14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is expected to announce three iPhones this year and a new supply-chain report talks about the materials used in the new phones. According to Digitimes, Apple will unveil three iPhone variants: 4.7-inch, 5.5-inch and 5.8-inch models.
The report mentions that the high-end 5.5-inch model will feature a chassis made out of reinforced glass with stainless steel metal frame, as opposed to the 4.7-inch model which will have the aluminum-alloy chassis found on the iPhone 7 and a number of other Apple products, including the Apple Watch.
It seems that the report doesn’t say anything about the materials in the 5.5-inch model’s chassis. The reinforced glass chassis’ stainless steel metal frame for the 4.7-inch model will be supplied by Foxconn Technology and US-based Jabil Circuit. The former is one of Apple’s suppliers for all sorts of materials for iPhones.
iPhone 8 to have an OLED display and wireless charger
Catcher Technology will be the company making the aluminum-alloy chassis for the other iPhone, set to be released later this year. The report also says that Catcher Technology declined to comment on its clients or orders, but did mention that the company's revenue for this year is expected to see a significant year-on-year growth.
The 5.8-inch model is also expected to feature an OLED panel, and recent reports have said that the smartphone’s price will be higher than $1,000. It’s the iPhone 8 or iPhone X, the device that will mark the 10-year anniversary since Apple released the first iPhone. This model is said to feature major design changes, including an edge-to-edge display.
The new report regarding its glass frame supports the previous rumor of a different design for this iPhone. The device is said to come with significant improvements in battery life, as well as wireless charging capabilities. There have been reports saying that the iPhone 8 might have a fingerprint reader embedded into the display.