The iPhone 6, based from the renderings and mock-ups we’ve seen, is likely to sport an all-aluminum rear shell with its display made of tough sapphire glass. Well Apple has just been granted a patent that will enable the company to make an all-glass housing for its wide range of devices. Could this give the company its needed edge over other brands?
Apple jumping to the phablet bandwagon not only showed that they took back what Jobs said that “no one’s gonna buy” a big phone, but also made it seem like they simply conformed to the trend set mainly by Android. But with companies still using lesser materials (like plastic) for their devices, this could be the innovation that will separate Apple apart from its competitors – something that they have been trying to do for the longest time.
The patent given to the Cupertino company is a manufacturing method that allows them to fuse glass structures together and still protect all the circuitry inside. This proposed all-glass design is aimed to be used for iPhones, iPads, and even iMacs. If they indeed use sapphire glass for the body it will generally result to a more durable, lightweight form factor while giving off a more futuristic look and premium feel.
The idea of holding an all-glass iPhone sounds exciting already, but we’re not quite sure yet how the glass build would affect pricing of these devices. If we were to ask you, how much would you pay for a glass iPhone or iPad?
This goes to show that the pace of innovation really is slowing down. More so than what type of material the case is made of, I think the future of these devices lie in adding more useful functionality. Adding health features like tracking blood pressure, heart rates, blood sugar and other important health metrics would really be a great leap forward. I want my phone to help me live healthier and longer.