Last week, a report revealed a surprising change coming to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in 2025: a return to an aluminum frame, abandoning both titanium and stainless steel after just a few generations.
However, today, a leak from Weibo has contradicted this rumor, suggesting that switching to aluminum for the Pro models would harm Apple’s premium image, especially given how much the company has emphasized the superiority of stainless steel and titanium in recent years.
Apple has invested considerable effort in marketing these premium materials, with stainless steel and titanium framing the iPhone as high-end devices. Given that, switching back to aluminum might seem like a step backward, especially after positioning the Pro models as more luxurious. However, with Apple’s profit-driven strategies, an aluminum frame could be a way to reduce production costs and increase profit margins, while quietly sidelining its previous claims about premium materials.
At this point, it’s still unclear which direction Apple will go with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and that’s not surprising, considering how far we are from the official launch. Does the choice of frame material matter to you? And if you’re using a case, does it really make a difference? Let us know your thoughts.
