Apple patent details plans for ‘indestructible’ iPhones and MacBooks

News
By
published

Scratchproof and unbendable devices could be in our future

When the iPhone 6 Plus was released in 2014, photos of the phone bending surfaced, resulting in what was called BendGate. Then there are the scratches you see on your MacBook Pro body or on the Jet Black iPhone 7.

Image courtesy: Apple

Image courtesy: Apple

However, a patent filed in March 2017 at the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) – and published on September 13 this year – reveals that Apple is trying to make all its devices scratchproof and unbendable.

Physically indestructible

According to the patent, Apple is working on an an abrasion-resistant finish that can protect the company’s device from wear and tear.

Called “Abrasion-Resistant Surface Finishes On Metal Enclosures”, the patent describes a the finish as having two layers – a lower metallic layer, with a harder outer layer coated in what could either be a ceramic material or a carbon-based substance with similar hardness to diamond. 

The patent describes the outer layer as being between 0.5 micrometers to 3 micrometers, with the layer below measuring between 8-30 micrometers.

Image courtesy: Apple

Image courtesy: Apple

The abrasive-resistant coating, according to the patent, will likely be applied over the paint layer, which could open the gates to more color options on future Apple devices.

Image courtesy: Apple

Image courtesy: Apple

While Apple has added an IP68 water- and dust-resistance rating to its 2018 trio of iPhones, it's unclear whether the patented scratch-resistant technology had been applied to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR.

Given the high price tag on the new handsets, though, we'd recommend using a screen guard and a case, in case you're the paranoid kind.

  • Is the ‘cheap’ iPhone XR worth every penny? Read our hands-on review to find out.

[Via BGR]

TOPICS
Sharmishta Sarkar
Sharmishta Sarkar
Managing Editor (APAC)

While she's happiest with a camera in her hand, Sharmishta's main priority is being TechRadar's APAC Managing Editor, looking after the day-to-day functioning of the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore editions of the site, steering everything from news and reviews to ecommerce content like deals and coupon codes. While she loves reviewing cameras and lenses when she can, she's also an avid reader and has become quite the expert on ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about these underrated devices. Other than her duties at TechRadar, she's also the Managing Editor of the Australian edition of Digital Camera World, and writes for Tom's Guide and T3.