Apple has replaced titanium with aluminum in the iPhone 17 Pro, improving heat dissipation, battery life, and production efficiency. Learn why aluminum is the better choice.
© A. Krivonosov
In 2023, Apple took a bold step by using titanium in the casings of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The company emphasized the premium nature of the material, highlighting that it was lighter, stronger, and more scratch-resistant than stainless steel. Grade 5 titanium also carried associations with high-tech industries like aerospace and watchmaking, creating an aura of exclusivity.
However, two years of experience revealed titanium's limitations. The material's poor heat conductivity led to overheating under load, which constrained the performance of new processors. Production proved challenging as well: working with titanium required specialized equipment, slowed assembly speeds, and increased defect rates, making it less economically viable. The several-hundred-dollar price premium seemed driven more by marketing strategy than by tangible benefits.
With the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple has returned to aluminum. This material handles heat dissipation more effectively, allowing for better utilization of new chips and increased battery capacity. Aluminum is also easier to process, faster to produce, and has a smaller carbon footprint, aligning with the company's environmental goals. Additionally, aluminum offers more flexibility for colors and finishes, including new dark blue and orange options.
From a practical standpoint, titanium offered advantages only in rare scenarios. For most users who rely on cases, its benefits in strength and lightness were hardly noticeable, while the higher price and thermal issues outweighed the positives. Titanium is now reserved for ultra-thin iPhone Air models, where its strength truly matters.
Ultimately, swapping titanium for aluminum underscores Apple's core principle: materials matter, but functionality and user experience matter even more. Thermal performance, battery life, and ecosystem integration carry greater weight than a flashy casing. For the iPhone 17 Pro, aluminum has proven to be a practical and balanced choice.