iPhone 7 may have a CURVED screen like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
19
View comments
Earlier this year, analysts advising Apple investors claimed that the iPhone 7 would be cased in curved glass made from liquid metal.
Now, a source speaking to the the Nikkei Asian Review has backed-up the claims.
They say that Apple will launch three models in 2017 - one measuring 4.7-inches and two measuring 5.5-inches - one of which will have a curved display.
Scroll down for video
Rumours suggest that the iPhone 7 will be cased in curved glass made from liquid metal. Artist Martin Hajek created this concept images ahead of the iPhone 6 launch, based on similar rumours at the time
HOW WOULD APPLE MAKE ITS CURVED GLASS CASE?
The firm filed a patent in 2013 for a curved glass phone case made from liquidmetal.
Liquidmetal is a mix of titanium, nickel, copper and zirconium among other metals making it tough, light and scratch resistant. It also feels as smooth as glass.
It is a slow cooling alloy which means it can be moulded more easily than steel or aluminium, and is more hard wearing.
The patents detail a process that involves injection moulding and 3D printing using bulk metallic glasses (BMG) powder - another name for liquidmetal.
Layers of BMG could be printed using a 3D printer to create the casing for phones, tablets and even TVs.
If the rumours are true, the iPhone 7 could rival the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge which came out in February this year, and features a curved screen.
In January, Apple revisited a patent filed in 2013, which proposed a curved 'glass' case made from an intricate fusion of metals melted together.
The design - made from Bulk Amorphous Alloy, which is a mix of titanium, nickel, copper and zirconium melted together - is said to have the smooth texture of glass and the rigid sturdiness of rubber.
Despite widespread excitement over the unique design, it still hasn't reached the general public.
However, in March, Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at KGI Securities told investors the curved glass case will be brought out for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, a claim which is now backed up by Nikkei Asian Review.
Liquid metal is a slow cooling alloy which means it can be moulded more easily than steel or aluminium, for example, and is more hard wearing.
The design - made from Bulk Amorphous Alloy, a mix of titanium, nickel, and copper - is said to have the smoothness of glass and the rigidity of rubber. It was first floated in a patent (pictured) filed by Apple in 2013
Rumours suggest that Apple will launch three models in 2017 - one measuring 4.7-inches and two measuring 5.5-inches - one of which will have a curved display. Pictured is a concept image
With 3D printing, this three-year-old design is now a much more realistic prospect.
The design will be similar to the iPhone 5's 'glass sandwich', but with curved glass on both sides, insiders predict.
Kuo claims the iPhone 7, which is unlikely to launch until at least September 2016, will be the firm's thinnest handset to date at just six millimeters thick.
This would put on a par with the iPod touch, and would be almost a millimetre thinner than the current iPhone 6.
If the rumours are true, the iPhone 7 could rival the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge which came out in February this year, and features a curved screen
OLED DISPLAYS
OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode.
Its panels are made from organic materials that emit light when electricity is applied to them.
As a result, OLED panels don't use a backlight meaning they are thinner than LCD displays.
OLEDs additionally have bright colours, brilliant contrasts and a wide-viewing angle.
It has also been claimed that Apple plans to bring a new organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen to its iPhone this year.
OLED displays use less power and are generally brighter than their LED counterparts.
Nikkei Technology Online has previously reported that Apple met with LG and Samsung to discuss increasing OLED screen production ahead of September 2017 - the date the theoretical iPhone 7s is likely to be released.
Both LG and Samsung are among Apple’s suppliers.
According to Barrens, earlier this year Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster told clients 'we expect the iPhone 7 to sport a unique design from the iPhone 6/6S'.
He believes it will do away with the home button, instead relying on the 3D Touch screen introduced in the 6S.
If the claims are true, Apple's next-generation handset would be on a par with the 6.1mm iPod touch (pictured left, with measurements pictured right)
He said: 'As many have speculated, the addition of 3D Touch may provide Apple with a way to eliminate the home button on the phone and use the additional space to make the screen bigger or make the device smaller.'
'Another area on which we believe Apple may focus is battery life,' he said.
'Looking at Macs over the past few years, Apple has close to doubled battery life for its Macbook line up (largely 5 hour battery to ~10 hours).
'We believe battery life is one of the biggest areas of potential improvement and one that might be most welcomed by customers.'
Apple has yet to confirm the design for the iPhone 7. It is also unclear when it might be released, although based on past announcements, it is thought to be in September 2017.
It is believed the new handset will be based on the iPhone 5S, seen here in the foreground, rather than the 'plastic' 5C (seen in the background), as had been previously thought
iPhone 7 may have a CURVED screen like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
![]()
Reviewed by Latest Trends
on
August 24, 2016
Rating:
No comments: