For the next iPhone dubbed for a 2017 launch, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities believes Apple is working on the iPhone 8, and it could come with a glass front and a glass back. It wouldn't be the first time Apple has done this since the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s had similar designs.

Kuo, who is a reliable analyst, appears to believe Apple will go back down this path due to the success of the Jet Black iPhone 7. The device has a glossy finish, something customers seem to enjoy. Here's the thing, glossy is prone to scratches, but if the design is glass, then it wouldn't be much of a problem.

However, if the past is anything to go by, then Apple would have to make serious changes because the glass on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s could be cracked easily. We doubt Apple would want a repeat of those issues, so a stronger glass would be a great fit.

KGI says that "30-35% and 45-50% of pre-orders around the world and in China" have been for the Jet Black iPhone 7, so clearly it's quite popular among fans. It's so popular that many are having problems getting their hands on one due to inventory constraints.

As the months go by, we expect getting hands on the Jet Black iPhone 7 to be much easier than it is now.

The report, according to 9To5Mac, claims Apple might also use stainless steel or even aluminum metal for the casing of the 2017 versions of the iPhone 7. The higher-end model is likely to have stainless steel. If things venture down this path, then Apple would definitely be revisiting the design of the iPhone 4 in some respects.

Only time will tell if Apple will ever go back to the days of glass. We see no reason to believe this will ever happen due to how easily glass can break. However, Apple is not usually a company that is predictable, something everyone should bear in mind.

While we're here wondering what type of enclosure Apple might use for the iPhone 8, the company could be working on the device's hardware right now in Israel. That's an unlikely place, which could mean Apple could have come across an interesting new design.

Apple must also worry about the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 5s And Mi 5s Plus. Xiaomi is one of the biggest smartphone vendors in China, and the company is slowly pushing into other markets.