Just a few days ago, reports suggested that Apple had signed a $2.59 billion deal with Samsung for the supply of 100 million OLED displays for the next year’s iPhone 7S. The deal is for three years, and production will begin in the second quarter of 2017. Now KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has learned from supply chain sources that the 2017 iPhone 7S will get rid of the iconic aluminum chassis because it would no longer feel fresh or modern in 2017.
Aluminum has become ordinary
Kuo, one of the most respected Apple analysts, said the flagship 2017 iPhone will see a major redesign. It will feature an “all glass” chassis and an AMOLED display. He said earlier this year that Apple would return to an iPhone design similar to the iPhone 4. The tech giant changes the design of its flagship iPhones every other year. If the iPhone 7S is going to get a radical design overhaul, this year’s iPhone 7 may not bring major design changes.
The Cupertino company’s rivals are adopting the aluminum design in droves. Apple needs to differentiate itself from the crowd by turning to entirely new materials. Using all-glass chassis may disappoint some Apple fans. In the iPhone 4/4S the glass front and back panels were sandwiched with a stainless steel band. And both models were plagued by cracked backs.
Durability won’t be an issue with iPhone 7S glass body
However, Kuo argues that advances in technology will address this issue and the drop test issues will not be a roadblock in Apple’s decision. A glass body would also be ideal for boosting antenna reception and wireless charging. Apple has reportedly teamed up with Energous to bring the latter’s WattUp wireless charging technology to its future iPhones.
The AMOLED display panel will be slimmer and lighter to compensate for the weight increase of glass compared to aluminum exteriors. Apple was previously rumored to bring AMOLED screen to its iPhones after 2018. The company seems to have made enough progress in developing these screens at its secret lab in Taiwan to introduce the new screens earlier.
