A pair of experiences claimed final month that the iPhone 17 sequence will function aluminum frames throughout the board. First, Jeff Pu talked about this unusual design change. Then, an much more dependable supply, The Data, reported the identical tidbit.
The latter claimed that Apple will give the iPhone 17 Professional an enormous redesign on the subject of the rear digicam. The highest half of the telephone shall be fabricated from aluminum, which is able to embrace a brand new rectangular digicam bump fabricated from aluminum. The underside half will nonetheless be fabricated from glass, so MagSafe wi-fi charging continues to work as meant.
However now we’ve a considerably dependable Apple insider from China claiming that Apple will proceed to make use of titanium for the iPhone 17 Execs coming subsequent 12 months. This contradicts the earlier experiences, however I’ve a special thought. I believe each of them may be proper, and the reply is staring us within the face.
On the spot Digital had this to say in regards to the aluminum controversy on Weibo (machine translated):
In fact, the 17 Professional continues to be titanium, why do you imagine in altering it to aluminum? It’s unimaginable to consider it, trying again on the iPhone lately, Apple has all the time centered on selling the high-end bezel supplies of the Professional sequence as one of many promoting factors, from “surgical-grade stainless-steel” to “titanium,” how you can blow it whether it is changed by aluminum?
As MacRumors notes, it’s unclear whether or not the leaker has correct data or if we’re a guess based mostly on Apple’s most up-to-date iPhone design strikes. The weblog additionally notes that On the spot Digital has a blended monitor file however that he has been correct a number of occasions previously. The M4 iPad Professional’s nano-texture show choice is one leak he nailed, for instance.
I’ll remind you that Jeff Pu’s claims aren’t all the time right both, however the analyst doubtless sources a few of his data from Apple’s provide chain in Asia.
If the aluminum redesign is right, I believe Apple will use each aluminum and titanium for the iPhone 17 Professional frames. Do not forget that the iPhone 15 Execs and 16 Execs already launched a mixture of aluminum and titanium. The titanium body sits on the exterior of the mid-frame. Aluminum continues to be used for the inner steel body.
It’s a compromise that lets Apple cut back the load of the bigger iPhone Professional Max variations whereas additionally reducing manufacturing prices. Apple may use a body made utterly of titanium, however I’d count on manufacturing prices to extend considerably.
With that in thoughts, I believe Apple may all the time proceed to combine titanium and aluminum in novel methods, together with this peculiar iPhone 17 Professional design. The high-end iPhone 17 fashions may proceed to function titanium on the surface of the body. However the inside portion and the highest half of the again may very well be fabricated from aluminum. Glass would nonetheless be wanted on the underside half of the again, as has been rumored.
All of it sounds loopy as I sort this, but it surely is sensible. Titanium is sturdy and lightweight, so it’s excellent for the body’s exterior. Aluminum can also be gentle and sturdy, but it surely’s cheaper and simpler to deal with when manufacturing all kinds of shapes for complicated parts. If the rear-facing digicam is fabricated from steel as a substitute of 3D glass, Apple would wish to carve it out of aluminum quite than titanium.
I’m much more within the look of the iPhone 17 Professional and 17 Professional Max. How will a mix of titanium, aluminum, and glass look? We’ll have to attend some time to seek out out.
