iPhone 17 Air Said to Feature Titanium Frame — Unlike iPhone 17 Pro

The rumored iPhone 17 Air will have a titanium frame, according to Apple analyst Jeff Pu.

iPhone 17 Air Thumb 2 Blue Electric Boogaloo
In an investor note with equity research firm GF Securities this week, Pu also said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will have aluminum frames, so the iPhone 17 Air will apparently be the only new model to use titanium.

It is unclear why the iPhone 17 Air would have a titanium frame, as aluminum is lighter than titanium, which would be fitting for the device's rumored ultra-thin and lightweight design. Titanium is generally stronger than aluminum, however, so perhaps the material is necessary to ensure that the iPhone 17 Air's thin chassis is durable.

Last year, another Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air's frame would use both titanium and aluminum, so there could be a mix of both materials. Apple surely has its reasons, and it may discuss them during its iPhone 17 event in September.

Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, so the return to an aluminum frame for the iPhone 17 Pro models this year would be a notable change.

Here is what Pu expects:

  • iPhone 17: Aluminum frame
  • iPhone 17 Air: Titanium frame
  • iPhone 17 Pro: Aluminum frame
  • iPhone 17 Pro Max: Aluminum frame

Here are the materials used for the iPhone 16 series:

  • iPhone 16: Aluminum frame
  • iPhone 16 Plus: Aluminum frame
  • iPhone 16 Pro: Titanium frame
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: Titanium frame
Related Roundups: iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air
Tag: Jeff Pu
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...

Top Rated Comments

G5isAlive Avatar
7 months ago
The bend gate prophesiers will be disappointed to read this. No doubt will switch to complaining about cost.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Timpetus Avatar
7 months ago
It drives me crazy when people say aluminum is lighter than titanium, without any context. Titanium is much more rigid, so you need less of it to create an object with the same strength as it would have if you made it with aluminum. Ti is lighter than Al when you consider equivalent durability in the ways that matter for making a phone chassis. That's why the 15 Pro is lighter than the 14 Pro.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
7 months ago
so the pro's are gonna look and feel like cheap ones
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BelgianChoklit Avatar
7 months ago
I'm glad we got rid of stainless steel, but going from titanium to aluminium is a downgrade.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
555gallardo Avatar
7 months ago
I think they’ll use titanium just to avoid another bendgate starring aluminum.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
7 months ago
Air is the new Pro
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)