Apple usually has new colors and styles of iPhones, but most people immediately put cases on them.

That could be changing. Many Apple users treat naked iPhones as status symbols. This behaviour maybe stems from a few different beliefs. Some think cases look cheap, while others just want to imitate celebrities with bare iPhones.

Either way, it's surprisingly trendy. Time Magazine wrote about tycoons like Elon Musk and Jay-Z who were spotted with caseless iPhones. They radiate "stealth wealth" energy.

Supposedly.

Not to mention, plain iPhones look great. People love the glossy look and sharp edges of their devices, so they don't use cases.

They prioritize aesthetics over preservation.

It's definitely worth it to show off the iPhone's design from time to time. People hardly ever take their cases off. Heaps of iPhones live their lives stuck in cases and screen protectors — nobody gets to see what they're actually like. Not even the people who shelled out possibly thousands of dollars to get one.

Well, Apple just got a patent that could make cases obsolete.

Patently Apple reports that the company has been granted a patent for an “abrasion-resistant back panel made of glass or metal” suitable for iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. The key is using more than one material in the chassis construction. Though the patent focuses on metal and ceramic materials, it could potentially apply to others as well.

The patented tech includes a "moldable matrix" made of "abrasion-resistant members" that are tougher than the stuff around it. The diagram shows almost invisible beads laid out in a regular pattern with an average gap of 10-100 microns. It also reveals that areas containing the Apple logo and camera would be free from these abrasion-resistant elements.

This intriguing patent could be close to implementation and might become a significant selling point for those who use protective iPhone cases. Apple sells iPhone cases, but they'd probably rather you show off the device without one - like on an Apple TV+ show - so this feature might show up soon, maybe even with the iPhone 16.

Are you ready to dump your case? Drop me a comment and let me know.

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