Choosing materials for a device like a phone is not so simplistic as the article very unfortunately implied.I vastly prefer steel or titanium for a premium phone. Why would they switch to an inferior material?
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.I vastly prefer steel or titanium for a premium phone. Why would they switch to an inferior material?
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.iPhone 17 Air will outsell BOTH Pro models combined.
So the differences between the 17 and 17 pro will be a rectangular “bar” with one more camera?
Zune brown, here we come!Perhaps we will see more vibrant color options. The titanium models have been very muted.
The return of Product Red would be possible, something which I read wasn’t possible with titanium.Perhaps we will see more vibrant color options. The titanium models have been very muted.
I would prefer a burnt orange or as I would like Apple to call it, Sunset Orange.Zune brown, here we come!
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."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?
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.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.
Don’t give the bean counters ideas!Paper mâché would be lighter still.![]()
Would you like another mini model?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.
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.I vastly prefer steel or titanium for a premium phone. Why would they switch to an inferior material?
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.It is going to be a new grade/kind of aluminum. (well it is going to be labeled as such)
"You are going to love it!"