iPhone 17: Titanium is coming to just one model, and it’s a surprising choice

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.

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.

This is surprising for multiple reasons:

Perhaps if Apple was switching back to stainless steel for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max frames, then using titanium on the Air makes sense to reduce weight.

But aluminum is even lighter weight than titanium, which is why it’s hard to understand Apple using any titanium in its new thin and light model.

Why do you think Apple’s using aluminum in the iPhone 17 Air only? Let us know in the comments.