Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple to Keep Titanium Chassis for iPhone 17 Pro Models, Claims Leaker

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,244
39,048


Next year's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a titanium chassis just like the current Pro models, contrary to reports of Apple adopting aluminum across its 2025 lineup, claims the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital."

iphone-16-pro-models-1.jpg

Last month, The Information's Wayne Ma reported that Apple's two flagship ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro models would be the first high-end iPhones to feature an aluminum frame since the delineation of the iPhone lineup into Pro and non-Pro models.

Prior to the iPhone 15 Pro, high-end ‌iPhone‌ models used stainless steel frames. Then Apple introduced a titanium chassis to the iPhone 15 Pro, touting it as a major upgrade. However, Ma reports that with the ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup, Apple is planning to transition the entire range of devices back to aluminum.

Instant Digital doesn't agree, though. "Of course the iPhone 17 Pro will still use titanium," said the leaker in a Weibo post (machine translation). "Why would anyone believe it would switch to aluminum? Think about it — it's just not possible. Looking back at recent iPhone models, Apple has consistently emphasized the premium frame materials of the Pro series as one of its key selling points, from 'surgical-grade stainless steel' to 'titanium.' If they switched to aluminum, how could they even market it?"

It's unclear if the Weibo leaker has supply chain information to back up their claim, but as a standalone argument, it's not particularly water-tight. The Information's Ma reported that the switch to aluminum is part of a major design change that includes an aluminum upper back with a "rectangular camera bump made of aluminum rather than traditional 3D glass," with the bottom half of the device's back continuing to be made of glass to support wireless charging.

Apple is also no stranger to touting breakthrough iPhone features only to remove them in later models. In 2015, for example, 3D Touch was introduced with the iPhone 6s as a revolutionary way to interact with the iPhone through pressure-sensitive gestures like Peek and Pop. Apple unceremoniously ditched 3D Touch and the capacitive sensors that enabled it with the iPhone 11 in 2019.

iphone-15-pro-titanium-ad.jpg

Instant Digital has a mixed reputation for accuracy with Apple rumors but has delivered some notably precise predictions. These include the 2023 launch of the Yellow iPhone 14, the frosted back glass on the iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus, the Apple Watch Series 9 being a minor refresh, spatial video capture on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, the addition of a landscape front-facing camera to the iPad Air and iPad Pro, and the ‌iPad Pro‌'s nano-texture display option.

The iPhone 17 series is expected to launch as usual in the fall, with new display sizes, a rumored new ultra-thin model, ProMotion displays across the lineup, and more.

Article Link: Apple to Keep Titanium Chassis for iPhone 17 Pro Models, Claims Leaker
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/02/apple-to-use-titanium-chassis-iphone-17-pro/
Titanium is not environmentally friendly. We the Apple are very committed to the highest level of ESG, so we have decided to go back to using recycled aluminum.

One more thing: we want to take our ESG effort to the next level: no more usb-c cable included in the box! Please charge with Apple’s magsafe charger, sold separately.
 
  • Disagree
  • Haha
  • Angry
Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, eveluvsrainbows, RealE and 5 others
dannyyankou said:
They could still use a titanium frame, and at the same time use an aluminum and glass back. That would make it lighter at least.
Click to expand...

Titanium has pretty low thermal conductivity. As I understand it, the aluminum frame in the 16 carries away quite a bit of heat and titanium won't be able to do that.

I really care what they make it out of, personally, as long as it's lighter and not shiny like the 13 Pro. For myself, and the 90% of people who use a case, the edges are never felt beyond snapping it in.

...but if they want to go back to rounded sides, then I'm all for it!

Abazigal said:
I count the titanium body of the iPhone 15 as the start of a new design cycle.
Click to expand...

Really? I can't tell a 14, 15 or 16 apart from one another without holding and feeling them. Doesn't really seem like a new device cycle.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Tim Apple’s Glasses, DOD250, NoGood@Usernames and 2 others
ThinkDifferentTim said:
I don’t care about what it costs or if steel or titanium is more premium. It’s a phone and I hold it in my hands all day and the weight is what counts. And aluminum is the superior choice for that application. premium bikes and cars are made out of aluminum an not steel.
Click to expand...
if we are being to talk like that...then lets go F1 cars that are build from fibre-reinforced-composites
So...Apple should go that route? since it can be one of the best material for phone as well
 
  • Like
Reactions: SFjohn and BugeyeSTI
I tend to believe this... I thought last week's report of the pro going to the lower end aluminum was a bit odd.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SFjohn
Titanium? Aluminum? Maybe by the time the iPhone 20 (iPhone XX?) comes out, we can have ultra lightweight carbon fiber phones.😎
 
  • Like
Reactions: kamyk35
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back