IPhone Supplier Says Glass-Dominant Design Coming In 2017, Will Retain Metal Frame
There have been multiple rumors about Apple shifting to an all-glass design similar to the iPhone 4 in 2017. Carter Technology chief executive Allen Horng is now saying that the 2017 iPhone will indeed include an all glass enclosure. For reference, Carter Technology is a main supplier of the iPhone casing.
Horng told reporters that to his knowledge, only one model of the 2017 iPhone will adopt an all glass enclosure, noting that it will still have a metal frame around the device, similar to the body of the iPhone 4. This contradicts with earlier reports noting that the 2017 iPhone will have a completely glass body.
“As far as I know, only one [iPhone] model will adopt glass casing next year,” Horng told reporters after the annual shareholder meeting on Thursday. “I don’t think this move will have an impact on Catcher’s revenue as glass casing still needs a durable metal frame which requires advanced processing technology and would not be cheaper than the current model.”
It’s interesting to see that Horng says only one model of the iPhone will consist of the glass enclosure. This would contradict Apple’s current iPhone line-up, which is creating two models — 4.7 and 5.5-inch — and have them be as close as possible.
However, there have been reports of Apple creating a iPhone ‘Pro’ model which should in theory replace the current iPhone ‘Plus’ models.