Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Chassis Offers First Look at All-Aluminum Body

[MacRumors]

An alleged iPhone 17 Pro production leak may provide a first look at the device's milled all-aluminum chassis, which this year includes the camera bump – in contrast to last year's iPhone 16 Pro model that features a glass camera module attached to an all-glass back panel.

Originally shared by leaker Majin Bu, the image below could be of a moulding, but it still lines up with rumors that Apple has done away with the previous models' glass sandwich and titanium frame in favor of a more encapsulating aluminum chassis that has a rear cutout to house a glass section around the Apple logo for wireless charging.

The iPhone 17 Pro models adopt an oversized rectangular camera module that spans the width of the case. Reports suggest it will be the same color as the iPhone itself, rather than being part of a two-tone design.

The iPhone 17 Pro models will be the first high-end iPhones with aluminum frames since Apple split the lineup into Pro and non-Pro tiers. In recent years, aluminum has been reserved for lower-end models like the iPhone SE and iPhone 16. High-end models used stainless steel until the iPhone 15 Pro, which switched to titanium – a change Apple touted as a major upgrade.

Aluminum is roughly 40% lighter than titanium at similar volumes, so we could see the iPhone 17 Pro models carrying less weight. Aluminum is also a far better thermal conductor than titanium, so heat generated by the A19 Pro chip and battery may dissipate faster. Apple is also rumored to be using a new internal design that incorporates a vapor chamber heatsink to improve thermal performance.

While titanium generally offers a denser, more premium feel with subtle reflectivity, Apple's use of aluminum should allow for richer color options. This year, Black, White, and Gray are said to be accompanied by new Dark Blue and Orange colors.

• 20 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

We'll know the official look soon – Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup next month, with September 9 rumored as a potential iPhone event date. If that timing is accurate, then the most likely date for Apple to announce the event is Tuesday, August 26, since the company typically provides two weeks' notice.

Update: This article originally credited a Korean blog for the image. Apologies: the error has now been corrected.

Article Link: Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Chassis Offers First Look at All-Aluminum Body

 

[EugW]

Is the cutout not a complete circle, or is it like that in the picture because it has not been completely cut yet? I would have assumed it’s a complete circle for MagSafe.

BTW, isn’t the Apple logo going to be shifted downward, so that it would stick out at the bottom of the circle?

 

[orbital~debris]

While titanium generally offers a denser, more premium feel with subtle reflectivity, Apple's use of aluminum should allow for richer color options.

Why is this? (MacRumors – a little more detail would have been interesting/useful here).

What properties does aluminium have that allows for richer colours, that titanium doesn't have?

 

[EmanuelF]

At this point MagSafe doesn’t make sense. You can have normal connectors like iPad does, put some magnets anywhere and leave it all aluminium.

 

[555gallardo]

At this point, I'm almost sure the iPhone 15 Pro will be always remembered as a modern-day equivalent of PowerBook G4 Titanium. Proud to own one.

 

[MrRom92]

It’s so great that they’re charging us more for a downgraded, less premium product. Thank you Tim!

 

[iAdamas]

Honestly I don't think people would be upset if Apple had pushed the titanium upgrade as this huge deal... Seems entirely reminiscent of when they did this with their PowerBook's years and years ago only to go back to aluminium.

 

[McWetty]

I don’t really care that it’ll be aluminum. I’ll appreciate the thermal benefits and weight reduction. That camera bump though… baby got BACK.

And the price bump is because of Taco. Aim your ire there.

 

[maszaikasza]

At this point MagSafe doesn’t make sense. You can have normal connectors like iPad does, put some magnets anywhere and leave it all aluminium.

So should every case have a connector instead of magnet hidden inside?

 

[Palindrom]

People are sad about the Titanium Frame being gone and here I am who never had a stainless Steel Frame phone.
The haptics and looks of stainless steel was not met with the titanium frame.
The higher weight of steel was also more of a premium feeling. Really liked the x to 11 pro era

 

[kiranmk2]

At this point MagSafe doesn’t make sense. You can have normal connectors like iPad does, put some magnets anywhere and leave it all aluminium.

I'm surprised Apple hasn't come up with some sort of elegant solution whereby it can charge via a smart connector (iPad pro-like) or wireless via the same connection i.e. older Magsafe/Qi chargers connect via magnet to allow wireless charging via the coils and updated Magsafe/Qi chargers connect using magnets to make contact with the smart connector, with said updated Magsafe/Qi chargers also able to charge non-smart connector phones wirelessly.

In fact, perhaps Apple could embed the smart connector pins in a metallic Apple logo (one in the body and one in the leaf)!.

 

[Ctrlos]

I dug my iPhone 6 out the other day and cannot wait to have a return to a lighter aluminium chassis. Should also mean less broken backplates on the odd knock too. If they colour it as one to hide the glass I think it will look very slick.

 

[kiranmk2]

So should every case have a connector instead of magnet hidden inside?

Why not - it would just be a metallic connector going through the case in a specific location?

 

[JohnRckr]

Hideous..
Wonder how they will market going back to aluminium after how they hyped Titanium.
Keeping my 15PM for a long time, then switching to Android.

 

[Rhhk]

So what was all the fuss about titanium 1-2 years ago then? Was it… the absence of anything else? 🤨

 

[mdnz]

So what was all the fuss about titanium 1-2 years ago then? Was it… the absence of anything else? 🤨

There was nothing else new so you have to come up with something...

 

[bradman83]

Why is this? (MacRumors – a little more detail would have been interesting/useful here).

What properties does aluminium have that allows for richer colours, that titanium doesn't have?

Aluminum and titanium respond differently to the anodization process. Titanium is less of an electrical conductor than aluminum so it doesn't anodize as easily.

Second is that the oxidation layers created by the anodization process behave differently in aluminum versus titanium. The aluminum oxide layer readily bonds to dyes so it can be used for a wide variety of colors (hence the bright options for the base model iPhones). The oxide layer formed on titanium does not readily accept dyes, but the thickness of the oxide layer refracts light in different ways and can be used to create different colors based on the voltage used. Most of these colors will be relatively muted (think of the gold and blue options of the 16 Pro and 15 Pro).

Below is an example of the colors that could be achieved on titanium depending on the voltage used during anodization. (Note the flash likely makes the colors look brighter)

 

[BorisDG]

This is 100% some dummy, which is used by vendors to make cases...

 

[Taq'aix]

The iPhone 23 will be made of cardboard because it’s roughly 40% lighter than aluminum.

 

[Saturn1217]

Everyone is focused on the weight reduction of aluminum compared to titanium.

Based on this leak, it seems clear the true weight reduction will be aluminum vs glass. And I’m all for it.

 

[MrRom92]

I don’t know why everyone wants a lighter phone. It’s a phone. We’re debating something that weighs half a pound at the absolute most. What are you, a mouse?

 

[orbital~debris]

Aluminum and titanium respond differently to the anodization process. Titanium is less of an electrical conductor than aluminum so it doesn't anodize as easily.

Second is that the oxidation layers created by the anodization process behave differently in aluminum versus titanium. The aluminum oxide layer readily bonds to dyes so it can be used for a wide variety of colors (hence the bright options for the base model iPhones). The oxide layer formed on titanium does not readily accept dyes, but the thickness of the oxide layer refracts light in different ways and can be used to create different colors based on the voltage used. Most of these colors will be relatively muted (think of the gold and blue options of the 16 Pro and 15 Pro).

Ah many thanks, @bradman83 – that's really interesting and exactly the kind of response I hoped someone more knowledgeable on such matters would contribute 😊

Side note: thinking about what you said about the colours & metals, and now that the days appear to be numbered for the titanium iPhone Pro, I'm now picturing how cool a new 'iMac Pro' (with current Apple industrial design language) could look in a muted dark colour titanium case design – with frosted glass front…

 

[jdclifford]

It’s so great that they’re charging us more for a downgraded, less premium product. Thank you Tim!

Trump Tariffs more to blame.

 

[svish]

A long time since aluminum was used. Looks like there is not much glass left. It should still feel good holding. The color infused glass or just the color through the glass felt unique. Think Titanium will make a comeback for the foldable.

 

[vyspirit]

It will be similar to the camera module on the iPad Pro M4.