Two years ago, Apple launched the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max with a big emphasis on a new, titanium design. Titanium remained a differentiator for iPhone 16 Pro, too. But reporting indicates the company will ship only one iPhone 17 model with a titanium design this year, and it’s a surprising choice.
iPhone 17 Air will be the only new model with titanium
Last fall, as rumors about the iPhone 17 line started ramping up, one of the more curious reports had to do with design materials.
The Information reported that Apple would drop titanium from the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
Instead, the new Pro models would use aluminum in their casing—a big reversal not long after titanium was first introduced.
Ming-Chi Kuo reported, however, that titanium wasn’t going away entirely.
Rather, the new iPhone 17 Air will exclusively feature titanium in its design.
Kuo said it will have a “titanium-aluminum alloy metal frame, with a lower percentage of titanium than the current Pro and Pro Max metal frames.”
So a mix of materials, but still the only model to use titanium.
Analyst Jeff Pu reiterated titanium coming to the iPhone 17 Air in his recent research note.
... continue reading