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Next-Generation iPhones Could Adopt 7000 Series Aluminum Used in Apple Watch Sport

cmChimera said:
There is no Space Black Apple Watch Sport.
Click to expand...

Space black. The irony of this being infinitely more accurate than Space Gray is not lost on me.:D What color is Space Gray actually?

On Topic: I think this rumor is interesting. The AWatch is a new product but could have also been a test bed for ironing out the kinks in machining a harder aluminum. Now I would assume the next step would be getting the process amenable to the volume required for iPhone production.

It might be a good thing since both iPhones got beaten by the new Samsung's in a durability test.
 
Tiger8 said:
Apple never officially explained the 's' in any model (maybe just the 3Gs), these are fan namings...
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On the one hand, the 's' is just a standard derivation name, ie, the 4S is a derivation/improvement on the 4. Conveniently, since iPhones always got noticeably faster (at least in benchmarks) with every generation, the 's' can always be taken as standing for speed as well. But there is more to that, iPhones really did get larger speed boosts with the 's' models. The 3G was only marginally faster than the original, but the 3GS was a clear improvement. The 4 was a more modest improvement and the 4S a bigger improvement as well. Ditto for the 5 and the 5s, the latter got the first 64-bit ARM chip which was significantly faster. The A8 again did not make such a big leap in speed.

And this certainly wasn't all just coincidence. Apple tried to improve the internals in a bigger way for the 's' models to create an upgrade incentive that for the non-'s' models was given by the case design change.
 
ghostface147 said:
My iPhone has, in the past, been bareback. This it the first model to be housed in a case. Why? Too damn slippery. I don't care what metal they use, just make it less slippery.
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Totally. I've had nearly every iPhone. The 6 is the only one that is permanently sitting in a case because of how slippery it is. I find the 6 a bit too big, and adding a case doesn't help.
 
ginkobiloba said:
Totally. I've had nearly every iPhone. The 6 is the only one that is permanently sitting in a case because of how slippery it is. I find the 6 a bit too big, and adding a case doesn't help.
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My iPhone 6 is in a case like all my other iPhones have been. I have to agree with you. While my earlier phones felt OK outside of their cases the 6 is too slippery and too thin for my tastes. With the plastic Apple case on it is just about the right thickness.
 
ginkobiloba said:
Totally. I've had nearly every iPhone. The 6 is the only one that is permanently sitting in a case because of how slippery it is. I find the 6 a bit too big, and adding a case doesn't help.
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my 4s was super slippery. it could be laying on an table and 5 minutes later it would slide off (this happened to me).
 
Millah said:
6000 Series Aluminum. Likely an alloy 6061-T6. Commonly known as "Aircraft grade" aluminum. Which I've always found funny, because the aerospace industry uses 5052-H32 alloy just as much.

Anyway, 7000 series is a step up and fairly uncommon. 5052 alloys are the most common in my experience working in sheetmetal, and 6000 alloys are used sparingly for certain circumstances. 7000 series is used in only very specific circumstances. 5000 and 6000 alloys are seen as strong/light enough for most applications.

You know the flight recorder "black boxes?" They're made from 5052-H32. And those things are designed to withstand a plane crash. So 7000 is used in only extreme cases of strength/weight optimizations.

Btw, 7000 is very hard to machine due to being so much harder than 6000. So for those of you complaining that $350 is expensive, I'm frankly STUNNED that Apple is producing a mass market product intricately machined out of a 7000 alloy and only charging $350. That is simply unbelievable, a true display of their design and manufacturing excellence.
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Current iPhone uses 6003 which is equivalent to scrap aluminum (very easy to form and mill; but also very cheap). Very low tolerances sadly. It is not near the equivalent to "aircraft grade." This is also used in prior MacBooks, hence the flaking and hairline scratches/fractures caused by the lack of corrosion resistance of this metal.

6061 grade in the Apple Watch (very good strength to "looks" ratio due to its high luster):
Yield Strength 22 - 42 ksi, 152 - 290 MPa
Tensile Strength 37 - 50 ksi, 255 - 345 MPa

6013 grade in the Samsung S6 (previously used in aerospace applications; dull finish and hard to polish)
Yield Strength 46 ksi, 317 MPa
Tensile Strength 52 ksi, 359 MPa
Corrosion resistent
 
Last edited:
Menel said:
Only for the 3GS.
For the 4S is was for Siri.
For the 5S is was never noted. Most assume Security (TouchID)

We don't need more speed, haven't needed more speed for awhile. We've crossed the tipping point for a bit.
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Ah interesting. I didn't know that. :)

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Mike MA said:
Was this ever confirmed? I'm in doubt about it. In case of the iPhone 4s people believe that it most certainly stood for Siri.
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I've been in a cave. I had not heard about S standing for Siri. :)
 
antbikerjl said:
Current iPhone uses 6003 which is equivalent to scrap aluminum (very easy to form and mill; but also very cheap). Very low tolerances sadly. It is not near the equivalent to "aircraft grade." This is also used in prior MacBooks, hence the flaking and hairline scratches/fractures caused by the lack of corrosion resistance of this metal.

6061 grade in the Apple Watch (very good strength to "looks" ratio due to its high luster):
Yield Strength 22 - 42 ksi, 152 - 290 MPa
Tensile Strength 37 - 50 ksi, 255 - 345 MPa

6013 grade in the Samsung S6 (previously used in aerospace applications; dull finish and hard to polish)
Yield Strength 46 ksi, 317 MPa
Tensile Strength 52 ksi, 359 MPa
Corrosion resistent
Click to expand...


Were on earth are you getting this info? I looked hard to get a reliable info on the alloy for the Iphone 6... Could not find any and I doubt Apple is volunteering it (besides saying its series 6000). Did you, or anyone else, test it chemically or melt it?

I could not even find 6003 on Wikipedia amongst common alloys (pulled that number straight out from nowhere it seems!). The fact you used scrap aluminum as its definition, pushes the BS meter and button pushing way up there, as by definition scrap is mixed composition of unknown properties.

So, your telling Apple uses the worse version of series 6000, a version not even listed in the common alloys for 6000 for their phone!! Come on. Give me the references for this statement please.

Also, Apple says it uses an alloy specifically developed by them for the watch; everyone says it is a series 7000 alloy. Yet, you pull out 6061 out of thin air. When you read Apple's own properties for the alloy, it doesn't even match 6061 (6061 is the most common series 6000 alloy and wouldn't need Apple to develop anything, it is already in wide use). Are you calling Apple liars? Did you test an unreleased watch chemically, melt it, to determine content?
 
X-X said:
We've had stainless steel on the iPods since 2001... it SUCKS... it scratches like crazy.
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what's wrong with that - it's not damaged, its used ;-)
- i like the look of my scratched iPod(back side: )
 
Simplicated said:
One already exists. Two, in fact. The iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s.
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You're right, I totally forgot. I was thinking along those lines with a SS back too. Brushed stainless would be nice. I's still like to see something neat with liquid metal too.
 
Keirasplace said:
Were on earth are you getting this info? I looked hard to get a reliable info on the alloy for the Iphone 6... Could not find any and I doubt Apple is volunteering it (besides saying its series 6000). Did you, or anyone else, test it chemically or melt it?

I could not even find 6003 on Wikipedia amongst common alloys (pulled that number straight out from nowhere it seems!). The fact you used scrap aluminum as its definition, pushes the BS meter and button pushing way up there, as by definition scrap is mixed composition of unknown properties.

So, your telling Apple uses the worse version of series 6000, a version not even listed in the common alloys for 6000 for their phone!! Come on. Give me the references for this statement please.

Also, Apple says it uses an alloy specifically developed by them for the watch; everyone says it is a series 7000 alloy. Yet, you pull out 6061 out of thin air. When you read Apple's own properties for the alloy, it doesn't even match 6061 (6061 is the most common series 6000 alloy and wouldn't need Apple to develop anything, it is already in wide use). Are you calling Apple liars? Did you test an unreleased watch chemically, melt it, to determine content?
Click to expand...

For some reason I find it amusing that you are accusing someone of pulling numbers out of nowhere and asking for references.
 
antbikerjl said:
Current iPhone uses 6003 which is equivalent to scrap aluminum (very easy to form and mill; but also very cheap). Very low tolerances sadly. It is not near the equivalent to "aircraft grade." This is also used in prior MacBooks, hence the flaking and hairline scratches/fractures caused by the lack of corrosion resistance of this metal.

6061 grade in the Apple Watch (very good strength to "looks" ratio due to its high luster):
Yield Strength 22 - 42 ksi, 152 - 290 MPa
Tensile Strength 37 - 50 ksi, 255 - 345 MPa

6013 grade in the Samsung S6 (previously used in aerospace applications; dull finish and hard to polish)
Yield Strength 46 ksi, 317 MPa
Tensile Strength 52 ksi, 359 MPa
Corrosion resistent
Click to expand...

Umm, I wouldn't call 6003 "scrap" aluminum. It's a 6000 alloy, which Apple then has tempered. Without knowing the temper grade, 6003 already has fairly good corrosion resistance, so I'm not sure where you got that from.

Was the point of your post to point out that Samsung uses a slightly harder alloy in the S6? They certainly do. Its not a dramatic difference. Hence their phones still being susceptible to bending. Because the engineering matters more than the alloy.

Characterizing 6013 as the only alloy associated with aerospace leads me to think you haven't work in a machine shop or sheetmetal shop that produces parts for the aerospace industry. I work in one that is family owned. We make many parts that are used for aerospace purposes (Rockwell Collins, Harris, Lockheed Martin). The most common alloys that come through our shop is 5052-H32 and 6061 or 6063 with different temper grades. I can't even remember the last time 6013 came through here. Yes, it is used in aerospace, but so are many other alloys.

And the Apple Watch uses a 7000 alloy, not 6061. Im still not sure what you were getting at.
 
Keirasplace said:
Were on earth are you getting this info? I looked hard to get a reliable info on the alloy for the Iphone 6... Could not find any and I doubt Apple is volunteering it (besides saying its series 6000). Did you, or anyone else, test it chemically or melt it?

I could not even find 6003 on Wikipedia amongst common alloys (pulled that number straight out from nowhere it seems!). The fact you used scrap aluminum as its definition, pushes the BS meter and button pushing way up there, as by definition scrap is mixed composition of unknown properties.

So, your telling Apple uses the worse version of series 6000, a version not even listed in the common alloys for 6000 for their phone!! Come on. Give me the references for this statement please.

Also, Apple says it uses an alloy specifically developed by them for the watch; everyone says it is a series 7000 alloy. Yet, you pull out 6061 out of thin air. When you read Apple's own properties for the alloy, it doesn't even match 6061 (6061 is the most common series 6000 alloy and wouldn't need Apple to develop anything, it is already in wide use). Are you calling Apple liars? Did you test an unreleased watch chemically, melt it, to determine content?
Click to expand...

6003 is a somewhat common aluminum. Maybe if you knew where to look for info rather than blasting me for "pulling this out of nowehere" you'd find it. Wikipedia doesn't have every answer...
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8630

In terms of knowing exactly what the iPhone uses, I'll agree, it is somewhat speculation but there has been numerous discussions that it is a 6003 or equivalent (possibly different composition). However, if it indeed 6003, than yes, it is equivalent to "Scrap" aluminum ("scrap" isn't exactly what it sounds like; "scrap aluminum" is a general purpose aluminum used for many applications. Don't let the word describe the quality per-say).

The 6061 is in regards to their iPhone 6 and 6+. Not the 6S being talked about...
 
DakotaGuy said:
Why not offer all 3 including the Stainless Steel and Gold option? It would be a great way to increase the profit margin. People will pay for it so why not?
Click to expand...

How much gold do you think there is in the world? i don't know for sure, but I reckon that apple quite literally couldn't get the supply and if it could, the price would increase so much that even the hyper rich would consider it ridiculous. The only ones that could benefit from it would be gold suppliers. All other tech that relies on gold would suffer due to the hike in price of the raw commodity. Let's hope apple doesn't go there and let's hope, if they do, the hyper rich aren't so vain that they screw the commodity into the ground as far as useful supply go. This is a case of corporate responsibility.
 
Millah said:
6000 Series Aluminum. Likely an alloy 6061-T6. Commonly known as "Aircraft grade" aluminum. Which I've always found funny, because the aerospace industry uses 5052-H32 alloy just as much.

Anyway, 7000 series is a step up and fairly uncommon. 5052 alloys are the most common in my experience working in sheetmetal, and 6000 alloys are used sparingly for certain circumstances. 7000 series is used in only very specific circumstances. 5000 and 6000 alloys are seen as strong/light enough for most applications.

You know the flight recorder "black boxes?" They're made from 5052-H32. And those things are designed to withstand a plane crash. So 7000 is used in only extreme cases of strength/weight optimizations.

Btw, 7000 is very hard to machine due to being so much harder than 6000. So for those of you complaining that $350 is expensive, I'm frankly STUNNED that Apple is producing a mass market product intricately machined out of a 7000 alloy and only charging $350. That is simply unbelievable, a true display of their design and manufacturing excellence.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the use of 2024 T3 for fatigue resistance in wings. And the capsule holding the data chips in a modern flight recorder is not aluminum. Wouldn't stand the fire regulations. It is titanium or steel if you get the recorder at Harbor Freight:rolleyes:
 
antbikerjl said:
6003 is a somewhat common aluminum. Maybe if you knew where to look for info rather than blasting me for "pulling this out of nowehere" you'd find it. Wikipedia doesn't have every answer...
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8630

In terms of knowing exactly what the iPhone uses, I'll agree, it is somewhat speculation but there has been numerous discussions that it is a 6003 or equivalent (possibly different composition). However, if it indeed 6003, than yes, it is equivalent to "Scrap" aluminum ("scrap" isn't exactly what it sounds like; "scrap aluminum" is a general purpose aluminum used for many applications. Don't let the word describe the quality per-say).

The 6061 is in regards to their iPhone 6 and 6+. Not the 6S being talked about...
Click to expand...

Find me a link with proof about the composition of Apple products, everything else you say otherwise is totally useless.
 
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