Among other changes, this year’s iPhone 15 Pro model is rumored to feature a new chassis made of titanium for the first time. This makes the design lighter, more durable, and more. In fact, it’s one of the biggest redesigns of the iPhone in years, and could put an end to the stainless steel era that started with his iPhone X in 2017.
rumor
So far, several different sources have reported that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra) could feature a new titanium design.
Twitter leaker ShrimpApplePro, who has a decent but not perfect track record for accuracy, reported in November that the iPhone 15 Pro design would consist of a titanium case with rounded edges. This was also backed by JPMorgan Chase analyst Jeff Pugh, who repeated the Twitter leak in an investor report earlier this month.
Apple has been working on an iPhone with a titanium chassis for several years. Multiple patent applications from the company demonstrate its achievements in this field. But for the clearest glimpse of what the titanium iPhone 15 Pro will bring, we have to look at the Apple Watch.
Titanium iPhone 15 Ultra vs Apple Watch
The Apple Watch has been available in a titanium finish since the Apple Watch Series 5 was introduced in 2019. The Apple Watch Series 5 was available in two titanium finishes, natural and space black. This is the first time Apple has used titanium in a product since his PowerBook G4 in 2001.
The Apple Watch Series 6 will be available in the same natural and space black titanium finishes as the 2021 Apple Watch Series 7, bringing us the current generation of the Apple Watch. is exclusive to the all-new Apple Watch Ultra.
There are two things we can learn from how Apple uses titanium in its Apple Watch lineup. It’s color and weight.
Perhaps most notable is the weight difference between stainless steel and titanium. Over the years, Apple has sold his Apple Watch models in both of these finishes. However, the iPhone lineup has been using stainless steel since his iPhone X in 2017.
Let’s take a look at the weight difference between the three different finishes of the Apple Watch Series 7. The Apple Watch Series 7 was the last generation Apple Watch that came in three different materials, 41mm and 45mm.
- 41mm:
- Aluminum: 32.0g
- Stainless: 42.3g
- Titanium: 37.0g
- 45mm:
- Aluminum: 38.8g
- Stainless: 51.5g
- Titanium: 45.1g
And then there’s the Apple Watch Ultra, the only current-generation Apple Watch with a titanium finish. It is also the largest Apple Watch Apple has ever sold, with a case size of 49 mm. Here’s the breakdown for Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra:
- 41mm:
- Aluminum: 32.2g
- Stainless: 42.3g
- 45mm:
- Aluminum: 39.1g
- Stainless: 51.1g
- Apple Watch Ultra 49mm:
A stainless steel Apple Watch Ultra? it won’t work. The weight of titanium is the only thing that makes the Apple Watch Ultra practical.
9to5Mac’s take
Titanium is naturally lighter than stainless steel, but I find it particularly interesting to see the differences in the Apple Watch lineup over the years. The Apple Watch is the only one that shows us how modern-day Apple itself uses titanium in its products.
In its iPhone lineup, Apple has used stainless steel edges since the introduction of the iPhone X. Recent generations of iPhones use aluminum in non-Pro models and stainless steel in Pro and Pro Max models. This of course means that the iPhone 14 is lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro.
- iPhone 14: 172g
- iPhone 14 Plus: 203g
- iPhone 14 Pro: 206g
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: 240g
When the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max use titanium, they’re no lighter than the aluminum iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. However, it is noticeably lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which have stainless steel bands on the sides.
how much lighter? At this point it’s hanging in the air. Calculations on the back of the envelope show that the titanium 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 is about 12% lighter than its stainless counterpart, which doesn’t apply directly to the iPhone lineup, but things are looking good.
Apple can also use the weight savings from titanium to offset additions like new camera hardware and a larger battery. It opens up a world of possibilities.
Personally, I like the idea of an iPhone 15 Ultra that is 10% lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. I’ve been sick of stainless steel edges since at least the iPhone 13 Pro. Stainless steel is heavy and of course a perfect fingerprint magnet.
The iPhone 15 Ultra with its titanium edge is a dream come true. iPhones have had stainless edges since 2017, and it’s time for a change. Let’s also use the space black titanium we saw on the Apple Watch Series 7.
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