Apple News
5.8-inch iPhone 8 To Feature Glass Reinforced Stainless Steel Chassis
According to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes on Tuesday, only the flagship iPhone 8 model will feature a brand new industrial design with an all-glass chassis while the 4.7-inch phone should continue using an aluminum-alloy chassis like prior iPhones.
Considering the lower price tag of the 4.7-inch iPhone, it does make sense for Apple to make use of an aluminium-alloy chassis on the handset. It would also allow the company to better differentiate the handset from the two Plus models. A stainless steel chassis is more costly to manufacture and forge when compared to an aluminium-alloy chassis that is now widely used in most smartphones. The 4.7-inch iPhone 8 will still feature glass panels at its front and back which is required for the handset to support wireless charging.
The highlight of Apple’s iPhone 8 lineup this year will be the 5.8-inch model that will feature an OLED panel and a price tag of more than $1,000. It will also feature a bigger battery despite being smaller than the 5.5-inch model.
“Although Casetek, a metal chassis subsidiary of Pegatron Technology, has been aggressively sending engineering samples to Apple and establishing new production bases to prepare for Apple’s orders, the company has so far still not obtained significant orders for the next-generation iPhones,” notes the report.