Those rumors of an all-glass iPhone just got a lot more realistic

Even though it’s way too early to be talking about the 2017 iPhone, rumors about the device continue to persist.

Thus far, the rumors have suggested that the 2017 iPhone (maybe the iPhone 7S?) will return to an all-glass design. This was first floated by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo back in March. 

Noted Apple watcher John Gruber shared on his podcast The Talk Show that his sources (which we believe are quite good) indicated the next next iPhone would have an all-glass case, edge-to-edge display. Gruber has even heard that the home button/Touch ID sensor might be integrated into the display itself.

But this was all just speculation. And frankly, although we don’t doubt that Apple has been working on the 2017 iPhone for quite some time (the lead-in time for devices like the iPhone and iPad are often years, not months), it’s odd for such concrete details to leak so early.

Those rumors seem even more likely to be true

But now those rumors seem even more likely to be true. At its annual shareholder meeting, the chairman of longtime iPhone supplier Catcher Technology Allen Horng said, indicated that the 2017 iPhone would indeed have an all-glass display. Catcher has been the chassis maker for iPhone devices for a number of years and the move to a non-aluminum chassis could mean Catcher would lose business.

Speaking with reporters last week, Horng said that, “As far as I know, only one [iPhone] model will adopt glass casing next year.” He added that he didn’t think this would impact his company’s revenue because “glass casing still needs a durable metal frame which requires advanced processing technology and would not be cheaper than the current model.”

Stay skeptical

We should note that comments from a supplier CEO – even though interesting – don’t confirm anything about Apple’s future iPhone plans. For all we know, Horng could be reading the same reports and rumors as the rest of us. It’s very unlikely that Apple has decided on all of the parts for its 2017 iPhone.

Still, the fact that a supplier is even commenting on these kinds of issues gives credence to the idea that the 2017 iPhone will have a brand-new design.

On Facebook Live last week, I theorized that we might see a big redesign with the 2017 iPhone, simply because it will be the 10th anniversary of the iconic, groundbreaking, industry-shifting product.

Everything we’ve heard about the iPhone 7 suggests that Apple won’t be changing the design dramatically from the iPhone 6/iPhone 6S – you know, except for that whole no headphone jack thing.

And now, it’s time for my obligatory prediction for the next iPhone (and the next next iPhone, and the next next next iPhone):

• It will be Apple’s fastest iPhone ever

• It will have Apple’s most-advanced optics

• There will be at least one extra feature you can’t get on any other iPhone.

• It will come in rose gold.

Bonus: iPhone 7 rumors, hopes and nightmares

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