones will probably remain aluminum for quite some time.

 

[osaga]

So we basically know what the iPhone 8 will look like... It'll be a combination of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 6. Steel band sandwich design, with Johny Ive's curved edges and curved glass front and back. It'll probably be a little heavier, and have more of an edge to edge display. The rumors of a "curved display" probably just point to the very subtle curve that the iPhone 6/7 currently have. I'm into it.
[doublepost=1484078692][/doublepost]

Bendgate or crackgate?

Well we know its gonna be thin... so both!

 

[44267547]

Rumors cannot debunk other rumors. Only facts can debunk rumors. Rumors can conflict with other rumors, in which case you have to use your powers of deduction and common sense to figure out which, if any, nuggets of the competition stories are likely.

But MR has previously reported that the current 4.7 and 5.5" models would remain similar for iPhone 8 plus the addition of a brand new 5.5" OLED model. MR has also reported of a 5" model too. Apple makes lots of prototypes. Until manufacturing ramps up its impossible to be even. 80% sure which of those will make it to production.

The idea of a steel body doesn't still well with me. Even car makers use aluminum to save weight. A heavy iPhone I do not want. The iPhone 4 is a heavy phone. Let's hope Apple doesn't go backwards here.

This time of the year, rumors are few and far between being believable with a plethora of contradictions. Macrumors slows down and some of the rumors are somewhat read worthy at best.

Once April arrives, it's usually when more substantial articles arise and then the production leaks start around May-June.

As far as the stainless steel chassis goes, it really depends how much they actually implement inside the body of the iPhone. But nonetheless, it certainly will add some weight to it.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

You spell 'premium' differently? TIL

For our UK brethren, we're willing to do that, but no, we don't do that normally, however, in some areas, it is pronounced that way.

 

[BorderingOn]

I'll never understand why American's pronounce it as AH-LOO-MA-NIM
Aluminium is AL-YOU-MIN-EE-UM.
Same pronunciation as Gallium, Magnesium, Uranium etc.

Americans, not American's. And we do NOT pronounce it that way. It is said as it is spelled (sorry, spelt). And you missed a bunch of letters from your other examples, if they are to be equivalent.

Galliuminium, magnesiumium, uraniumium, etc.

All in good fun, my friend.

 

[Seoras]

Sold.
I think something of value has to have a dense and heavy feel to it.
Pick up a cheap $20->$200, analogue, watch and then pick up something Swiss, high end, in the $2000+ category.
The density and solid feel give it a feeling of value.

Less likely to bend too.

 

[cycomiko]

Reduced cost, increased price. Consumers rejoice?

 

[Count Blah]

Should be cheaper, not more expensive.

You appear to be unfamiliar with Apple.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

You are trying to tell me that British english (which is btw. the correct english) changed it from right to wrong?

AFAIK - it was americans who kept bastardise the english language. (I'm not english btw ) )

So if I go to school I would never wanna learn US english and I would always want to learn British english as that is THE correct english. We don't need to argue about that, right? Historical fact I hope everyone is aware of

so, Aluminium

Here is some interesting reading/video...
http://www.livescience.com/33652-americans-brits-accents.html

I heard this line of thinking a couple of years ago that the British decided to change the way they speak, and I too thought that Americans changed, like "cheddar" to "American" cheese to distinguish ourselves, but I've been hearing that the British did it to distinguish themselves internally.

 

[elmaco]

Jony Ive has wanted to introduce an iPhone that looks like a single sheet of glass for several years,

Good, vision should drive product design - not squeezing the most out of the consumers.

 

[BrockC]

You mean aluminium. Which is the correct way to say it.

you're holding it wrong

 

[Sylvan]

The other day I pulled my old 3GS out of my drawer and held it in my hand. I was instantly reminded how much better that shape feels in the hand compared to either the 4 or the 6. It seems comfort is no longer a prime consideration.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Yep, Windows CE (not Windows Mobile) devices used by enterprises (and some consumer PDAs) even had full Internet Explorer on them (not that POS Pocket IE).

In 2000, I was remotely surfing the web on my HP Jornada CE device which had a landscape 640x240 screen, via a cellular CF card. It was great, and because that was the width most websites were made for back then, there was almost no need for horizontal scrolling.

It was the internet in your pocket, seven years before the iPhone. (I mostly used it to put in last second bids on eBay while out and around. This was before AuctionSniper.)

By the time the 3.5" 480x320 iPhone came out in 2007, there had already been over two dozen 3.5+" screen smartphones available since 1999, mostly using Windows Pocket PC Phone. Even WVGA "retina" resolution screens, albeit 3", were available at the time the iPhone went on sale.

Here's some large touch screen voice/data capable devices from the past:

View attachment 682840

Interestingly, that CDMA Samsung touchscreen device... with full IE five years before the iPhone came out... was almost the same height and width as their Galaxy Note series that came out years later. It was only sold in Korea, I think.

I loved the Universal! I used that for remoting into Windows Server devices.

(now I use an iPad...)

 

[StyxMaker]

Good news for me! Thanks to my messed-up body chemistry, I always have issues with aluminium products. Both my Macbook Pros and iPhones get "corroded" (like tiny black spots) after a few months of usage.

Hopefully, that won't be the case with stainless steel!

Same problem for me. I was hoping the anodized layer on the aluminum sport Watch would prevent the corrosion. It has, mostly, everywhere except where the watch information was stamped into the back of the case disrupting the anodized layer.

 

[StyxMaker]

I can remember the internet arriving and 1200 baud modems.
I remember the introduction of VHS, CDs and DVDs
I can't remember the introduction of colour tvs, but can remember watching a black and white portable tv and main colour tv.
I can remember getting a microwave.
I remember the introduction of the mobile phone.
The arrival of satellite tv.
I remember computers with 1k ram.
And digital watches.
I remember life before the IBM PC

My first year in college the Data Processing department was still feeding stacks of Hollerith punched cards into card readers. There was no other choice at the time.

 

[dilbert99]

The iPhone 4 and 4s models owed most of their weight to the dual glass covers, not the steel frame.

Agreed

 

[geekon2wheels]

If they are in fact planning to slot this in above the Plus model (I would assume a 'Pro' suffix if they keep with tradition) I could see them going with a polished SS case and sapphire/ceramic front/back "glass" - akin to the higher end Apple Watch. And yes, probably $1500+.
[doublepost=1484076704][/doublepost]
The lower end phones will probably remain aluminum for quite some time.

Speaking of sapphire...after the disaster of GT Technologies in Arizona, do you guys think Apple will ever try again to use sapphire as the display cover glass on the iPhone? Do any phones on the market use sapphire for the cover glass? Apple already uses it for the Home button and camera lens cover, as well as the glass for its SS and ceramic Apple Watch. Being the second hardest material behind diamond, it would be great for scratch-resistance, but the newest generation of Gorilla Glass might still be more impact-resistant...just some thoughts...

 

[StyxMaker]

You are trying to tell me that British english (which is btw. the correct english) changed it from right to wrong?

AFAIK - it was americans who kept bastardise the english language. (I'm not english btw ) )

So if I go to school I would never wanna learn US english and I would always want to learn British english as that is THE correct english. We don't need to argue about that, right? Historical fact I hope everyone is aware of

so, Aluminium

Balderdash.