Apple may have ‘Zirconia plan’ for future iPhones and Apple Watches

A recent Apple patent hints at the company using a new material in future iPhones and Apple Watch variants. The tech giant is considering using a “Zirconia-based ceramic material” in its future iPhones and the Apple Watch models, as per a report by Forbes which is based on the patent only.
The patent is titled “Electronic Devices with Textured Zirconia-Based Components”. As per Apple, the inclusion of this material in the design will give “a matte appearance to an exterior surface of an electronic device. The texture of the enclosure component may also be configured so that it has one or more tactile properties suitable for use as a wearable device and can be readily cleaned.”
According to the report, the material could be used as a side surface around the main body of the device, like a surface that wraps around the side of the Apple Watch and/or it could be used at the rear of the iPhone. As such, it might be the case that Apple in future ditches the toughened glass in favour of the ceramic matte finish. The company might do that for the top tier models in its iPhone lineup like the Pro models.