Apple may use thermoformed glass for the iPhone 8 chassis to ease wireless charging

That last feature obligation has reportedly prompted Apple to move back to glass for the chassis of the iPhone 8, as a metal bod and wireless charging don't necessarily play well together. In fact, Korean media is reporting that Apple is working with its Chinese supplier Biel Crystal on producing the glass back of the phone. Biel has been providing glass display substrates for the top dogs Apple and Samsung for a while now, as well as sapphire for the camera lenses or the Apple Watch screen.

They are reportedly now supplying thermoformed glass chassis samples to Apple that may go into an eventual OLED iPhone 8 that will have a front that is mostly screen, and clear of home buttons and other elements, while the glass rear will be sandwiched against it over a metal frame, or so the rumors go. A "thermoformed" glass cover is similar to what Samsung uses on its phones with curved display since the S6 edge. Samsung calls it "3D thermoforming," and it essentially places glass between two molds, heats it to 800 degrees Celsius, and then the cover glass gets pressed into the perfect symmetrical shapes that, say, formed the sides of the deceased Note 7.

Does this mean that the iPhone 8 will have tapered back and wraparound display against it for one smooth, uninterrupted look? Well, more leaks are needed, especially if Apple itself might not have decided on it just yet.

source: ETNews (translated)