Since the iPhone X was introduced in 2017, Apple's leading iPhones have only seen slight changes in their design. The company has, however, altered its choice of frame materials a few times. The iPhone X was the first model to feature a stainless steel frame, moving away from the aluminum frames used in earlier versions.
Changes Ahead for iPhone 17
Although stainless steel was used for several generations, Apple made a significant change last year with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which switched to a titanium frame, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (curr. $949.99 on Amazon). Recently, The Information has reported that Apple plans to introduce new iPhone 16 Pro models that will not use titanium or stainless steel for their frames.
According to unnamed sources cited by the website, the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature aluminum frames. This change could make the new models lighter compared to their predecessors. However, The Information also mentions that these Pro models will have a redesigned back panel, which will use aluminum on one side and glass on the other.
Design Features
The glass section is expected to stay in place for wireless charging, since metals can interfere with this feature. The aluminum top half of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will also include rectangular camera housings made of metal instead of glass. Essentially, it appears that Apple is adopting a design philosophy similar to Google's, but with a more prominent aluminum area compared to the Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro XL.
