Apple iPhone 12 Could Launch With iPhone 4-Inspired Metal Chassis

Next year’s iPhone 12 will feature a new design reminiscent of a beloved iPhone model in previous years, an analyst claims.

In a new research note, famed TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that Apple will “significantly” change the iPhone’s design next year, making it reminiscent of one of the best iPhones in history, the iPhone 4. The research note, obtained by MacRumors, specifies that the new iPhone 12 lineup will feature a new metal frame and a more complex segmentation design.

Kuo also believes that the metal frame for the upcoming iPhone lineup, Kuo said, will feature new trenching and injection molding. He also believes that Apple will be using a glass assembly to protect the metal frame and its trenching.

Former Apple designer Jony Ive designed the iPhone 4 so that it would have a distinct look compared to other smartphones in the market. The iPhone 4 was the first Apple-branded smartphone to have two glass layers with an exposed squared-edge aluminum frame sandwiched between them. The Cupertino tech giant is expected to do the same with the iPhone 12.

“We predict that the new 2H20 iPhone design will change significantly [...] The metal frame and the front and rear 2/2.5D glass are still used, but the metal frame surface will be changed to a similar design to the iPhone 4, replacing the current surface design,” Kuo said in the note.

The analyst believes that the grooving and trenching of the metal will reduce the negative effects of metal shielding on the internal antenna’s efficiency. He also believes that the use of sapphire or tempered glass will be enough to protect the injection molded metal structure.

Kuo believes that the new design will appeal to many and will be one of the major selling points for the iPhone 12 lineup. The new design, combined with 5G connectivity, will allow Apple to sell up to 85 million iPhone units -- about 10 million more than the 75 million iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max units he expects to be sold this year.