“Apple’s next-generation iPhones could adopt 7000 Series aluminum used for the Apple Watch Sport, according to Taiwan’s Economic Daily News,” Joe Rossignol reports for MacRumors.
“The so-called ‘iPhone 6s’ and ‘iPhone 6s Plus’ would likely use Apple’s custom Series 7000 aluminum alloy, which is designed to be 60% stronger than most aluminum, and one-third the density of stainless steel, while still maintaining a light weight,” Rossignol reports. “Economic Daily News has a mixed track record at reporting on Apple’s upcoming plans, and the translated report does not offer many further details, so this rumor should be treated with a proverbial grain of salt.”
Rossignol reports, “Nevertheless, it is common for Apple to introduce new features on one device before expanding to others. Force Touch, for example, was exclusive to the Apple Watch before making its way to MacBooks, and the technology is also rumored to be included in the next iPhone.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Well, if we can’t have Liquidmetal, we’ll certainly take stronger, more durable aluminum!
Taiwan’s Economic Daily News had better check with Ming as I thought Ming wrote that Apple would forget the yearly “s” model and proceed directly the the iPhone 7.
Yeah. What IS going on with liquidmetal?
Unfortunately, five main metals that are used to create LM alloy cost five times as much as aluminium. Besides, it is pricier to melt those metals properly into amorphous state, comparing to aluminium.
This is reason why Apple did not use LM yet — too pricey.
However, I see no reason why Apple would not want to pursue pricier variants of iPhones that will do have LM enclosure. Higher pricer will compensate for higher LM costs, and limit demand to volumes that are feasible to produce.
Pay attention to any announcement between now and the end of June. Last June they announced a one-year extension of a special partnership that had begun in… March, I think. So it’s possible that a new one-year partnership has been established and is just waiting to be announced… or not.
To be fair, 7000 series allow is not much better than current one used in iPhones. 60% figure looks good, but it is comparing to plain aluminium, which never used in any Apple products anyway.
That said, of course, 7000 series aluminium will be better; my point is that not significantly much.
It makes sense for thinner phones to use stiffer aluminum alloys.
And don’t forget possible new iPhones with stainless steel and 18k gold enclosures too…..