Of course it is not. Profit is what keeps Apple's shareholders investing in Apple.
Last edited:
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Other What Reason Will Apple Give For Titanium Back To Aluminium?
- Thread starter KooL BeAnZ
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I remember when you discussed the different grades etc, but personally the brushed natural Titanium frames look better aesthetically. There is no reason why Apple cant make Aluminium look almost the same though.
Yes, but the material “downgrades” as one might call them, even if I don’t necessarily agree, we’re never highlighted.
When the bands on the back of the iPhone 6 went to plastic from the previous iPhone 5S’s glass windows, apple didn’t say a word. They talked about how the new devices were bigger, they talked about how they were curved, they talked about how they were newly designed, but they never once mentioned the fact that the back went from aluminum and glass to aluminum in plastic.
Same with a change from stainless steel to aluminum from the iPhone 4S to 5, they talked about how the iPhone 5 was taller, they called it a “magnificent jewel”, but they absolutely did not mention how the sides technically were “downgraded” from stainless steel to just aluminum.
It’s likely the very same thing will happen this year, Apple will talk about how the iPhone 17 Pro has a “beautiful new aluminum and glass design”, but you will never see them directly compare it to the previous titanium edges.
My theory:
Aluminum is cheaper and more readily available. It is also a very highly recycled material in pretty much every country. Apple has been really focused on green production lately and using aluminum gives them a talking point about making your phone out of someone else's garbage. We will hear about this for probably 5 straight minutes during the launch event.
It is also a smart move with tariffs and the possibility that they might need to move production or change where materials are sourced from. There is just a lot more flexibility with aluminum.
Aluminum is cheaper and more readily available. It is also a very highly recycled material in pretty much every country. Apple has been really focused on green production lately and using aluminum gives them a talking point about making your phone out of someone else's garbage. We will hear about this for probably 5 straight minutes during the launch event.
It is also a smart move with tariffs and the possibility that they might need to move production or change where materials are sourced from. There is just a lot more flexibility with aluminum.
I'm probably one of the few people around here that's perfectly fine with plastic. And yes I liked the 5c, never understood all the hate except from the people that'd rather pay over a thousand bucks for "titanium".
Assuming the rumors are accurate and the new phones have been given a materials makeover with similar durability to Pepsi cans (they couldn't afford Coke can quality this year) I doubt they'll give any reason at all for the cheap downgrade or make any comparison to the previous materials. Instead, they'll just play up some of the qualities of aluminum like heat dissipation and being lighter in an attempt to make people feel good about the materials downgrade and call it a day. It'd be very un-Apple-like to openly retract their previous marketing of steel and titanium as premium materials.
I think it depends what is meant by 'downgrade' to be honest. My 16 Pro Max has a titanium frame, and the only advantage of titanium is its strength. Quite why I need a super strong iPhone is anybodies guess lol? Are we talking downgrade in application or downgrade in raw material and processing costs, neither of which are relevant to the phones usage? The grade of aluminium Apple uses is very much premium in regards to raw material costs. Tooling is cheaper due to it being a softer metal an the price per kilo is about 30% cheaper, along with getting more for that weight. However, again, so little of this material is used on a phone so the costs are rather minimal to us. I'd say it carries both arguments titanium > Aluminium is a downgrade and an upgrade depending on whether we view it as a consumer or a supply chain/procurement person.
While prior generations of iPhone designed under Ive used inferior Aluminium, this brand new design utilizes far superior 100% American-named Aluminum 🦅 !
Aluminium is softer, my stainless steel and titanium pros always looked brand new after a year even after loads of drops while the aluminium ones have had small nicks and dents. Far as I know the strength to weight is higher for the titanium that Apple have been using compared to the aluminium.
But I am not sure if Apples usage of it has given that benefit the rumours say they will keep titanium on the Air probably because it needs to extra strength while keeping the weight low.
What is the upside of using aluminium over titanium for the consumer?
Pure aluminum is soft.
Aluminum alloy is tough.
Take a look at aerospace grade aluminum alloys and you will find it's very strong.
Aluminum can mixed, tempered and treated be made to be brittle, bendable, and resist scratches either or all.
Very versatile metal I have dealt with many years on CNC machines.
Is it tougher per weight than titanium alloys though? Because I’ve been unable to find sources claiming that. The question isn’t wether or not aluminium alloys can be good, the question is are they better than titanium alloys for the product from the consumer standpoint.
And Apple for sure haven’t made their phones from tough aluminium previously so I doubt they will start now.
Yeah, I had the aluminum 6 in a case and it still had visible dimples where the aluminum bent slightly, the screen separating from the frame, scratches from dust inside the case. The aluminum 8+ no case and similar issues with denting and screen separation, but less damage overall (no scratching from dust collecting inside a case). Neither of those suffered a traumatic event. My 13PM (steel) has never seen a case, and even took a tumble down a flight of concrete stairs about a year ago (thank-you, cat.) and still looks pristine minus an almost invisible chip in the back glass.
The pro phones are crazy heavy. I have a 13 mini. Was holding a colleagues phone this week for just a few min and my trousers were being pulled down by the weight. Personally id find that really offputting.
Yes, that's the main advantage of titanium. It means that the case can be thinner and stronger than one of the same thickness but made of aluminum. The whole thing is not about a "downgrade" from titanium to aluminum, but about with one of the two is the most economical to produce while still meeting the case's strength specifications.
A problem I assume Apple has to deal with relates to its incessant idea of "thinness and compactness," specially in laptops and desktops, since newer and more powerful systems require a higher degree of cooling. But at the same time, thinnest and compactness in Mac's, and maybe iPad's, has to do with reducing production cost and not much else.
Last edited:
Aluminum is actually better for phones I’m happy it’s going back
Unless you appreciate the heft of the current phone. The 16 pro but lighter isn’t something I’m asking for.
I imagine quite a lot of people arent buying 1000 dollar phones these days - especially outside of the USA where they cost significantly more. Added to that the recent offerings from Pixel and samsung, etc. bring something a bit different - iphone has been stagnant for several years in reality, AI hasnt happened - its way behind competitors. So what is iphone competitive on right now? Not price, not innovation. This air will at least be different, but imo has to be priced well. I dont care if its aluminium. I prefer my phones light, and its in a case always anyway.
Last edited:
Both the 15 and 16 Pro had issues with getting too hot so aluminum will be superior for heat dissipation.
It won't make any difference for various reasons: The iPhone is already very thin and has a faster processing engine, which in turn requires a battery of larger capacity. Some of the heat is generated by the processor and other electrical components, including the conductors (wiring and so on), and a great portion of the heat is generated by the battery as it loses capacity. A larger and beefier case plus more efficient heatsinks would help to a certain degree, but that's about it at the moment unless more advanced technological changes take place in the near future. Meanwhile the iPhone has some fierce market competitors. I am quite happy with my iPhone 14 Pro, while my wife's 15 Pro overheats quite often compared to mine.
Last edited:
Two advantages of titanium:
1) Looks. The natural titanium is the best looking finish Apple has made.
2) Strength. The iPhone 15 Pro is the first iPhone I have had that I have dropped multiple times on concrete and not broken. Yes I have it in a case, but I always use cases. This phone just seems stronger and less shatter resistant than the aluminum ones.
1) Looks. The natural titanium is the best looking finish Apple has made.
2) Strength. The iPhone 15 Pro is the first iPhone I have had that I have dropped multiple times on concrete and not broken. Yes I have it in a case, but I always use cases. This phone just seems stronger and less shatter resistant than the aluminum ones.
Yeah it’s obvious I’m more than aware of the difference between the two metals as I say it in my post. The advantage to the consumer is a lighter phone, better heat dissipation. Most consumers don’t use iPhones without a case on it, so dents and scratches are of little concern. My 16 Pro max went in a case within seconds of opening it so I couldn’t care less how hard the metal is on the frame.
People keep saying aluminium is lighter but no one has said which aluminium alloy has a higher strength to weight ratio than the titanium alloys available. So if you claim it is lighter you have to say which alloy you are refering to, because I haven't found any.
I will never understand using a case on a phone, adds weight and bulk.
I doubt weight is a major concern considering these phones have most of their weight within. Heat dissipation is perhaps the best reason, cost and annodisation.
I use a case because my iPhone would be smashed within days of using it. I drop it from time to time and use it sometimes in harsh environments. Prefer the grip a case adds and the protection. I haven’t got time to be contacting Apple all the time to get it repaired.