14 DAY TRIAL // Rumor has it that Apple might be working on a ceramic version of the iPhone that could also be available in white, just like the Watch Series 2, and now more evidence seems to confirm that this is indeed the plan.
Cupertino has recently patented what’s being described as a laser polishing technology that would be used on ceramic iPhones, although it’s not yet clear if there’s enough time for this new system to be employed for the 2017 model or not.
A patent discovered by PatentlyApple describes a process that would essentially involve “polishing a ceramic component using a laser” and the final goal would be to “produce a polished surface.” The patent doesn’t specifically refer to the iPhone, so Apple could use it on several other products.
Apple used ceramic on the Watch Series 2 launched last year, and it’s believed that the company wants to extend the use of the same material to more products, including the iPhone. This could allow the firm to improve certain features, such as cellular signal, and add new ones, including wireless charging, while also offering a more premium feeling and extra hardness to resist more powerful hits, shocks, and scratches.
More expensive iPhone
A ceramic iPhone would obviously be more expensive given the exquisite material, and this is also the case with the ceramic Watch Series 2 which costs $1,299.
The same laser polishing technique can be used for other materials too, the patent states, including glass. It’s believed that glass would be one of the main materials used by Apple on this year’s iPhone generation, with the company reportedly working on building the new model with a glass body and a metal frame, similar to the iPhone 4.
Unfortunately, however, a patent is by no means a confirmation that a certain product or technology is being implemented, although all signs seem to be pointing that Apple is more and more interested in building a ceramic iPhone. Expect more information to emerge in the coming months when leaks should also start making the rounds, as we get closer to the official fall 2017 release date of the new iPhone.