iPhone 17 Pro Can’t believe Apple released an iPhone Pro that feels this cheap.

[joshwithachance]

Once aluminum came into focus, people on here started with the 'looks cheap, feels cheap' kinda of rhetoric.

It's not rhetoric, it's fact. Aluminum is a much softer, cheaper and less durable metal than titanium and stainless steel.

 

[MaxVerstappen]

It's not rhetoric, it's fact. Aluminum is a much softer, cheaper and less durable metal than titanium and stainless steel.

Indeed.

When it comes to price:

Titanium > Steel > Aluminium

I thought this was a well known fact.

 

[Abazigal]

Well, I guess we have our answer. The problem is that aluminium does not anodise well at sharp corners, so there will be edges where the paint comes off super-easy. Either way, be prepared to use a case.

 

[ThailandToo]

Actually I will say it appears that the iPhone 17 Pro is holding up way better in drops than last years 16 Pro. This video shows several drops from varying heights comparing the new 17 Pro to last years 16 Pro and the 17 Pro holds up better in all areas over the 16 Pro except superficial scratches and some small dents to the aluminum frame.

The 17 Pro screen never breaks and the back of the 17 Pro looks really good after higher drops compared to the 16 Pro that has it back glass crack and shatter. Not to mention the 16 Pro screen shatter after just two drops and the 17 Pro screen never shatters, even drops from over the guys head.

I am not saying that the 17 Pro doesn't scratch easier than the 16 Pro because it possibly does, but in a more practical sense the 17 Pro does seem to be more durable than past iPhone Pro models.

Watch the everything Apple pro video. You will see that even from four feet the display corner got dented and chipped the very edge. The other thing the guy does is the same as Apple did in their video with the iPhone swinging through a bunch of falling nails and etc and that broke it in this guy’s test. Aluminum is actually cheaper to use than plastic! It’s a poor material for durability even though it’s great for heat dissipation. I would say Apple should include a case and advise everyone use it. Heavy iPhone made from aluminum doesn’t make sense.

 

[aevan]

Walked into the Apple Store and every Orange/Blue 17 Pro Max on display was already scratched up with MagSafe rings. I got the Silver, and honestly, the Pro feels ridiculously cheap in hand. This is the first iPhone Pro that doesn’t feel like a Pro at all. On top of that, Apple’s marketing is completely misleading they hype it as some kind of ‘invincible’ phone, but the reality couldn’t be further from that. Totally disappointed this year

After decades of aluminium phones and aluminium premium pro products (such as MacBook Pros and iPad Pros), this year the material became cheap and flimsy.

Law of internet relativity.

 

[JuanAntonioA]

Love my 17 Pro Silver. Love iOS 26 even more.

I would have preferred titanium but Apple made their decision and most likely it is a good call for a reason or two.

Love the fact that it is a single piece of aluminum like a MacBook. I never use MagSafe, I would love the phone even more if it didn’t need the cutout for the charging coil, etc.

 

[ShadowGuardian87]

Well, I guess we have our answer. The problem is that aluminium does not anodise well at sharp corners, so there will be edges where the paint comes off super-easy. Either way, be prepared to use a case.

It sucks that it scratches easily but I'm glad it sill passed the durability test. Cosmetic damage isn't a focus so much for me, more so that the screen, back glass, and internals all can still function after a few drops.

 

[Golf7-R]

Indeed.

When it comes to price:

Titanium > Steel > Aluminium

I thought this was a well known fact.

But the amount of titanium in the previous model was so small. Apple now even uses more aluminium than before due to the unibody. Less glass more metal!

 

[sevoneone]

Going from a 12 Pro to a 14 Pro to a 17 Pro, I’ll agree the 17 Pro does not feel as premium as the polished stainless steel bodies of the past. Especially the 12 Pro, definitely the most elegant since the switch to 3 cameras.

But, in terms of just overall feel and build quality, the aluminum of the 17 feels pretty identical to the few times I tried the titanium 15/16 Pro to me.

 

[acblue94]

Walked into the Apple Store and every Orange/Blue 17 Pro Max on display was already scratched up with MagSafe rings. I got the Silver, and honestly, the Pro feels ridiculously cheap in hand. This is the first iPhone Pro that doesn’t feel like a Pro at all. On top of that, Apple’s marketing is completely misleading they hype it as some kind of ‘invincible’ phone, but the reality couldn’t be further from that. Totally disappointed this year

This is why the Air came out. The Pro was to be a rigged pro model. And the air was just modern and beautiful. Funny thing the pro in the pro isn’t that much more of a pro ahead of the Air.

 

[acblue94]

You just have to appreciate the engineering that’s the brain

8x and wide on the camera and 1 extra GPU?

 

[acblue94]

I have exclusively charged every pro since MagSafe came out via MagSafe nightly, caseless. I’ve never had any semblance of any permanent markings from doing so. I presume that will continue with my air.

The ring comes right off with a rag.

 

[outlawarth]

The blind naivity of the iFaithful is a mystery to me sometimes. All I needed was 10 seconds in the Apple Store to realize how less of a premium the 17 Pro feels when compared to my 14 Pro Max.

 

[bueller11]

If the 17 is performing as it should, that means you knowing the phone has aluminum triggered you into believing something is inherently wrong with the phone when there isn't a problem.

lol what? The phone looks and feels cheap in hand. If premium is defined by materials and performance then it is not as premium as my 15 pro max or Air. Why is that difficult to comprehend?

 

[nelle douville]

Would folks be willing to pay say $250 more for the phone to have a different heat dissipation system and materials? I suspect not. These are powerful devices that generate a lot of heat that must be dealt with.

It's easy to criticise the choices Apple made, and yes, it is not above criticism. I just think that Apple made the right choice out of those available.

 

[Htsi]

Real simple to differentiate between titanium and aluminum.
I have it on Mac and iPad. Did not want it on phone so went with air. Need a durable phone. All these aluminum devices are trash after the first dent inducing drop.

The worst was the 12 Pro, literally no clue what was better about it apart from 5G and the new design compared to the 11 Pro.

I upgraded from 11P to 12P.
The 6GB Ram, MagSafe, and LiDAR were humongous upgrades. Design was worse, 11 pro still most comfy.

 

[Htsi]

Would folks be willing to pay say $250 more for the phone to have a different heat dissipation system and materials? I suspect not. These are powerful devices that generate a lot of heat that must be dealt with.

It's easy to criticise the choices Apple made, and yes, it is not above criticism. I just think that Apple made the right choice out of those available.

Yes that’s what we’ve been doing all these years to get stainless steel or titanium. Hell, it’s true for the watch with sapphire screen and steel/Ti frame too. 2x the base model cost only for metal.

 

[Apple_Robert]

lol what? The phone looks and feels cheap in hand. If premium is defined by materials and performance then it is not as premium as my 15 pro max or Air. Why is that difficult to comprehend?

Will you be returning your new phone for a refund?

 

[wickedrm]

It’s so funny to see people here say that the Pro model moving from titanium to aluminum doesn’t make it less premium, and in the same breath say that the Air being titanium makes it premium.

 

[MaxVerstappen]

lol what? The phone looks and feels cheap in hand. If premium is defined by materials and performance then it is not as premium as my 15 pro max or Air. Why is that difficult to comprehend?

Well said. I wouldn’t say it feels cheap in hand, but it just doesn’t feel as nice or as premium as titanium or steel. I think most people would agree.

 

[Thor_9]

100% disagree. The 17 PM is a great phone.

 

[nelle douville]

Yes that’s what we’ve been doing all these years to get stainless steel or titanium. Hell, it’s true for the watch with sapphire screen and steel/Ti frame too. 2x the base model cost only for metal.

Apple wants to move phones, not cater to a small special class that can afford whatever a money-is-no-object phone would cost. I imagine the first considerations are the dissipation of heat and the materials necessary to do so. Second are production costs and retail pricing. Third are durability and aesthetics.

They will learn from how this product performs, as a good company should.

 

[Golf7-R]

Well said. I wouldn’t say it feels cheap in hand, but it just doesn’t feel as nice or as premium as titanium or steel. I think most people would agree.

I do not agree. Feels much better than the iPhone 15/16 pro. Finally that glass around the lenses is gone. Always full of dust and impossible to clean.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yeah BUT you always said the pros were over priced and not worth the extra $$, now your Mrs is buying them, happy wife happy life eh 😂

I’ve had a couple of Pro’s too but they are overpriced for sure.

I was going ask how you know I’ve ‘always’ said that considering we’ve never interacted before and you’ve only been here since April, but realise who you are now. Welcome back once again, and remember, behave yourself 😉

 

[MaxVerstappen]

I do not agree. Feels much better than the iPhone 15/16 pro. Finally that glass around the lenses is gone. Always full of dust and impossible to clean.

Cotton buds is your friend. Makes it well easy to clean around the lenses.