iPhone 17 Air Said to Feature Titanium Frame — Unlike iPhone 17 Pro

[MacRumors]

The rumored iPhone 17 Air will have a titanium frame, according to Apple analyst Jeff Pu.

In an investor note with equity research firm GF Securities this week, Pu also said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will have aluminum frames, so the iPhone 17 Air will apparently be the only new model to use titanium.

It is unclear why the iPhone 17 Air would have a titanium frame, as aluminum is lighter than titanium, which would be fitting for the device's rumored ultra-thin and lightweight design. Titanium is generally stronger than aluminum, however, so perhaps the material is necessary to ensure that the iPhone 17 Air's thin chassis is durable.

Last year, another Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air's frame would use both titanium and aluminum, so there could be a mix of both materials. Apple surely has its reasons, and it may discuss them during its iPhone 17 event in September.

Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, so the return to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models this year would be a notable change.

Here is what Pu expects:

• iPhone 17: Aluminum frame
• iPhone 17 Air: Titanium frame
• iPhone 17 Pro: Aluminum frame
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Aluminum frame

Here are the materials used for the iPhone 16 series:

• iPhone 16: Aluminum frame
• iPhone 16 Plus: Aluminum frame
• iPhone 16 Pro: Titanium frame
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Titanium frame

Article Link: iPhone 17 Air Said to Feature Titanium Frame — Unlike iPhone 17 Pro

 

[sniffies]

Air is the new Pro

 

[jz0309]

The rumored iPhone 17 Air will have a titanium frame, according to Apple analyst Jeff Pu.

In an investor note with equity research firm GF Securities this week, Pu also said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will have aluminum frames, so the iPhone 17 Air will apparently be the only new model to use titanium.

It is unclear why the iPhone 17 Air would have a titanium frame, as aluminum is lighter than titanium, which would be fitting for the device's rumored ultra-thin and lightweight design. Titanium is generally stronger than aluminum, however, so perhaps the material is necessary to ensure that the iPhone 17 Air's thin chassis is durable.

Last year, another Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air's frame would use both titanium and aluminum, so there could be a mix of both materials. Apple surely has its reasons, and it may discuss them during its iPhone 17 event in September.

Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, so the return to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models this year would be a notable change.

Here is what Pu expects:

• iPhone 17: Aluminum frame
  
• iPhone 17 Air: Titanium frame
  
• iPhone 17 Pro: Aluminum frame
  
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Aluminum frame

Here are the materials used for the iPhone 16 series:

• iPhone 16: Aluminum frame
  
• iPhone 16 Plus: Aluminum frame
  
• iPhone 16 Pro: Titanium frame
  
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Titanium frame

Article Link: iPhone 17 Air Said to Feature Titanium Frame — Unlike iPhone 17 Pro

well, what this tells me - no-one really knows

 

[G5isAlive]

The bend gate prophesiers will be disappointed to read this. No doubt will switch to complaining about cost.

 

[Kylo83]

so the pro's are gonna look and feel like cheap ones

 

[555gallardo]

I think they’ll use titanium just to avoid another bendgate starring aluminum.

 

[oghowie]

So the Air is for people that use their phone naked right? Otherwise I don't see the point of it other than saving a few bucks.

 

[Macbookey]

As mentioned, the structural rigidity is important, but I also think it’s to upsell from the base 17, by adding more appeal that the plus model failed to. I don’t think the Air is meant to compete with the Pros at all. Those who want the flagship will buy it. I think it is to make the best seller below the Pro, the higher priced variant.

 

[hieranonymous]

I’m mystified by these supply chain rumors when it comes to the titanium/aluminum breakdown. Apple’s made titanium such a fixture of its higher-end watch and phone positioning that I’d love to know how they’ll spin the regression if in fact the Pros are reverting to aluminum.

 

[jdavid_rp]

Could it be that the pros are not as profitable as before because inflation, so instead of having bad press and higher their prices, they now try to save money on pros manufacturing and give the better materials to the Air as there won’t be a comparison in price as it’s the first gen?

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I'm glad we got rid of stainless steel, but going from titanium to aluminium is a downgrade.

 

[ignatius345]

So the Air is for people that use their phone naked right? Otherwise I don't see the point of it other than saving a few bucks.

Thin phone+case is thinner than thick phone+case.

 

[jole]

So the Air is for people that use their phone naked right? Otherwise I don't see the point of it other than saving a few bucks.

Why would you pay premium for an ultra thin phone and use a cover that removes the only standout feature?

 

[scoony]

Perhaps the iPhone 17 Air will have an aluminium chassis with titanium support struts within the body. It will still likely be thicker than both the iPad Pro 11” and 13” which are both aluminium.

 

[JoshuaBru]

It has one camera? So Vision Pro is dead right?

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Isn't this just repeating an old rumor? Here's a February item saying Jeff Pu says the Air will be titanium and the Pro will be aluminum. And even there, a commenter says it's an old rumor.

 

[goonie4life9]

Perhaps the iPhone 17 Air will have an aluminium chassis with titanium support struts within the body. It will still likely be thicker than both the iPad Pro 11” and 13” which are both aluminium.

They are likely doing the same thing they did for the current Pro series: an Aluminum unibody frame with a titanium facade.

 

[Timpetus]

It drives me crazy when people say aluminum is lighter than titanium, without any context. Titanium is much more rigid, so you need less of it to create an object with the same strength as it would have if you made it with aluminum. Ti is lighter than Al when you consider equivalent durability in the ways that matter for making a phone chassis. That's why the 15 Pro is lighter than the 14 Pro.

 

[t0rqx]

Gotta add that weight as it might fly away in the Air. This phone reeks budget all over, they know it sucks. Thats why they adding the 12GB RAM and Titanium to make it attractive.

 

[UliBaer]

Titanium is not a good conductor for heat dissipation. Aluminum is a lot better in this regard. Perhaps the Pro has a lot more heat to dissipate, therefor using pure aluminum? The Air probably is not powered that hard, so they can use titanium for better rigidness of the frame.

 

[scoony]

It drives me crazy when people say aluminum is lighter than titanium, without any context. Titanium is much more rigid, so you need less of it to create an object with the same strength as it would have if you made it with aluminum. Ti is lighter than Al when you consider equivalent durability in the ways that matter for making a phone chassis. That's why the 15 Pro is lighter than the 14 Pro.

A good point. I wouldn’t be surprised if both metals were used in the new devices. Doing a little digging, I did a search via perplexity and this was the resulting summary.

• Titanium frames in smartphones are typically around 1 mm thick.
• To achieve the same strength using aluminium, the required aluminium part would need to be more than twice as thick, approximately 2.2 mm.

This highlights why titanium is used for premium finishes: it allows for thinner, lighter designs while maintaining strength and durability

 

[CharlesShaw]

Gotta add that weight as it might fly away in the Air.

The way the iPhone 6 could fly out of the box, as someone leaving the Apple Store on launch day discovered when they opened their iPhone 6 on camera for a TV reporter.

 

[citysnaps]

So the Air is for people that use their phone naked right? Otherwise I don't see the point of it other than saving a few bucks.

I'd use a silicone case. Would still be thinner than a 16PM with a silicone case.

 

[SpotOnT]

I’m definitely gonna miss the titanium on the Pro line.

Absolutely hated stainless steel, but really enjoyed the titanium.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Figured this would happen years ago. iPhone Pro is just too heavy and will be heavier this year…Apple better not raise the price if they’re using aluminum though.