Rumor: Next iPhone will get ceramic zirconia case

The next iPhone may have a ceramic housing. That claims a self-proclaimed alchemist based on an Apple patent that came out last week. The Apple Watch Series 2 has a more expensive variant that already uses this material.

‘Alchemist’ Brian Roemmele cites a Quora patent that came online after the presentation of the new iPhones and Apple Watch, in which Apple describes a process for processing ceramic zirconia in the housing of a smartphone. Although the Apple Watch Series 2 variant of this material is an expensive version, the author estimates that the ceramic casing will be cheaper to make in large numbers than the current aluminum casing of iPhones.

Apple would switch to the ceramic material because it is strong, transmits signals well, is relatively easy to produce, can conduct heat well and is also scratch-resistant. The new Watch would then perhaps serve as a test to market a product with this material.

While the iPhone 7 isn’t even out yet, the next generation has been rumored for quite some time now. Next year, in addition to the change to the housing, Apple would exchange the LCD for an OLED screen. The Apple Watch has had an OLED screen since the first generation and many smartphones with Android and Windows also have such a display. Because on an OLED screen all pixels can be switched on and off individually, the contrast is virtually infinite.