Future iPhones might have a glass casing instead of an aluminum one

Apple is nothing if not a trend-setter, which makes it difficult for the company to continuously differentiate its products from the competition. For example, back when even the most-expensive smartphones had a plastic casing, Apple decided to give the iPhone an aluminum casing that made it feel significantly more premium, but these days, aluminum casing is pretty much standard for high-end smartphones. That’s why the company will return to using glass casing for the iPhone starting next year, according to a KGI Securities analyst by the name of Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple reportedly plans to shake up the materials used for the iPhone in 2017, abandoning the aluminum casing it has used for years and returning to the glass chassis championed with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities issued a note to investors on Sunday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, revealing that Apple is apparently planning to differentiate the iPhone from competitors with a new design. Specifically, he said many of Apple’s competitors now sell smartphones with aluminum casings, and he expects next year’s iPhone to adopt a glass back to stand out from the competition. In addition, Apple is also expected to adopt an AMOLED display for the 2017 iPhone. Apple already uses OLED technology in the wearable Apple Watch, but its iPhone lineup has relied on LCD technology since it first launched in 2007. According to Kuo, although glass is slightly heavier than aluminum for a smartphone casing, the adoption of an AMOLED display will compensate for the added weight. Kuo said that while 100 percent of iPhones are currently made with aluminum bodies, he expects that number will fall to 40 percent or less following the launch of the 2017 iPhone.