Apple has introduced an aluminum chassis for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, which was highlighted as a key aspect of the new design. This change comes after the company's earlier move to utilize titanium in the iPhone 15 Pro series, a material that was initially praised for its strength and lightweight properties. Despite the switch, Apple has not publicly addressed its departure from titanium for these latest models.
In September 2023, when the titanium-frame iPhones were launched, they were marketed as the lightest Pro models ever, featuring the A17 Pro chip that enhanced gaming performance. However, users reported overheating issues that were subsequently resolved through a software update. The iPhone 16 Pro models incorporated improved cooling but did not include a vapor chamber, which was a feature already seen in Android devices.
The new iPhone models boast a vapor chamber integrated into the aluminum unibody, which Apple claims enhances performance and battery life. The marketing emphasis on the innovative design of the iPhone 17 series effectively sidesteps any direct reference to the removal of titanium from its construction.