Apple Watch aluminium to make the iPhone 6S 60% stronger
Apple’s next-generation iPhone will be crafted from the same reinforced aluminium as the Apple Watch, latest reports have suggested.
With the iPhone 6 and larger iPhone 6 Plus having been plagued by ‘bendgate’ concerns at launch, it is believed the Cupertino-based manufacturer will look to reinforce its iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus handsets with sturdier materials.
The primary metal is question is said to be the same Series 7000 aluminium the company has bestowed on its base model wearable, the Apple Watch Sport.
According to Apple, Series 7000 aluminium is the same grade material used in professional track bikes.
It’s reportedly 60 per cent stronger than the traditional aluminium used in the iPhone 6 and offers one-third the density of stainless steel without the added weight.
Reports of the reworked construction surfaced courtesy of Taiwan’s Economic Daily News.
Citing unnamed insiders, the report has suggested that the sturdier metal will be used in the construction of Apple’s 2015 phones. Apple has yet to comment of the claims.
Past reports have suggested the iPad maker will launch three new handsets this year, with the plastic clad iPhone 6C expected to line up alongside the metal bodied iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.
Related: iPhone 6S Plus vs iPhone 6S
Apple is widely expected to unveil its next handset lines in September, with the phones to work closely with the Apple Watch for improved cross-device communication.
Describing the Series 7000 aluminium earlier in the year, Apple stated: “It has a bright, lustrous colour and a uniform structure free of defects and impurities.”
The company, talking on the Apple Watch’s build, added: “Each case is machined and polished, then blasted with microscopic zirconia beads to achieve a consistent, satin texture. A special anodizing process creates a hard, clear outer layer that helps protect against scratches and corrosion.”