A potential iPhone made entirely of glass could be near at hand.
Apple's All-Glass iPhone Design: A Futuristic Vision for the Future
Apple has taken a significant step forward in its iPhone development with a patent application for an all-glass iPhone design [1][2][5]. This design, if realized, would mark a significant departure from the traditional metal frame, aiming for a seamless glass shell that eliminates the bezel.
The patent proposes a six-sided glass enclosure made of two main glass pieces: one for the front, curving around all four edges of the phone, and one for the back [1][2]. The boundaries between these glass pieces would be nearly imperceptible, creating a visually and tactilely seamless look.
The glass enclosure would have varying thickness along the edges, creating elegant curves, and would house a flexible, wraparound touchscreen display [2][5]. This display would be visible on the front, back, and even the edges of the device, allowing users to interact with the phone by tapping or squeezing any part of this all-around touchscreen.
The software support for this design is advancing. iOS 26, for instance, introduces a "Liquid Glass" interface inspired by Apple's glass hardware innovations [4]. This software evolution will help users naturally transition to an all-glass iPhone experience with seamless gesture-based controls by around 2027 [4].
The all-glass iPhone design resembles the concept of Song TVs, where a single slab of screen glass is used with an actuator to turn the glass itself into a speaker [3]. The patent application also suggests that the glass enclosure may have holes for microphones and speaker setup [5].
While the patent application does not confirm the exact timeline for the realization of the new iPhone design, it does extend Apple's long-standing vision of the iPhone as a "single slab of glass" [2][3]. The new design, if developed, is not expected to appear in the upcoming iPhone 17 Air, but might be introduced in a big anniversary year upgrade.
It's important to note that patent applications should be taken with a pinch of salt, as they don't always lead directly to something that gets developed. However, the concept of an all-glass iPhone has been a focus for Apple for some time, with former design chief Jony Ive mentioning it as a "single slab of glass" design [3].
If realized, the all-glass iPhone could potentially have a sleek and futuristic aesthetic reminiscent of sci-fi movie aesthetics. The design direction, as indicated by the patent, seems to be a likely one for the iPhone's future development. Apple has begun work on a more glass style user interface, as seen in iOS 26, further supporting this notion.
References:
- Apple's all-glass iPhone patent
- Apple's all-glass iPhone: A closer look
- Apple's all-glass iPhone design: A dream come true?
- iOS 26: Embracing the all-glass iPhone
- Apple's all-glass iPhone: The future of the iPhone?
The all-glass iPhone design, as proposed in the patent, consists of a six-sided glass enclosure that houses a flexible, wraparound touchscreen, reminiscent of smartphones and other futuristic gadgets in the realm of technology. The seamless look and feel of this design, if developed, may coincide with the "Liquid Glass" interface introduced in iOS 26, enhancing user interactions with smartphones.
