More Rumors Suggest Metal Back for iPhone 5

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 03-18-2011, 10:45 AM

According to a story in the Economic Daily News of Taiwan, Apple will be using aluminum rather than glass for the back material in the iPhone 5's case. This report is being echoed by a source at Foxconn, who is telling 9to5Mac that the iPhone 5 prototype has already been seen at their factory and is very similar in shape to the iPhone 4. Signal problems that would be caused by a metal case are said to be avoided by essentially putting the antenna in the Apple logo on the back.

The Japanese blog Macotakara reports on a story in the Economic Daily News purportedly claiming that Apple has abandoned the Gorilla Glass back for the next generation iPhone. (Unintelligible googletrans here: it says nothing about metal but does contain a reference to the "Taiwan factory fun," which is awesome.) According to Macokatara, the switch to an aluminum case back was driven by problems with painting the glass back, weight and undesirable wear and scratching. 9to5Mac notes that despite reports of a curved back like the iPad's, the iPhone 5 will have a flat back like the iPhone 4.

9to5Mac's report also says that their source did not specify the kind of metal to be used, but nevertheless speculates that the back will be made of Liquidmetal rather than aluminum. The original iPhone had an aluminum case back, but with a little plastic cap on the bottom to avoid blocking the antenna. This problem would be avoided if Apple keeps the stainless steel edge antenna of the iPhone 4, but the EDN report claims that Apple will abandon it in response to the "death grip" issue. Instead, the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone 5 will be made of a resin that is transparent to radio waves.

There has been growing concern that the new A5 system on a chip - twice as big as the A4 - might not fit in the iPhone. However, the Economic Daily News report flatly asserts that there is "no doubt" that the iPhone 5 will have the A5. The release date is expected to be in June or July, in line with previous models.

Source: 9to5Mac

**mm8** · 03-18-2011, 10:50 AM

what is liquidmetal....hmmmmm.....sounds like an Arnold movie....to be honest the iphone4 is heavy compared to the iphone 3G...i do miss it

**k1653d** · 03-18-2011, 10:50 AM

Picture is misleading. Those stainless steal backs have been available for the iphone 4 for months now.

**sieutoc** · 03-18-2011, 10:55 AM

Cant wait!

**unison999** · 03-18-2011, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by mm8

what is liquidmetal....hmmmmm.....sounds like an Arnold movie....to be honest the iphone4 is heavy compared to the iphone 3G...i do miss it

And Gorilla Glass sounds like King Kong movie

I kind of like the weight of iPhone4, feels more solid while iPhone 3GS feels like a toy...

**law111** · 03-18-2011, 11:01 AM

Anyone know where I can get one? I had one before and got it from Cellular Nationwide Network site, but now I can't find it anywhere.

**Poseidon79** · 03-18-2011, 11:04 AM

As long as it doesn't scratch like the chrome iPod backs this would be cool. Glass on the back looks sexy but just not durable enough.

**aimetti** · 03-18-2011, 11:05 AM

the metal one is on there but they had to remove the branding. apple probably got to them.

**mw_w** · 03-18-2011, 11:08 AM

I wish they had a picture of the front while it's powered up so we could see the screen size.

**kewty01** · 03-18-2011, 11:10 AM

iPhone styles are getting boring!!
I don't think it'll change much, like 3G and 3Gs. Now iPhone 4 and (probably next version) iPhone 4G.

**aimetti** · 03-18-2011, 11:23 AM

if we can get a 4 inch screen , same size body , same internals as ipad 2 , and NFC ill be content the rest can stay the same.

Oh and maybe some reworked OS

**bigliquid530** · 03-18-2011, 11:24 AM

Can't wait

**DGBT1989** · 03-18-2011, 11:34 AM

i like the sound of the metal back, but i want to see a change in the IOS for the iphone 5.

**z3r01** · 03-18-2011, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by k1653d

Picture is misleading. Those stainless steal backs have been available for the iphone 4 for months now.

the picture is not actual...

Originally Posted by DGBT1989

i like the sound of the metal back, but i want to see a change in the IOS for the iphone 5.

that will happen trust that

**carbeto** · 03-18-2011, 11:46 AM

iPhone 5 build like a Tank! Like the original iPhone but with 64gb!

**delusion950** · 03-18-2011, 12:04 PM

Kind of looks nice. Prob cheaper to make.

**maddawg05** · 03-18-2011, 12:06 PM

Only 3-4 more months...going to be a looooong wait.

**daytonaviolet** · 03-18-2011, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by k1653d

Picture is misleading. Those stainless steal backs have been available for the iphone 4 for months now.

and there actually plastic that's made to look like metal

i've had mine for a few months and you can see the areas which rub on my pocket.

**Cowboy** · 03-18-2011, 01:08 PM

Unibody!!!

**pachi1972** · 03-18-2011, 01:16 PM

It better have a 4" screen.

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Thread: More Rumors Suggest Metal Back for iPhone 5

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According to a story in the Economic Daily News of Taiwan , Apple will be using aluminum rather than glass for the back material in the iPhone 5's case. This

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