iPhone 6S To Use Apple Watch Sport's Custom Alloy
The supposed iPhone 6[S] shell acquired by Unbox Theraby shows high concentrations of zinc, indicative of 7000-series aluminum. Generally speaking, adding zinc — along with magnesium — to create 7000-series aluminum results in an alloy that is much harder than the more popular 6000-series, and consequently more difficult to work with.
When the Watch was announced, Apple proudly pointed out that the 7000-series alloy used in the sport models was in fact a custom Apple composition, though it’s still not clear exactly what they changed. It’s possible that they could’ve made concessions to make the material easier to handle during manufacturing, for instance, though they claim substantial improvements in strength.
“For Apple Watch Sport, we started with 7000 Series aluminum — the same used in competition bicycles,” Apple says on its website. “We altered it to create a new alloy that’s just as light, yet even more durable — it’s 60 percent stronger than most aluminum, and one-third the density of stainless steel.”
Apple’s famous manufactory synergy continues.
Indeed, while we already know how Apple Watch is, in many ways, a test-bed for Apple’s more popular iDevices, this is one angle I hadn’t considered. But it makes a lot of sense, as people hell-bent on bending their thin new iPhones ought to have a harder time doing so, while daily wear and tear should be less damaging to the integrity of the 6S chassis.