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

Thursday September 29, 2016 7:44 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
apple-iphone7KGI 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.
While a glossy finish is possible for metal casing, we identify two prerequisites for the 2017 new iPhone to be competitive in terms of casing design, considering competitors will definitely launch smartphone models with glossy metal or glass casing prior to Apple’s launch: (1) adoption of a glossy finish design; (2) enhanced productivity and higher yield will prevent a supply shortage, as has happened with jet black casing, which is manufactured at an unsatisfactory yield rate of 60-70% due to the metal material; and (3) better scratch resistance will improve user satisfaction. All things considered, we see glass casing as the only option.
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.
Metal frame can be stainless steel or aluminum, with former more likely for high-end models. As all-glass casing is not possible at present given technological bottlenecks, a metal frame surrounding the edge is necessary for reinforced structure design. 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.
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.

Related Roundups: iPhone 8, iPhone X
Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo
[ 259 comments ]


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jarred125
32 months ago
"High end models" ...

STAHP APPLE STAHP. If the high end model is a 4.7" size I am fine with that but stop forcing me to the bigger model for better stuff. Please.
Rating: 53 Votes
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Schwyz
32 months ago
I created a concept.

Rating: 28 Votes
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shk718
32 months ago
ceramic!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 26 Votes
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Ntombi
32 months ago
I hope the "high end" models include the 4.7" size!
Rating: 24 Votes
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LordQ
32 months ago
Great, now a $649 phone is considered low-end.
Rating: 18 Votes
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RedOrchestra
32 months ago
Sounds like Apple is becoming more comfortable with product fragmentation.
Rating: 15 Votes
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Hanzu Lao
32 months ago
Why there is no news about kernel changes in objective-c?

mach/machine.h
Removed #def CPUFAMILY_INTEL_6_14 <https://developer.apple.com/reference/kernel/cpufamily_intel_6_14>
Removed #def CPUFAMILY_INTEL_6_15 <https://developer.apple.com/reference/kernel/1444924>
Removed #def CPUFAMILY_INTEL_CORE <https://developer.apple.com/reference/kernel/cpufamily_intel_core>
Removed #def CPUFAMILY_INTEL_CORE2 <https://developer.apple.com/reference/kernel/cpufamily_intel_core2>
Removed #def CPUFAMILY_INTEL_MEROM <https://developer.apple.com/reference/kernel/1444833>
Removed #def CPUFAMILY_INTEL_YONAH <https://developer.apple.com/reference/kernel/1444859>
Added a #def CPUFAMILY_ARM_HURRICANE

The plot thickens.
Rating: 11 Votes
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vertical smile
32 months ago
I am hoping for a design that looks similar to the iPhone 4 and 4s. Maybe just lighter and stronger.

IMO this has been Apple's best design so far. The 5 design is not bad, but the 6 and 7 looks too much like every other phone on the market. The first time I saw the 6, I thought it was an Android phone.
Rating: 10 Votes
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keysofanxiety
32 months ago

Sounds like you really didn't need the 7 to begin with.


Nobody ever really needs anything. Well, bar the usual stuff: air, food, beer.

But you know what I mean. You buy a new iPhone because you want to! Technically we could still all be rocking iPhone 5Cs without it being completely intolerable.
Rating: 7 Votes
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RedOrchestra
32 months ago

Damn I'm feeling some iPhone 7 buyers remorse.



Sounds like you really didn't need the 7 to begin with.
Rating: 7 Votes

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