The iPhone 6 is undeniably beautiful, but there’s one design niggle that Apple wants to overcome with future handsets.
We’re referring to the phone’s antenna, which resides behind the plastic strip coating that runs along the top and bottom of the phone’s rear. The plastic allows radio waves to penetrate the chassis.
Unfortunately, that same plastic coating means the antenna looks awkward and ungainly when set against the phone’s aluminium casing.
Fortunately, Apple has filed a patent application for a new composite metal material that looks just like anodised metal, but allows the transfer of radio waves.
The patent doesn’t just refer to the iPhone, but also points to the technology being used in other devices too, as reported by iClarified.
One instance given is the MacBook’s touchpad, which currently has a slightly different appearance to the rest of the notebook’s chassis.
Apple openly admits that a conspicuous antenna isn’t ideal for the company’s refined device aesthetics.
In the patent, Apple states: “
It continues: “Unfortunately, plastic surfaces and glass surfaces have different visual qualities than metallic surfaces, which result in a visible break in the metallic surface of the housing. This visible break can detract from the smooth and continuous look of the metal housing.”
Related: Best Smartphone 2015
Of course, this is only a patent application, which means it hasn’t even been authorised by the US Patent & Trademark Office yet.
There’s also no telling whether Apple will actually utilise the technology described in the iPhone 6S, the company’s much-rumoured 2015 smartphone.
Would you rather Apple hid its smartphone antenna, or do you think it adds character to the device? Let us know in the comments.
While you’re here, check out our video review of the antenna-toting iPhone 6:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.