When the first iPhone was introduced, the device revolutionized the entire mobile phone industry in general. Touchscreen-based phones weren’t really that popular back then, yet iPhone managed to create a breakthrough that made every top mobile phone manufacturers join the party – even top manufacturers such as HTC and Nokia are switching to touchscreen-based exterior design right away. With the iPhone 4, Apple is obviously starting another revolution in the mobile phone world with new and improved industrial design.

It is safe to say that the iPhone 4’s exterior design is more than just stunning. The phone feels like high-end mobile phones – for example Vertu – in hand and it is certainly more than just stylish. The iPhone 4 also makes older generations of iPhone seems old and bulky, even though it is only slightly thinner when compared to the iPhone 3GS.

Two pieces of reinforced glass is used on the back and front faces. The front part also functions as medium for the new – and also improved – capacitive touchscreen developed exclusively for the iPhone 4. The back plate is mainly for aesthetics, but it surely makes the phone looks elegant in every way. In between the two layers is a metal strip forming the sandwich, functioning as the handset’s main skeleton as well as antenna for enhanced network reception.

The simplicity of iPhone 4’s exterior design reminds me of classic brands such as Leica. Being simple and functional is exactly what iPhone 4 is trying to do, and the device exceeds available mobile phones by quite far indeed.