Report: iPhone 14 Pro Models to Feature Tough Titanium Alloy Chassis

[transpo1]

yup. I saw this and looked at my iPhone SE (2016) and said "I may not buy another iPhone ever again. This could be my last iPhone forever." #CameraBump

Geez, how hard can it be? They did flat backs for nearly 10 years. I see iPhones on TV and in displays and they look absolutely awful. Every iPhone you see on a staged ad, the iPhone is face down. They KNOW it is a problem. So much for that "relentless focus" Steve had. Dude dies, and so does logical design. Maybe he really was the one person holding it all together there after all.

sigh....

I agree that Steve’s relentless focus made for better products overall And tighter design. Miss that guy.

I also appreciate having a better camera on my phone, too, though, and I don’t think there’s any other way to put these lenses into a Pro Max without the bump unless you make the phone less useable (i.e. even thicker, heavier) than it is now. They keep the phones thinner with the camera bump so they’re more easily usable in the hand. One day, maybe we won’t have to deal with the bump or the notch

FWIW

 

[twistedpixel8]

yes, PLEASE. Titanium is so much better than stainless steel.

My AW6 is titanium and I think it’s really nice looking. I’d absolutely like a matching iPhone. I’ve always loved titanium. Beautiful metal.

 

[GM…]

most won’t wait.

They are the ones making technology affordable for those willing to wait.

 

[Shirasaki]

What does this matter when most people use cases anyway? Pretty soon we will be lugging around 1000 gram bullet proof iphones in our front pockets for no reason.

They should focus on making them LIGHTER and with BETTER BATTERY LIFE.

Most people AROUND YOU may use cases but there’s still tons outside who does not. And lighter with better battery life? Another iPhone 6 Plus bend gate?

 

[retroneo]

The Titanium PowerBook G4 was not nearly as scratch resistant as the anodised Aluminum MacBooks.

 

[pcd213]

Oooooooo yes! My only question is will it feel premium given the lighter weight. When you hold an iPhone 12 and an iPhone 12 Pro, the extra weight of the stainless steel makes it feel more premium, more substantial, less of a toy.

 

[rp100]

Only the iPhone 12 Pros have a stainless steel frame. The regular 12s are aluminum and will likely stay that way for cost reasons. Apple has no great reason to change to Ti other than the mass of the Pro models getting uncomfortable.

I would expect the pros to get a decent bump in price due to material increases and general inflation. For that matter, don’t be shocked if Apple hits the entire line-up with a price increase this fall.

 

[mook]

Oh yes please, anything to make this thing lighter! The increase in weight of iPhones over the years has been one of their least desirable features.

 

[Premium1]

What does this matter when most people use cases anyway? Pretty soon we will be lugging around 1000 gram bullet proof iphones in our front pockets for no reason.

They should focus on making them LIGHTER and with BETTER BATTERY LIFE.

Agree. If anything, focus on the glass and screen so that it doesn't break/scratch so easily. They always claim the glass is x times stronger every year yet it continues to scratch at the same hardness year in and year out.

 

[anthorumor]

Remember when they used to make Ti PowerBooks?

 

[Mrjetsondc]

Wasn’t the T 800 made of titanium??

Skynet will be active soon

 

[satchmo]

2022: iPhone Edition with Titanium
2023: Hermès leather case
2024: iPhone Edition with 18K Gold

Maybe throw in the different variants of Titanium as well. And Ceramic.
But yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if they simply took a page from the Apple Watch playbook.

 

[unsynaps]

Nice to see the iPad Mini's are getting these new features. /s

 

[unsynaps]

What does this matter when most people use cases anyway? Pretty soon we will be lugging around 1000 gram bullet proof iphones in our front pockets for no reason.

They should focus on making them LIGHTER and with BETTER BATTERY LIFE.

I spot a non American.

 

[GM…]

Oh yes please, anything to make this thing lighter! The increase in weight of iPhones over the years has been one of their least desirable features.

The iPhone SE, on the contrary, is too light. An increase in weight (due to a larger battery) would be welcome.

 

[farkleboy]

Seems like the metal frame of the phone isn't really the problem. I've never seen the frame shatter from a drop.

 

[Aco Isiglis]

Still don’t trust myself to bring a device with no case. I would still slap an Otterbox case on it.

Much prefer they research indestructible screens. I think that’s way more useful.

 

[Simon89]

Seems like an expensive pointless change

 

[anshuvorty]

This sounds more and more like the iPhones released this year will be of the “iPhone 12s” variety, while next year, we will see more substantial upgrades, making the iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 naming more apt.

 

[mixel]

Titanium alloy sounds great. Actual meaningful upgrade!

Seems to me like maybe they'll cycle the mini models in and out of "current" existence until the majority of people who need/want them have the latest one then not update it while the upgradephiles who want the biggest/best go crazy at the high end. For most of it's customers the mini doesnt need to always be there in "latest hardware" form, just there enough to not be obsolete at any given moment? (and if they can continue selling a year or two without the latest chips it can get cheaper too?)

 

[Chambers McMac]

Gonna wait for the iPhone 15 instead

That’s nice but I think I’ll wait for when the iPhone 18 comes out and by a refurbished iPhone 16

 

[tedley]

Hello $2K iPhone!!

 

[mscice]

no point in buying iPhone 13 then

 

[jmgregory1]

I‘m not updating from my 12 Pro Max this year, but will definitely upgrade to a titanium version if released next year. I love the look and hand feel of titanium and it would be a great metal to go case-less.

 

[VulchR]

There is already a bunch of titanium alloy equipment being sold for hiking - sporks and other eating implements, miniature stoves, cups, pans, and even pack frames. It is more expensive but not outrageously so for small items. It would be interesting to see what the advantages and disadvantages are if they offer this for the iPhone.

In any case, I would like Apple to put out an indestructible iPhone specifically designed for active outdoor use (shockproof, waterproof, highly optimised GPS, a huge battery so that GPS can track all day, and possibly satellite connectivity (I can dream, can't I?)). And for god's sake I hope they get rid of that butt-ugly notch that constrains the amount of information that can be displayed in the status bar (like whether or not you have successfully connected to a VPN, a requirement for my work).