Back in 2013 Apple was desperate to deliver a knockout blow against Samsung.
At the time they thought they had the answer in the form of liquid metal, they had a patent but not the manufacturing or raw material capability to deliver the blow they so desperately needed.
Now liquid metal is back on the agenda at Apple.
At a secret lab based in Taiwan, the home of Foxconn their manufacturing partner, Apple is close to being able to deliver a mass manufactured liquid metal curved glass, wafer thin, 6.0mm iPhone according to sources.
The core makeup of liquid metal is Bulk Amorphous Alloy, which is a mix of nickel, copper titanium, and zirconium melted together, when it has cooled the material is said to be as smooth as glass with the rigidity and sturdiness of rubber compound.
The material will be used in a brand new iPhone 7 which is tipped to be launched in September.
By melting the metals together Apple researchers have been able to form several new shapes which are tipped to be used in several new Apple products, including an Apple Watch and the casing for an all new iPad.
There is even speculation that Apple who took a patent out on the process back in 2013 via the US and Australian patent offices will produce a brand new lightweight notebook.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at KGI Securities who has a track record of accurately predicting Apple’s next steps, has also told investors the curved glass case will be brought out for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
If Mr Kuo’s claims are true, Apple’s next-generation handset would be on a par with the 6.1mm iPod touch.
The iPod touch’s screen is smaller than the iPhones – at 4-inches, and doesn’t take a SIM card, meaning it can be thinner because it needs fewer internal components.
The unlock key for Apple designers is that liquid metal is a slow cooling alloy and because of this the material is hard wearing and can be shaped easier than current materials used in the current model iPhones.
The patents detail a process that involves injection moulding and 3D printing using bulk metallic glasses (BMG) powder – another name for liquid metal.
Layers of BMG could be printed using a 3D printer to create the casing for phones, tablets and even TVs.
Samsung is also working on a new material smartphone; they already sell a super-thin phone called the Galaxy A8 which measures 5.9mm.
It has also been claimed that Apple plans to bring new OLED screen to its iPhone this year.
If so, it would mean the first handsets using the battery boosting technology would be revealed a year earlier than expected in 2017.
