It looks like the iPhone 17 Pro may have a titanium design after all

By Patrick Hearn Published December 2, 2024

A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. — Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In a shining example of why leaks cannot be taken fully at face value, the iPhone 17 Pro might be made of titanium after all. Last week, we reported a leak that suggested the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max handsets could use an aluminum frame for the first time since 2016. Now, another leak suggests that information is inaccurate, and the premium iPhone models will not opt for a less expensive material after all.

“Looking back at the iPhone in recent years, Apple has always focused on promoting the high-end frame materials of the Pro series as one of its selling points, from ‘surgical grade stainless steel’ to ‘titanium.’ How can it be said that it was replaced with aluminum?” says Setsuna Digital, a leaker on Weibo.

Recommended Videos

Setsuna Digital provided no information or source, so the statement should be taken for what it is: speculation. It’s possible the leaker has an inside source providing them with information, but their history with Apple rumors is a mixed bag. While Setsuna Digital did predict certain things correctly, they have also been far off the mark on several occasions.

A white iPhone 16 sitting outside, face-down, surrounded by a bunch of leaves. — Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Apple does have precedent to back up the idea of a different chassis material. The company is known for removing set-in-stone elements of its phones (the headphone jack comes to mind) as well as features like 3D Touch. 3D Touch lasted multiple generations, from the iPhone 6s to the iPhone 11. That’s a similar timeframe to how long aluminum has been out of the game, so maybe it is time for the metal to make a comeback.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

We expect a fall 2025 launch for the iPhone 17, accompanied by a wave of new features and upgrades. Of course, Apple Intelligence is the most prominent of these, and a switch back to aluminum from titanium could be a way of cutting costs on new iPhone models.

Topics

Mobile Writer

Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…

Mobile

Apple insider leaks future plans for a significant iPhone spec change

iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max close up of the cameras

Apple has long followed a strategy of consolidating the hardware supply chain within its own circle. Shifting away from Intel to in-house M-series processors was one of the biggest bets in recent memory. Now, the company is eyeing the same strategy for a critical part that allows iPhones to, well, act like phones.

According to Apple tipster Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple will finally put its own cellular modem inside iPhones and iPads starting next year. The plans will be executed over three years, spanning three generations of modems, as part of a plan to end Apple’s reliance on Qualcomm for the part.

Mobile

6 excellent iPhone apps that I wish were available on Android

Four iPhone exclusive apps and associated widgets on an iPhone 16 Pro homescreen

For the past 15 years, the way we think about and use technology has been completely reshaped. What was once a hardware-first industry quickly became a software-first one, and this radical evolution of technology can be traced back to one pivotal moment. In 2009, Apple debuted the iPhone 3G and the first App Store. This launch ushered in a new era: the smartphone, complete with apps. It also debuted one of the best commercials, complete with a catchphrase that is sometimes still used today: There’s an app for that.

For many years, the iPhone had a plethora of apps that were not available on Android. While most of these are now available cross-platform, not every developer has embraced the billions of potential customers who don’t have an iPhone. Even now, some apps launch first on iOS and can take months or years to launch on Android.

Mobile

The iPhone 18 may get a big redesign you won’t be able to see

The back of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

The design of the iPhone can only be described as iconic. That rectangular shape has been a major influence on phone aesthetics and design since the first iPhone came onto the market back in 2007, and that isn't likely to change. The internal design of the iPhone might radically shift, however. Apple is supposedly planning to change how the iPhone hardware is designed to accommodate better AI performance.

Essentially, Apple wants to use discrete memory rather than integrated memory. Those are technical terms that basically mean separate and together. On the internal system on a chip (SoC), any memory that is stacked on top is considered integrated memory. Discrete memory would be RAM that is packaged separately from the SoC. If reports are correct, Apple will begin using discrete memory in 2026, and the shift would result in faster memory and better AI performance, according to The Elec.