Apple’s switch to ceramic for the Apple Watch Edition could mean big things for the next-generation iPhone. The material is four times harder than stainless steel and it looks a lot better, making it an ideal material for the body of the iPhone 8.
Recent rumours have promised Apple will deliver a major redesign next year to celebrate the iPhone’s 10th anniversary. Apple has been a pioneer when it comes to adopting new materials that make our gadgets even greater, and the company usually doesn’t stop when it finds one.
Ceramic’s hardness makes it almost impervious to scuffs and scratches. The material rates 8.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which is much higher than steel (rated at 4.5) and aluminum (rated between 2.5 and 3). Unless you place your ceramic iPhone on a bed of diamonds, the chance of it getting scratched during normal use is next to none.
Even though the chance of scratching is dramatically reduced, the chance of breaking is increased. If ceramic falls onto the floor it does not merely dent and scuff
In a thread over on Quora about why zirconia ceramic would be perfect for a future iPhone, Brian Roemelle explains that can take on any colour without the use of paints or any anodization process (as used in the current aluminum iPhones).
“Zirconia ceramics also can be pigmented to any color palette without the use of exterior paints.”
It is also interesting to note that ceramic can also be completely transparent, allowing Apple to build an iPhone that you can see into.
As a material used in technology products, ceramic would be much better at dissipating heat. In addition, the use of ceramic could see the antenna lines disappear as ceramic does not block radio signals.
Would you buy a ceramic iPhone? Let us know in the comments below.
[via Quartz]
