iPhone 5 rumours suggest LiquidMetal unibody case

Apple’s next iPhone design could use a high-tech new metal to distinguish itself from rival smartphones, reports suggest.

Wired reports that in 2010 Apple was granted the rights to use a material called LiquidMetal.

Sadly it’s not the same material as was used to construct the T-1000 in Terminator 2. It’s actually an alloy comprising titanium, zirconium, nickel, copper and other metals that results in a finish that is supposedly smooth like water”.

Furthermore, it boasts a high strength and wear resistance qualities and compares favourably against its rivals in strength-to-weight terms. It also allows parts to be fabricated in a method similar to plastic injection machines, paving the way for a MacBook-like unibody shell.

Apple has already used the material once in the construction of its SIM card ejector in some North American models of the first gen iPad.

In other iPhone 5 news, there have been conflicting reports regarding its possible launch date, with some outlets claiming that an Apple-standard June arrival is one the cards and others claiming the new device will mirror the iPhone 4S by releasing later in the year.