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iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame
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Choosing materials for a device like a phone is not so simplistic as the article very unfortunately implied.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I think the part going across the back (like Pixel phone) can be great... but I just don't get preserving the triangular layout too. Raised strip with- if necessary- raised lenses in a row at each end, one more camera and flash, etc in-between and wobble is mostly addressed. Not sure why this phone would need the raised platform too. Maybe camera lenses alone hanging off of an even "thinner" body is just too ugly... so disguise that a bit with the platform taking up some of the depth???
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Weight would be a serious consideration. My “heavy” 14 Pro with stainless steel is 206g. The 16 Pro even with titanium is almost 200g. It’s possible that the 17 Pro prototype with titanium was getting too close to or hitting 206g. Going back to aluminum may have been Apple’s only option to keep the weight in check.
The stainless steel was my personal favorite and looked the most premium, but those Pro Max models were indeed quite heavy. Titanium is better than aluminum though -- aluminum scratches very easily.
I think for a lot of people, the decision to get the “Air” over the Pro models will come down to how much of a downgrade the single lens camera is. It might sell well if Apple finds a way to make the camera significantly more capable than the camera on the new SE model. One possible way would be to add a mechanical aperture which would be a first for the iPhone.
In terms of aesthetics alone, it made no sense to switch to from SS to Ti. Ti feels and looks exactly like Al. And Ti had coating issues that SS and Al didn't. The only benefit was really weight but they could've just stuck with Al and that would've been lighter than SS too. Just a dumb move by a CEO that isn't a product person.
I'll never forget this post by #Mrkevinfinnerty :
It's only a matter of time before we see a plastic iPhone (again).
I'll never forget this post by #Mrkevinfinnerty :
"While Jobs was jousting with the audience Tim was imagining what the margins would be if the new iPod was made out of wood."
It's only a matter of time before we see a plastic iPhone (again).
Everything about this phone seems ugly and stupid. How did we go from titanium being a touted selling point to be taken away completely? The 15 Pro was the last sensible phone Apple made without useless bells, whistles, or omissions. Planning to keep it another few years at least.
Larger display, faster processor, probably larger sensor size.
Nobody really bought iPhone 15/16 Pro for the weight. If they wanted a lightweight device, it would have been the regular model because it's still 10-15% lighter due to use of aluminum.
The return of Product Red would be possible, something which I read wasn’t possible with titanium.
I would prefer a burnt orange or as I would like Apple to call it, Sunset Orange.
I wonder if the titanium 15/16 Pros were meant as a test platform for manufacturing titanium frames for the future Air, which may be more difficult due to their thinner frame.
The bigger problem here is the choices Apple makes about the dimensions of the phone. They make them larger and fill that extra space making the phone heavier. I'd have preferred for the 16 Pro to get smaller bezels and smaller case size over an even larger phone ad they did in the end.
Ti has definitely been my favorite material. It's way stronger than Al without adding much weight. I reckon I notice it more than most people because I don't use a case. That said, I appreciate the thermals and lower weight of Al enough to not really care at the end of the day. Just don't go back to steel... it was getting too heavy at these sizes.
On another note, I really hope those renders aren't true. Oof.
On another note, I really hope those renders aren't true. Oof.
I'm more worried about the surface treatment than the material. Please don't bring back polished metal.
Don’t give the bean counters ideas!Paper mâché would be lighter still.
Aluminum is fine with me. As long as it’s not that awful polished aluminum like on the Pixel.
I mean, it's a really poor design change for the sake of it (presumably to align with the price flop that will be the 17 Air) but FFS, at the very least, they need to match the colour of the camera array area to the rest of the phone. Otherwise it looks like an obvious nod to the Dynamic Island on the display side.
You can say what you like about Jony Ive but at least he had some clear design credentials. This just looks like a bunch of recent former STEM interns have churned out this crap, hence the awful aesthetics.
As for the switch back to aluminium again, it's obviously to save money.
You can say what you like about Jony Ive but at least he had some clear design credentials. This just looks like a bunch of recent former STEM interns have churned out this crap, hence the awful aesthetics.
As for the switch back to aluminium again, it's obviously to save money.
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As a 14 Pro owner, I hope stainless steel doesn’t make a comeback and I have a feeling it won’t based on the weight and complaints that Apple got for that. When I first tried out the 15 Pro in the Apple Store, I was thinking maybe I should’ve waited one more year to replace my 12 Pro. I’m okay with the aluminum “downgrade” because I think with titanium, the 17 Pro would’ve been too close in weight to my 14 Pro. Other than the weight, my 14 Pro has been great and trouble free.
No doubt you were just trying to be cute. But the fact is that pure aluminum is far too soft to be used in a phone frame, so alloys are always used. Various different compositions of metal and various different heat treatments; then form factor further impacts the frame performance. Yes Apple will likely proclaim the benefits of whatever alloys are used.