Is an all-glass, wrap-around iPhone coming?.
While rumours continue to swirl about the lack of cosmetic changes present in the upcoming iPhone 7, it appears later instalments could see Apple produce some of its sleekest designs.
A patent granted today indicates the company is exploring the possibility of an all-glass, wrap-around iPhone, also featuring the recently hinted curved display.
The device is described as having a transparent housing and a flexible display enclosed within it, which is capable of showing visual content at any position inside the housing - using virtual buttons in place of physical volume controls on the handset edge, for example.
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The same embodiment is also described as having a second flexible display assembly that works in concert with the primary one to present visual content in positions beyond the main screen.
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Apple also notes that utilising a flexible display can provide additional viewing area without increasing either the size or shape of the electronic device. For example, a flexible display can be folded in such a way as to form a continuous loop, so that images can be presented in a wrap-around manner that looks like a continuous loop.
While most patents never see the light of day, it would be somewhat of a surprise if the Cupertino-based company didn't feature this design or a similar adaptation in future versions of the iPhone.
Also, as a side-note: if you're wondering why the sketch above features a 30-pin adapter, it's because the Lightning adapter wasn't yet on the market when Apple submitted the application in 2011.
Source: www.bing.com
Images credited to www.bing.com and cdn.luxatic.com
