Report: iPhone 7 will have hidden antenna bands

Jan 21, 2016

The iPhone 7 won't hit shelves for another nine months, but that hasn't stopped leaks from the supply chain. As usual, DigiTimes dishes the dirt on the next generation iPhone, with two choice tidbits surfacing this week. First off according to the report, Apple chassis supplier Catcher will use new compound materials for the exterior of the iPhone 7.

These materials will effectively hide the antenna bands currently visible on the back of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s. If the report is true, this would be the first non-plastic iPhone design to make antenna gaps mesh with the surrounding material. Previous reports have pointed to Apple patents for a composite material that appears like anodized metal, which would fit the bill perfectly. Materials other than metal, such as glass, must be used to provide a window for transmission and reception of radio signals.

This new material would allow Apple to design the iPhone 7 with a uniform metal appearance across the entire back without degrading communication performance.

In addition, rumors that the iPhone 7 would be fully waterproof were reinforced by the report. Other news has already pointed to the iPhone 6s and its bezel gasket, among other strides Apple has taken towards full waterproofing. Some have even successfully tested the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus underwater for an hour (pictured above). Making the iPhone 7 waterproof would require additional design changes to the ports, speaker and microphone as well as a sealed system-in-package design for the upcoming A10 processor.

Source: iPhone FAQ