Apple iPhone 17 Pro May Be Lighter with New Material, Faster Charging

Key Takeaways

1. The iPhone 17 series will feature a significant design change with a broad “camera bar,” exclusive to Pro versions and iPhone 17 Air, while the standard iPhone 17 retains the traditional square camera layout.

2. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will switch from titanium back to aluminum casing, a material last used in the iPhone 7 Plus.

3. This is the first time since the iPhone 7 Plus that Apple will use aluminum for its premium smartphones, moving away from stainless steel frames.

4. Only the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have a titanium frame, aimed at enhancing durability while maintaining a thinner design.

5. All models in the iPhone 17 series will feature improved 35-watt USB-C charging, up from 30 watts in previous models.

For the first time since the iPhone 12, the iPhone 17 series will undergo a significant design change, setting it apart from the iPhone 16 Pro mainly due to the introduction of a broad “camera bar.” Current rumors suggest that this new design will be exclusive to the Pro versions and the iPhone 17 Air, while the more affordable iPhone 17 will stick with the traditional square camera layout.

Design and Materials Transformation

In addition to the design differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series, new insights from analyst Jeff Pu reveal changes in the materials used for the phone’s casing. The base model will keep its aluminum frame, but the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will switch from titanium back to aluminum, which was last used in the iPhone 7 Plus.

A Shift in Premium Materials

After utilizing stainless steel frames from the iPhone X through to the iPhone 14 Pro, this marks the first instance since the iPhone 7 Plus that Apple’s premium smartphone will utilize aluminum. Interestingly, only the iPhone 17 Air is expected to come with a titanium frame, likely aimed at enhancing the durability of its thinner design. Jeff Pu indicates that this shift from titanium to aluminum is part of Apple’s efforts to reduce the ecological impact of their products. Aluminum is lighter, having 40% lower density than titanium, which could also contribute to a lighter iPhone 17 Pro.

Charging Improvements

Finally, all four models in the iPhone 17 series are anticipated to feature 35-watt USB-C charging, a step up from the previous 30 watts.

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