Rumors so far insist that the iPhone 7 will look more or less like the current 6S generation, disappointing a number of fans hoping for a refresh. They might just get one in 2017 going by a new report which comes straight from one of the brand’s top suppliers.
Catcher Technology CEO Allen Horng recently confirmed that Apple will be switching from all-metal to all-glass casings in an effort to set itself apart from other handsets in an over-saturated market. 2017 is a special year for the brand as it marks the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone.
Accordingly, speculation suggests that Apple is planning to discard its naming traditions. Instead of calling the new glass iPhone the 7S, it might just opt to skip directly to iPhone 8 to signify a radical new glass-based approach. This could spell bad news for Catcher Technology since it’s reliant on the company for over 33% of its metal casing business.
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This is where Horng steps in, as the CEO is trying to reassure investors about the company’s future. According to him, only one iPhone model is set to convert to a glass casing next year. Based on this nugget of information, it’s possible only the premium iPhone 8 Plus will boast of the new design.
Horng went on to say that the move won’t have a major impact on Catcher’s revenue as a glass casing still requires a sturdy metal frame which needs advanced processing technology. The latter aspect would effectively drive up the cost of the future iPhone as it would not be cheaper to produce than the current model.
Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had predicted that an all-glass iPhone was in the pipeline just last month. The revamped look is set to be completed by a curvy OLED screen. Samsung is reportedly producing 100 million such panels measuring 5.5-inch for the iPhone 8.