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yesterday

Apple Shifts Titanium to iPhone 17 Air as Pro Models Revert to Aluminum

Analysts note that the Air’s titanium-alloy frame highlights a branding shift in Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup.

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iPhone 17 Air could feature a titanium frame to maintain a lightweight build.
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Overview

  • Investor research from GF Securities and analysis by Ming-Chi Kuo report that only the iPhone 17 Air will feature a titanium-aluminum alloy frame while the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max revert to aluminum.
  • Titanium was introduced on high-end iPhones with the 15 Pro series and retained on the 16 Pro lineup as a premium differentiator.
  • Observers suggest the titanium-alloy frame may reinforce the Air’s ultra-thin chassis to prevent bending despite adding weight compared to aluminum.
  • Moving a traditionally Pro-exclusive material to the mid-tier model breaks Apple’s established product-tier branding conventions.
  • Analysts say the unexpected material swap reflects broader design trade-offs and supply-chain decisions that could influence Apple’s future iPhone positioning.