Other Titanium iPhone?

[bobmans]

With Apple having released a titanium version of the Apple Watch last year and a titanium Apple Card it seems like Apple is exploring the possibility of bringing titanium to more Apple products.

Over the last few years iPhones have become thicker and therefore their weight increased a lot, some might even say the current stainless steel iPhones are too heavy for them. Titanium has the advantage of both being stronger and lighter than stainless steel with the only real drawback I can think of being that it's more expensive. Titanium is also very environment-friendly, althought the same can be said for Stainless Steel.

Do you think eventually they will replace the stainless steel iPhones with a titanium iPhone or do you think a titanium iPhone would be too expensive? Any drawbacks except price that you can think of why this wouldn't happen within the next few years?

 

[djlythium]

OMG, iPhone Edition Pro Max. ?? Nooooooo!

...I wouldnt put it past them, though.

 

[ericwn]

Given the huge amount of people complaining about scuffs whenever they bump their watch, I’d rather not have this on an iPhone.
Besides they explored Ti with the Powerbook G4, a looker at the time, with outright terrible durability especially when it came to the display hinges.

I’ll skip.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Better yet! Ceramic iPhone.

 

[Shadowbech]

Given the huge amount of people complaining about scuffs whenever they bump their watch, I’d rather not have this on an iPhone.
Besides they explored Ti with the Powerbook G4, a looker at the time, with outright terrible durability especially when it came to the display hinges.

I’ll skip.

I have the Space Black Titanium apple watch and I have banged it on wall couple of times and not even a single scratch and those blemishes came right off when I rubbed it. If Apple does come out with the titanium model for the iPHone, I'd definitely get it.

 

[1rottenapple]

With Apple having released a titanium version of the Apple Watch last year and a titanium Apple Card it seems like Apple is exploring the possibility of bringing titanium to more Apple products.

Over the last few years iPhones have become thicker and therefore their weight increased a lot, some might even say the current stainless steel iPhones are too heavy for them. Titanium has the advantage of both being stronger and lighter than stainless steel with the only real drawback I can think of being that it's more expensive. Titanium is also very environment-friendly, althought the same can be said for Stainless Steel.

Do you think eventually they will replace the stainless steel iPhones with a titanium iPhone or do you think a titanium iPhone would be too expensive? Any drawbacks except price that you can think of why this wouldn't happen within the next few years?

I would love that, but i'm afraid it will hit 2k territory. If they charge close to $900 for a titanium apple watch I can't imagine how much a phone will cost.

 

[eoblaed]

Given the huge amount of people complaining about scuffs whenever they bump their watch, I’d rather not have this on an iPhone.

I have the Space Black Titanium apple watch and I have banged it on wall couple of times and not even a single scratch and those blemishes came right off when I rubbed it.

I don’t know who these ‘huge amount of people’ are, but this is literally the first time I’ve heard of anyone complaining about it.

Now, mind you, I don’t hang out on the Apple Watch forum here (the forums have a tendency to be weighted strongly towards the complainers), but I know many folks with them and none of them have said a peep.

 

[dcpmark]

People that care about weight buy aluminum, which is 2/3 lighter than titanium....maybe they should make an aluminum iPhone??

 

[ignatius345]

Besides they explored Ti with the Powerbook G4, a looker at the time, with outright terrible durability especially when it came to the display hinges.

I remember that hinge issue, and it was a very expensive machine too. But to be fair did that have anything to do with the titanium or was it just a poor design?

 

[ignatius345]

I'm gonna catch hell for this but I'll throw it out there anyway: I'd be happy with a phone made out of really good quality polycarbonate or some super durable plastic. Not brittle, but one of those plastics like Dysons use that's extremely impact resistant -- maybe with a stiff metal frame inside to protect the components. Something tough enough to handle drops better than glass and lighter than aluminum.

That said, I can't imagine seeing something like this from Apple because machined aluminum and glass seem to have become totally integral to their design language and important signfiers of Apple quality.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If the phone wasn’t a depreciating consumable device with little to none long term merit, I could see the point of making the device with a better grade metal. As it stands, it would be a waste, except for those who view their Apple products as appreciating investments of art to be white-gloved at all times.

 

[Pakaku]

I thought it was the wireless charging pads in the back of the iPhone that added a lot to the weight. The backs are also glass, so that's more weight than just a metal back. Changing metal materials probably wouldn't make much difference if the glass and charging pads aren't taken out, which is probably unlikely.

 

[Pakaku]

I'm gonna catch hell for this but I'll throw it out there anyway: I'd be happy with a phone made out of really good quality polycarbonate or some super durable plastic. Not brittle, but one of those plastics like Dysons use that's extremely impact resistant -- maybe with a stiff metal frame inside to protect the components. Something tough enough to handle drops better than glass and lighter than aluminum.

That said, I can't imagine seeing something like this from Apple because machined aluminum and glass seem to have become totally integral to their design language and important signfiers of Apple quality.

There was the iPhone 5C with a plastic back, but Apple thought it was a good idea to skimp on the internals... maybe if they had taken it more seriously, it would have lasted longer than one generation

 

[rui no onna]

I'm gonna catch hell for this but I'll throw it out there anyway: I'd be happy with a phone made out of really good quality polycarbonate or some super durable plastic. Not brittle, but one of those plastics like Dysons use that's extremely impact resistant -- maybe with a stiff metal frame inside to protect the components. Something tough enough to handle drops better than glass and lighter than aluminum.

That said, I can't imagine seeing something like this from Apple because machined aluminum and glass seem to have become totally integral to their design language and important signfiers of Apple quality.

I'd like that as well. That should shave off some of the weight or allow for a bigger battery.

 

[DumbPhone]

I prefer aluminum, less weight. Glass not good, it heavy and break

 

[ericwn]

I don’t know who these ‘huge amount of people’ are, but this is literally the first time I’ve heard of anyone complaining about it.

Now, mind you, I don’t hang out on the Apple Watch forum here (the forums have a tendency to be weighted strongly towards the complainers), but I know many folks with them and none of them have said a peep.

I came across it in the watch forum a few times.

 

[ericwn]

I remember that hinge issue, and it was a very expensive machine too. But to be fair did that have anything to do with the titanium or was it just a poor design?

I’m not sure what caused it exactly. I boarded the Powerbook train one generation later.

 

[freeagent]

Titanium is sexy af. I would rather have that then aluminum any day. But it’s expensive, and hard to work with.

 

[skottichan]

Better yet! Ceramic iPhone.

I'll be honest, I'd probably get this if it were a thing.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Better yet! Ceramic iPhone.

I get the feeling that would just feel like the polycarbonate phones we used to use. I’ve never got the appeal of the ceramic Apple Watch to be honest. It looks quite plasticky in person and I’m not keen on white watches yet that thing costs like £1400! It obviously has its appeal to some but I don’t get it personally.

 

[44267547]

I thought it was the wireless charging pads in the back of the iPhone that added a lot to the weight. The backs are also glass, so that's more weight than just a metal back. Changing metal materials probably wouldn't make much difference if the glass and charging pads aren't taken out, which is probably unlikely.

I think You mean the ‘charging coil’, didn’t ifixit state that was actually one of the lighter components when it was introduced to the iPhone 8 when it was dissected. (I believe they did.) When you factor in the stainless steel bands and the glass, that’s where the real wait is, I don’t think the charging coil offers any real substantiality for the weight.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I get the feeling that would just feel like the polycarbonate phones we used to use. I’ve never got the appeal of the ceramic Apple Watch to be honest. It looks quite plasticky in person and I’m not keen on white watches yet that thing costs like £1400! It obviously has its appeal to some but I don’t get it personally.

But it looks exotic and the durability is the real deal.

 

[bobmans]

But it looks exotic and the durability is the real deal.

I think Ceramic is too brittle :/

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But it looks exotic and the durability is the real deal.

Looks are very subjective though and to you it may look exotic, but to me I don’t really think it looks particularly stylish or appealing. It just doesn’t do it for me and in reality it’s just a fashion item, albeit a rather overpriced one IMO lol, but really it’s the same watch in a different finish. Never been a fan of white coloured watches but hats off to Apple for trying to deliver one as a premium product

 

[freeagent]

It’s not going to scuff or dent if you drop it. Titanium is tough af, light too. But it’s hard to work with, and you will pay dearly for it if it ever came to fruition.