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iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

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Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models.

iphone-17-pro-asherdipps.jpg

In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with aluminum frames. Interestingly, though, he expects Apple's rumored iPhone 17 Air model to have a titanium frame.

This would be a notable change for the Pro models, as all of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have titanium frames, resulting in the devices weighing less than iPhone 14 Pro models with heavier stainless steel frames.

Aluminum frames were already rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models once before.

Pu said Apple plans to use aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro models due to environmental considerations. Aluminum generally has a lower carbon footprint compared to titanium, and Apple is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality for all of its products and supply chain by 2030. Following in the footsteps of the Apple Watch, and the latest Mac mini, perhaps some iPhone 17 models will be advertised as Apple's first carbon-neutral iPhones.

It is unclear why the iPhone 17 Air would have a titanium frame, as aluminum is lighter than titanium, which would be fitting for the device's thin and light design. We may have a partial explanation, though. Last year, fellow Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air's frame would use a mix of titanium and aluminum, with a lower amount of titanium compared to the iPhone 15 Pro models. Apple surely has its reasons here, so hopefully we will find out more details before the iPhone 17 series is unveiled in September.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/18/iphone-17-pro-models-aluminum-frame-rumor/
"It is unclear why the iPhone 17 Air would have a titanium frame..."

Well, let's see, titanium bends less easily than aluminum, and the iPhone "air" is going to be particularly thin, where rigidity and resistance to bending might be a particular concern, so might that perhaps be the very non-mysterious reason?
 
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I don’t really believe this report, but even if I did, it doesn’t change anything anyway.
The only part of the iPhone Pro currently that is actually titanium is a tiny thin strip along the outside of the phones that’s bonded to… A much bigger strip of aluminum.
So it basically already is aluminum, in all the ways that actually matter.
 
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Apple probably switched to Titanium for marketing purposes only.

Realistically, most people can't tell the difference between iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and 16 Pro. It made sense back in 2022/2023 as a differentiating factor. Now that the camera layout has been changed, there's no reason to use Ti.

For max weight savings, you'll want aluminum. The Air is likely too thin and not strong enough to use only Al.
 
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Aluminum is objectively the best metal for a phone. It's light, strong, easy to manufacture, and dissipates heat better than any other material for the same density. Stainless and titanium were used for marketing purposes only. The stainless steel was far too heavy, and titanium is just a more expensive and more difficult material.
 
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MacRumors said:


Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models.

iphone-17-pro-asherdipps.jpg

In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with aluminum frames. Interestingly, though, he expects Apple's rumored iPhone 17 Air model to have a titanium frame.

This would be a notable change for the Pro models, as all of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have titanium frames, resulting in the devices weighing less than iPhone 14 Pro models with heavier stainless steel frames.

Aluminum frames were already rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models once before.

Pu said Apple plans to use aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro models due to environmental considerations. Aluminum generally has a lower carbon footprint compared to titanium, and Apple is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality for all of its products and supply chain by 2030. Following in the footsteps of the Apple Watch, and the latest Mac mini, perhaps some iPhone 17 models will be advertised as Apple's first carbon-neutral iPhones.

It is unclear why the iPhone 17 Air would have a titanium frame, as aluminum is lighter than titanium, which would be fitting for the device's thin and light design. We may have a partial explanation, though. Last year, fellow Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air's frame would use a mix of titanium and aluminum, with a lower amount of titanium compared to the iPhone 15 Pro models. Apple surely has its reasons here, so hopefully we will find out more details before the iPhone 17 series is unveiled in September.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame
Click to expand...
Sorry MR posted the verbiage "It is unclear why the iPhone 17 Air would have a titanium frame, as aluminum is lighter than titanium," because it feeds into the engineering errors many readers are already prone to jump to. Neither pure aluminum nor pure titanium are used in frames: only alloys are used. MR driving thinking to the pure metals is deceivingly wrong.

Titanium alloy is used in frames because it can be stronger and lighter than an equivalent aluminum alloy used in similar frames might be. The weights of the pure raw metals are not what are relevant.
 
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Lounge vibes 05 said:
I don’t really believe this report, but even if I did, it doesn’t change anything anyway.
The only part of the iPhone Pro currently that is actually titanium is a tiny thin strip along the outside of the phones that’s bonded to… A much bigger strip of aluminum.
So it basically already is aluminum, in all the ways that actually matter.
Click to expand...
You described the frame "The only part of the iPhone Pro currently that is actually titanium is a tiny thin strip along the outside of the phones that’s bonded to…" Which is exactly what titanium alloys excel at.
 
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