'iPhone Edition' Said to Have Polished Stainless Steel Frame Similar to Apple Watch, Vertical Camera for VR

[Sappharad]

I hope the actual product ends up being similar to that mock-up.

I've bought a new iPhone every 2 years starting with the 3GS, and never used any of them with a case until the iPhone 6. The rounded sides were just too slippery, it was the only time I ever dropped one of my phones. (The phone developed 'touch disease' after that happened, and after I got it replaced under AppleCare I've used super thin 'skin' cases just to make it more grippy)

If they go back to flat edges, I won't need a case anymore. The 4 was my favorite design overall, the glass on the back was relatively scratch and stuff resistant. I did like the rumor about ceramic from last year, I'd be okay with that for the back too.

 

[rp2011]

Make the sides more bulge-y and rounded, like the case of the watch.

I think that's how it would look.
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I hope the actual product ends up being similar to that mock-up.

I've bought a new iPhone every 2 years starting with the 3GS, and never used any of them with a case until the iPhone 6. The rounded sides were just too slippery, it was the only time I ever dropped one of my phones. (The phone developed 'touch disease' after that happened, and after I got it replaced under AppleCare I've used super thin 'skin' cases just to make it more grippy)

If they go back to flat edges, I won't need a case anymore. The 4 was my favorite design overall, the glass on the back was relatively scratch and stuff resistant. I did like the rumor about ceramic from last year, I'd be okay with that for the back too.

I went from the iPhone 5s to the 7 Plus. And I never dropped anything as much as I dropped that poor 7 plus that first week. I think it was because I was handling it the same way I used the 5s. I had to get my **** together because the device was kinda pricey. I ended up putting it in a folding credit-card wallet type case. Problem solved and I also got rid of my wallet.

 

[Mirascael]

4"-inch option (SE-size) would be awesome.

 

[JosephAW]

If it's an AT&T or T-Mobile model, that's probably because of Apple's switch to an Intel radio chip instead of the usual one by Qualcom.

Sprint. It was so obvious when switching phones that streaming had little or no bandwidth.

 

[raghu8912]

The 7000 Series aluminum on the iPhone dents just as easily. Perhaps the stainless on the iPhone will have the ability to have scratches buffed out with a Cape Cod cloth. It Could advantages to the stainless over the aluminum.

Although, I would like see some anodizing over the stainless body to have some protection against scuffs/scratches, which would hopefully not have it look like the first Gen iPod Touches.

Stainless steel can't be anodized, they can use Physical Vapor Deposition process to coat steel. Anodization is for Aluminum only.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Camera for VR or AR?

my initial thought as well, seems more attuned to AR or some other form of mixed reality. In that case you'd think they'd want more separation between the cameras as well.

 

[raghu8912]

Just a hunch, I have a feeling the "polished stainless steel" they're talking about is Liquid Metal $LQMT . Glad I bought some stock in it. It's gone up $0.12 in the last few weeks to $0.27/share.

Apple has a history of putting money into that company. The sim pins they package with the iPhone is made of Liquid Metal. Try bending it...its pretty amazing.

But unfortunately if frame material will not bend when dropped then all the stress/shock will be transferred to glass, which will make the screen to shatter.
The material used for frame should be able to absorb most of the stress/shock when a phone is dropped, it is better to have a dent in the frame than a shattered screen.

 

[biscuit0819]

I like where they're going with this. It looks like a more retro take on the 8 so maybe one for the enthusiasts? I'm excited to see the final product nonetheless.

 

[blackcrayon]

What is the benefit of virtical cameras for AR?

Horizontal cameras in landscape mode - perhaps for left/right arrangement like our eyes?

 

[1083296]

Only names are iPhone 8 or iPhone X.

iPhone edition sounds so bad and will never happen...

 

[Lesser Evets]

I will savor every dent and every scratch on that SS body, holding it aloft as a sign of my rugged lifestyle and individuality. And I will laugh at those "case boys" cowering in their protected spaces, using gentle movements and soft cloths.

 

[Royksöpp]

I was thinking if apple does indeed make the OLED a "Pro" or more expensive model whatever you want to call it, I wonder if they will include AirPods and a dock. Like apple includes the dock for the ceramic watch?

You know this is modern Apple right? Unless the dock is built into the box I'd say forget about it!

 

[mr.steevo]

And scratch! My AWS2 is not even a year old and looks like an old iPod Touch 1G.

Really?
My Seiko sarb033 has been on my wrist since 2013 and other than the bottom clasp I haven't noticed much in regards to scratching. Maybe the shape of the Apple Watch lends to susceptibility to scratching?
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Ignoring the text of his article for a moment, just wanted to say that this mockup looks amazing, resembling my all time favorite 4 and 4S models.

The 4s was amazing. It was announced the last day of Jobs and is the perfect size in the hand. Heck, Apple even kept it going an extra year to iOS 9!

 

[Royksöpp]

No protruding camera please.

 

[ghanwani]

Any chance SE gets another round of updated internals? I want something lightweight and I doubt this is going to be as light as the SE.

For me, for the phone, weight trumps all other parameters such as screen size or camera quality.

 

[- rob -]

VR/AR--Is this intended to slide into a headset like Google Cardboard?

 

[cppguy]

You don't need cameras for vr....AR for sure

You do if you create 3d content yourself, for other VR users to consume.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

VR/AR--Is this intended to slide into a headset like Google Cardboard?

That would seem to be the implication but the separation between the cameras seems too narrow to be effective for this type of use. If those two cameras (in that configuration) were to be used for any sort of 3D activity I would expect it just be general depth sensing, not reproducing stereoscopic images for human consumption.

 

[moosecat]

I cannot adequately express how much I hate the "Edition" branding. By itself, "edition" just means "version" or "iteration." In order to mean anything at all, it needs a modifier -- "First Edition," "Special Edition," etc. But presumably in an effort to create a fancy-sounding brand name, they're going to ignore the appropriate way to use the word and instead use it in a completely senseless way.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

You do if you create 3d content yourself, for other VR users to consume.

but you need better separation between the cameras to be effective for that use.

edit: depending upon the distance to the object. I would expect it's not very useful for most iPhone shot images though.

 

[TallManNY]

Now that is a nice looking mock up.

 

[FreeAngel]

WOW!! thats a sharp attractive phone! Nice styling!! Just like my iPhone 5s. I may stay with iPhone and get the 5.8 inch iPhone 8 instead of the Note 8 which I was thinking of doing. It all comes down to price for me. With no carrier Subsidies and not wanting to walk around with a phone that costs $1500 and get robbed for it or lose it, price now matters
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[x-evil-x]

If the polished steel frame rumor is true, I predict a lot of people needing to purchasing AC+ or a good case, as that frame will easily dent.

Which is stronger stainless steel or aluminum???
iPhone 4 middle part was much much harder than the current aluminum bodies...

 

[ValO]

My Apple Watch doesn't dent easily. Steel is a harder material than aluminum, so it should be better than the current iPhone design as far as denting goes.

I agree,

Hoping for a pace black ss edition. Keeping my fingers crossed....

 

[Apple_Robert]

Which is stronger stainless steel or aluminum???
iPhone 4 middle part was much much harder than the current aluminum bodies...

If an iPhone gets dropped, it has a greater chance of getting dented, especially from 1 foot or more, depending on contact surface. And if the new rumor is true, it very well could be that the casing leads many to think that the steel won't dent, since it is steel. That kind of mindset is what I was speaking to, without going into detail.

If people will take a moment and think outside the quick to reply box for a moment, and consider the point I was making (albeit in brevity) it might lessen replies like your own, where people want to provide anecdotal evidence that their 4 or 4s etc. didn't bend, or that their mother's sister's cousin 3 times removed had a steel case phone that didn't bend.

I don't need a science lesson, thank you.