Thus, a Liquidmetal iPhone chassis seems entirely reasonable to expect in the not-too-distant future.

CNN: Next iPhone may be housed in 'Liquidmetal'

Liquidmetal has been used in Apple products (as well as those of other manufacturers) for several years.

CNN: Next iPhone may be housed in 'Liquidmetal'

Liquidmetal is an alloy that is strong and resistant to corrosion and scratches, and has a similar moulding ability to that of thermoplastics.

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The new device is expected to have a bigger screen, a smaller charging dock and a case made from an alloy called LiquidMetal.

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"Liquidmetal allows precision parts to be fabricated similar to plastic injection molding, but with similar properties to metal, " IHS senior principal analyst Kevin Keller said.

CNN: Next iPhone may be housed in 'Liquidmetal'

Liquidmetal's injection molding process is still a relatively new technology, and it's fairly expensive -- but that's not necessarily anything that Apple would shy away from.

CNN: Next iPhone may be housed in 'Liquidmetal'

The SIM card ejector tool in some North American first-generation iPads was made of Liquidmetal, and since then, Keller said, it's been used in a number of other internal parts and small mechanical components.

CNN: Next iPhone may be housed in 'Liquidmetal'