In September 2023, when Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, its first smartphones with a titanium frame, the company made the choice of metal a major marketing tool. The “strong, lightweight titanium design” was the first thing Apple mentioned in the press release, explaining that titanium helped create the “lightest Pro models ever.” Two years later, Apple abandoned the titanium of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, without publicly addressing this change. Apple never had to explain why it ditched titanium, because technically the company still uses the material in the iPhone 17 series: the iPhone Air features a titanium frame, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models. But even then, Apple didn’t need to say why it stopped using titanium for the iPhone 17 Pro models, considering how it explained the design those handsets introduced.
It’s important to remember one more thing the iPhone 15 Pro models were known for: they featured the A17 Pro chip, which brought high-end gaming support to the iPhone. But early buyers quickly discovered that Pro handsets could overheat. Apple fixed the issue with a software update. A year later, the iPhone 16 Pro models were expected to feature an improved cooling system. Apple did not introduce a vapor chamber in 2024, a component already available on Android flagships, but it did improve heat dissipation while retaining the titanium frame.
This cooling addition came in September 2025, when Apple introduced the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro models. These featured an aluminum chassis curved towards the rear of the handset, covering an enlarged camera module and wrapping around the other three edges.
Why Apple Needed Aluminum
The “all-new design” of the iPhone 17 Pro models was the main marketing point of Apple’s announcement. Apple also addressed the vapor chamber component at the start of the press release: “Built with an Apple-designed vapor chamber that is laser welded into a strong, lightweight, thermally conductive aluminum unibody, (the) iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max deliver Apple’s best-ever performance and a huge leap in battery life.” » This phrase helped Apple explain why it needed aluminum, without ever mentioning titanium. Aluminum is a strong material, and that’s a point Apple emphasizes later in the press release. Importantly, the 7000 series aluminum alloy used by Apple offers “the best thermal performance ever seen in an iPhone,” according to Apple.
The implication is that titanium alone could not provide the same thermal benefits. The iPhone 15 Pro models did not feature a full titanium frame. The internal metal structure was aluminum, with titanium encasing it on the outside. The iPhone 17 Pro design features an aluminum unibody that includes the vapor chamber, which is “laser welded” into the chassis, according to Apple. Cooling is the main benefit of using aluminum, with Apple explaining that heat dissipates through the aluminum chassis. Apple highlighted the performance benefits of the Vapor Chamber in the press release, saying the cooling component can help the A19 Pro achieve 40% higher sustained performance than the A18 Pro, allowing iPhone 17 Pro models to deliver multiple premium experiences, including gaming, video editing, and running AI models on the device.
Will Apple return to titanium?
Manufacturing the same monocoque structure in titanium would have been more expensive. It’s not just about the cost of sourcing titanium. It is cheaper to machine aluminum parts like the iPhone 17 Pro chassis than titanium parts. The aluminum chassis design allowed Apple to increase the size of the camera module, which houses other components besides the cameras. This design choice freed up space at the bottom of the handset, which can accommodate larger batteries than before. Other benefits of choosing aluminum include an improved antenna system, integrated into the perimeter of the handset, and support for more vibrant finishes. The iPhone 17 Pro models come in a Cosmic Orange option which has been well received by consumers. Titanium handsets didn’t offer Apple a similar choice when it came to vibrant colors.
All of these considerations suggest that Apple could be done with titanium, at least on the Pro models, where performance and cooling are a priority. However, the iPhone Air features a “revolutionary titanium design that’s sleek, lightweight, and strong,” according to Apple’s September 2025 press release. The iPhone Air also features the A19 Pro chip, but the priority here seems to be durability. The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest iPhone, with a 5.6mm profile. The titanium frame ensures that the device won’t bend during use, a test the iPhone Air passed without issue shortly after its launch. The iPhone Fold, scheduled to launch in September 2026, will also have a slim profile, and some reports claim the device will feature a titanium frame. The handset hinge, or parts thereof, may also be made of titanium.
