Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
It is also not clear why Apple is apparently returning to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models, but Gurman says it could be for weight and heat dissipation benefits.
It’s not clear? It is cheaper!!! And to be honest: the titanium frame feels and looks exactly like an aluminium frame. That were my first thoughts when I got my iPhone 15 pro max.
 
I miss the X so much, I wish Apple would make another just like it, but I doubt it. That thing got looks, design, form, function, the feel of it in your hand especially without a case, it felt like something Steve Jobs would have approved of.
 
Different rumors seeming to confirm each other isn’t solving or revealing anything. We’ll know come Tuesday when the phones are announced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SFjohn
The switch to titanium from aluminum for the iPhone 15 was a notable drop in weight:

iPhone ModelWeight (grams)
iPhone X174
iPhone 11 Pro188
iPhone 12 Pro189
iPhone 13 Pro204
iPhone 14 Pro206
iPhone 15 Pro187
iPhone 16 Pro199
Wrong. It went from stainless steel to titanium.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brucemr
The switch to titanium from aluminum for the iPhone 15 was a notable drop in weight:

iPhone ModelWeight (grams)
iPhone X174
iPhone 11 Pro188
iPhone 12 Pro189
iPhone 13 Pro204
iPhone 14 Pro206
iPhone 15 Pro187
iPhone 16 Pro199

It was a switch from steel to titanium.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brucemr
There were certain developments in the mobile phone industry that I never understood:
-heavier feels more premium
-glass is a fantastic material for the entire back of your phone
-squared edges of phone feel ergonomic
-we need 3-4 different camera lenses in a phone and make a huge camera bump
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blrzz
‘It is also not clear why Apple is apparently returning to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models’

Not hard to figure out MacRumors. Aluminum is significantly cheaper than Titanium.
 
You know what, hopefully buying a new family car soon and was looking forward to a designated area for wireless charging our iPhones – I hadn't even realised the camera bump would likely prevent charging from working in the car.

I guess I'll be looking for a MagSafe charging mount, soon, too…
A case can mitigate this problem, as it extends the thinner part of the phone to the thickness of the camera bump.

Of course, then your phone is also not as thin as it was. So pick your poison.
 
My personal conspiracy theory is that some of these leaks are intentional from Apple. They prepare the public well in advance for upcoming design changes. This gives people enough time to go from 'this is the ugliest iPhone ever' to 'meh, looks bad' to 'I use a case anyway,' so by the time of the official keynote, nobody is really bothered anymore.
Or the leaks make the phone look worse than it actually is so people aren’t bothered by the real thing. This is my theory.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SFjohn
‘It is also not clear why Apple is apparently returning to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models’

Not hard to figure out MacRumors. Aluminum is significantly cheaper than Titanium.
The percentage of titanium is negligible. It’s marketing. There was a YouTuber that melted down the chassis and exposed the scam. It’s an “Apple intelligence” kind of scam
 
I don't think Gurman is the one that "solved" the mystery. I mean if you took the report that the Information reported and looked at the photo, it's pretty obvious. Again, Gurman is no insider or better at predicting Apple products then your average Macrumors reader.
 


Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 series in just four days from now, and the biggest design mystery surrounding the Pro models has finally been solved.

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

In a report outlining his expectations for Apple's event next week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPhone 17 Pro models will have "a new cutout area on the bottom two-thirds of the phone that doubles as the wireless charging area."

Last year, The Information reported that the back of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max would feature "a new part-aluminum, part-glass design." However, it was not entirely clear what this design would look like, leading to rumor blogs and graphic designers creating differing concept images and 3D renders of the devices.

MacRumors renders of the iPhone 17 Pro showed a rounded rectangle area on the back of the device, and Gurman's report makes it sound like this is indeed the design that Apple has planned. The reason for this rectangular glass area is wireless charging like MagSafe and Qi, which would not be possible with an all-aluminum back.

It is still not entirely clear if the glass and aluminum will have a uniform color, or if Apple will opt for a two-tone appearance around the MagSafe area.

It is also not clear why Apple is apparently returning to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models, but Gurman says it could be for weight and heat dissipation benefits. iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro models have a stainless steel frame, while the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models are equipped with titanium frames.

Any lingering questions will be answered during Apple's event on Tuesday.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro's Biggest Design Mystery is Finally Solved
Done! Everything’s revealed.. Can we talk about the upcoming iPhone Fold please?
 
The switch to titanium from aluminum for the iPhone 15 was a notable drop in weight:

iPhone ModelWeight (grams)
iPhone X174
iPhone 11 Pro188
iPhone 12 Pro189
iPhone 13 Pro204
iPhone 14 Pro206
iPhone 15 Pro187
iPhone 16 Pro199
No, the weight reduction did not come from switching from aluminum to titanium, but from stainless steel to titanium.
 


Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 series in just four days from now, and the biggest design mystery surrounding the Pro models has finally been solved.

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

In a report outlining his expectations for Apple's event next week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPhone 17 Pro models will have "a new cutout area on the bottom two-thirds of the phone that doubles as the wireless charging area."

Last year, The Information reported that the back of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max would feature "a new part-aluminum, part-glass design." However, it was not entirely clear what this design would look like, leading to rumor blogs and graphic designers creating differing concept images and 3D renders of the devices.

MacRumors renders of the iPhone 17 Pro showed a rounded rectangle area on the back of the device, and Gurman's report makes it sound like this is indeed the design that Apple has planned. The reason for this rectangular glass area is wireless charging like MagSafe and Qi, which would not be possible with an all-aluminum back.

It is still not entirely clear if the glass and aluminum will have a uniform color, or if Apple will opt for a two-tone appearance around the MagSafe area.

It is also not clear why Apple is apparently returning to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models, but Gurman says it could be for weight and heat dissipation benefits. iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro models have a stainless steel frame, while the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models are equipped with titanium frames.

Any lingering questions will be answered during Apple's event on Tuesday.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro's Biggest Design Mystery is Finally Solved
There must be loads of chargers that doesn't work on though. Like if you have one in your car.
At the moment, you just lay it down on the pad and it charges but with that phone you'll have to make sure the top is facing you and hanging off the edge otherwise it won't lay flat and won't charge.
It looks like it's going to stick out a long way and maybe even fall off.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.