Taking a look at the current iPhone 16 lineup, here are the materials used for the frame on each of the models:
- iPhone 16 / 16 Plus: aluminum
- iPhone 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max: titanium
As you may expect, the base iPhone 17 is expected to feature an aluminum frame, but starting this year, there won’t be a Plus model anymore. Instead, we’ll be getting an ‘Air’ model for the first time. What’s even more surprising is that the iPhone 17 Pro models will not feature titanium for their frames, but rather, they’ll feature aluminum. This will mark a significant design departure for the most high-end iPhone models since the iPhone X. Starting with the iPhone X, they all featured stainless steel frames. Starting with the iPhone 15 Pro, they switched from stainless steel to titanium for a stronger, yet lighter build. With the iPhone 17 Pro, using aluminum for the frame will likely allow those phones to dissipate heat better, especially for processing intensive tasks with the A19 Pro chip.
So if the iPhone 17 Pro is going to feature aluminum frames, then what other model will feature titanium frames? Interestingly enough, it’s going to be the iPhone 17 Air, according to Apple analyst Jeff Pu. The iPhone 17 Air is set to feature an ultra thin-and-light design that’s going to be the thinnest iPhone ever made at around 5.5 millimeters (mm). Last year, Ming-Chi Kuo had a supporting rumor that the iPhone 17 Air’s frame may feature a mix of both titanium and aluminum, similar to the frames of the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro models. As you may know, aluminum is lighter than titanium, which would be fitting for making a smartphone as light as possible, but titanium, on the other hand, is more sturdier.
Apple certainly doesn’t want to make the same mistake again. If we take a look at the iPhone 6 from over ten years ago, it was the thinnest iPhone ever made at the time at 6.9mm; however, there were several reports of “bendgate” where the iPhone 6 would easily bend, especially when putting the device in tight pockets. Even the 2018 iPad Pro models at 5.9mm thick had issues with “bendgate.” So having such a mixture will reinforce the iPhone 17 Air’s rigidity while maintaining a lightweight design.
In summary, the iPhone 17 lineup will use these materials for the frame:
- iPhone 17: aluminum
- iPhone 17 Air: titanium
- iPhone 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max: aluminum
We expect Apple to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup in the week of September 8.
