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Interesting design choice and material being used. MacBook uses aluminum - so the question about premium material is up to one's perogative.
This might be the first year I give a break on the yearly iPhone upgrade.

But people don't tend to drop their MacBook when getting out of the car. And if they do there isn't really any downside to aluminum. It is going to the mac-hospital regardless.

I do wonder if "Bend-Gate will trend again". I remember people saying the first big iPhones bent when they sat on them. The first iPhone I ever owned was a used iPhone 6S+. But it didn't bend. I did bend an iPad, but that was in my backpack, I think. It still worked. It was just the first iPad with a curved display.

Hard to believe it was 1986 when it was released. I can't be that old, can I? ;)

I still say "Double Dumbass on You" -- ALL THE TIME!
 
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You guys gonna love the iPhone 20. Making it more lighter, more colour vibrant and more cash for Apple. Welcome plastic!
 
I gave a break last year cus I still don't see why anyone would buy a 16 pro who had a 15 pro. it offers nothing
Guilty as charged over here (haha).


Seriously, I naively wanted to only check the trade in value through Apple (15PM to 16PM). I didn’t realize that doing so would treat my inquiry as an order (even charged my card). I let it be and accidentally upgraded.


Even though there’s no ‘wow’ or game changing feature (the camera control is ‘meh’), it did address the prior’s overheating issues which was one less thing to worry about; and I like the bump in screen real estate. Overall, it’s a solid device with small improvements from the prior.
 
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Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year.

iPhone-17-Pro-in-Hand-Feature-Lowgo.jpg

In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum frame, with a glass section on the back of the devices to preserve MagSafe and Qi wireless charging support. This part-aluminum, part-glass design for iPhone 17 Pro models was previously reported by The Information's Wayne Ma, and it is now backed by an additional source.

Apple has continued to use aluminum frames for the lower-end iPhone models each year, including the latest iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The higher-end iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature titanium frames, so the return to aluminum for the Pro models would be a notable change. Instant Digital said the aluminum frame will be very thin, and they expect the iPhone 17 Pro models to feature ultra-thin bezels.

Aluminum is lighter and cheaper than titanium, but Apple's reasons for allegedly shifting back to the material are unknown at this point.

A previous rumor indicated that the all-new "iPhone 17 Air" model will still use a mix of titanium.

Instant Digital has more than 1.4 million followers on Weibo, and the account has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, like most sources, the account does not have a perfect track record.

Apple will announce the iPhone 17 series in September, so we will find out if and why the company returns to aluminum in a few more months.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision
I read the linked post and it did not state that 'have an aluminum frame, with a glass section on the back of the devices to preserve MagSafe and Qi wireless charging support." They only mentioned that the iPhone 17 will have an aluminum frame. Or did you link the wrong post?
 
Increasing profit margins is going to be another outcome due to this change. They are definitely not dropping any starting prices, that’s for sure.
 
Aluminum is only lighter than titanium at the same volume. It is heavier at the same strength.

That’s why the titanium phones became both slightly smaller and lighter. (They were still heavier than the regular because auf the extra bulk like cameras.)

With aluminum they still need the same strength, so they might become bigger again, and possibly even heavier.

(Alternatively, the frame will become bigger on the "inside", shrinking free space for batteries.)
Nope. Look at the Watches. We had them in all materials, and the aluminium ones were always the lightest.
 
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Aluminum is only lighter than titanium at the same volume. It is heavier at the same strength.

That’s why the titanium phones became both slightly smaller and lighter. (They were still heavier than the regular because auf the extra bulk like cameras.)

With aluminum they still need the same strength, so they might become bigger again, and possibly even heavier.

(Alternatively, the frame will become bigger on the "inside", shrinking free space for batteries.)
I totally missed this reply.

I know titanium is slightly stronger, but I don't think we have any real evidence that they'd need to use so much aluminium that the phone ends up heavier. It certainly didn't seem that way in the watch line (as others have pointed out).

Regardless, they could also have found a new design or technique that allows for less material without compromising strength, or they might be using a higher grade of aluminium that would reduce the drawbacks.

You might be right, the aluminium frame may end up being ever so slightly thicker, but that's all unfounded speculation at this point.
 
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I love titanium’s durability, but aluminum:

  • Is lighter
  • Has better thermals
  • Has the potential for a bigger variety of colors (especially saturated ones)
I’m very excited for this change. The thermals are my biggest complaint of my 15 Pro Max. And with the 17 Pro Max supposedly getting thicker, I’m hoping this offsets any weight gain.
 
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Probably two reasons for this, reduce cost with tariffs to prevent price increases and the phones have gotten really heavy. Titanium managed to mitigate the weight for a bit but they are still getting heavier and heavier.
 
Tim Cook to Apple designers: I want the Homer car in iPhone form.

Apple designers: say no more.
 
curious how apple plans to spin this “downgrade”
They probably won’t. If they do, maybe they’ll say aluminum works better with the new vapor chamber for improved cooling or something. Personally, I don’t have an issue with an aluminum phone. As someone with a heavy stainless steel 14 Pro, I look forward to the reduced weight.
 
Trump tariffs will reduce Apple's profits and/or increase prices, so I guess Apple is trying to cut corners here and there.
 
Not sure why people think this is a downgrade? The Pro phones were too heavy, lighter material is an upgrade.
I know some people don’t see a lighter phone as an upgrade, but I do. I think it was Apple’s fault for promoting titanium so heavily. Apple knew they had to make the Pro model lighter because the 16 Pro is close to 200g even with titanium. A 17 Pro prototype with titanium probably hit 200g or more with the new camera/vapor chamber component on top. My heavy stainless steel 14 Pro is 206g for reference. Aluminum was the only way.
 
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I know some people don’t see a lighter phone as an upgrade, but I do. I think it was Apple’s fault for promoting titanium so heavily. Apple knew they had to make the Pro model lighter because the 16 Pro was getting close to 200g even with titanium. My heavy stainless steel 14 Pro is 206g for reference. Aluminum was the only way.
I think people also get wrapped up "cool" or "premium" materials without really considering how it affects the end product. They assume a fancier metal must be better just because it's fancy, without considering the other tradeoffs it comes with.
 
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