Contrary to earlier reports suggesting that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with an aluminum and glass hybrid material for the back plate, a prominent leaker now claims that will not be the case. The leaker claims that the iPhone 17 Pro models will continue to feature a titanium frame with glass at the back. If prior reports are anything to go by, the iPhone 17 Pro could be a strange device with a part-aluminum-part-glass design.
Leaker claims it is "not possible" for Apple to reintroduce aluminum design with the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro next year
The Information's Wayne Ma reported last month that Apple's next year's flagship iPhone models will revert to the aluminum finish, ditching titanium for good. However, a leaker who goes by the name of Instant Digital claims in a post on Weibo that the iPhone 17 Pro models will continue to feature titanium for the frame and states that the change is "impossible."
Instant Digital states that "of course, the iPhone 17 Pro will still use titanium," negating the information shared by The Information.
"Why would anyone believe it would switch to aluminum? Think about it — it's just not possible. Looking back at recent iPhone models, Apple has consistently emphasized the premium frame materials of the Pro series as one of its key selling points, from 'surgical-grade stainless steel' to 'titanium.' If they switched to aluminum, how could they even market it?"
Apple recently switched to its titanium finish with the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro models, and it remains to be seen if it will revert back to the aluminum finish next year. Apple switched to stainless steel with the iPhone X in 2017, and it kept using the same material for more than five years before shifting to titanium. If the company keeps up with its trend, we will see the company boasting a titanium finish on the iPhone 17 Pro models again. The company has emphasized premium materials for years, including the surgical-grade stainless steel finish on prior models, and it is highly unlikely the company would take back its claims and introduce an aluminum build.
However, the iPhone is awaiting a major redesign, and The Information's Wayne Ma's arguments could prove to be true to some extent. While we are not familiar with the company's plans as of yet, it is also too early to draw final conclusions related to the design and finishes as the iPhone 17 Pro launch is more than nine months away. Ma states that Apple will use aluminum on the top portion of the iPhone 17 Pro's back, while the lower portion will feature a slab of glass for wireless charging capabilities.
Instant Digital has a mixed track record, so be sure to take the news with a grain of salt, as the final word rests with Apple. The company is slated to introduce an all-new iPhone 17 Air model next year, which will replace the 'Plus' model of the iPhone. Potentially, we will hear more details about the design of the iPhone 17 Pro as we move closer to launch. We will keep you posted with the latest updates on the story, so be sure to stick around.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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