Apple's next in line and highly rumored next generation smartphone iPhone 6 has been generating a lot of information on the device's features and specifications lately. Now, as expected, more information has started flowing in about the device, and this time it's about the new iPhone's design.

Now, new reports state that the next-generation iPhone could feature plastic for its chassis instead of reinforced glass or unibody metal. This may be done to help reduce the cost in producing the new iPhone.

"The rumor in the supply chain is that the inexpensive iPhone chassis supplier will reportedly be a US-based electronic manufacturing service (EMS) provider," a DigiTimes report stated.

The report also mentioned another rumor circulating around Apple's supply chain, saying the "entry-level iPhone" could in fact feature a hybrid chassis made of both plastic and metal, where the device's "internal metal parts being able to be seen from outside through special design."

Although it's still not clear as to whether the company will name the device iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S, there have several rumors that have been doing rounds on the Internet, with the most prevalent being the one where the Cupertino-based company is expected to reveal a budget iPhone alongside the original iPhone 6.

However, the new report of an iPhone arriving with plastic chassis instead of reinforced glass or unibody metal seems like an interesting prospect, although basically a rumor at the moment. The new feature could very well take a page out of the book of the previously released iPhone 3GS back in 2009 which arrived with a plastic enclosure.

"The sources pointed out that the related upstream components for the entry-level iPhone are currently going through validation and the actual product may show up in the market in the second half of 2013," the DigiTiimes report adds.

Other previous rumors about the next generation iPhone stated that Apple could be considering a new display technology called "touch-on" for use in its next iPhone model. This, apparently, could be done to address issues with the current "in-cell" display found in the iPhone 5.

The latest iPhone 5 saw the debut of a new touchscreen technology - in-cell touch panels - in Apple's smartphone. Previously, these in-cell touch panels were rumored to arrive with the iPhone 5, and in fact the rumor proved to be true as soon as the iPhone 5 became official.