Apple could switch to a glass casing for upcoming iPhone

A Taiwanese iPhone parts supplier has predicted that an upcoming variant of Apple's handset will feature glass casings.

Catcher Technology CEO Allen Horng made the prediction at a shareholder meeting on Thursday, the Nikkei Asian Review reports. Though Catcher currently builds metal frames for iPhones, Horng said he does not expect such a move to impact his business, since an iPhone with a glass casing would still need a durable metal frame inside it.

The iPhone 4 and 4S, introduced in 2010 and 2011 respectively, both had glass backings while retaining metal frames. Apple returned to using metal backs in the iPhone 5 in 2012.

Though Apple has not said when it will introduce its next iPhone models, an iPhone 7 (as it will presumably be called) should be due in September. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.