Apple could equip future iPads with a tough chassis made from titanium alloy

A few weeks ago rumors about Apple's plans to equip the iPhone 14 with titanium frames have spread across the internet. While this welcome change would certainly improve the smartphone's stiffness and rigidity, the current iPhone 12 (from US$687 on Amazon) is already a very sturdy device which has passed most stress tests with flying colors and can only be bent with a significant amount of force.

Apple's iPads on the other hand can be twisted and bent quite easily, as a video made by the popular YouTuber JerryRigEverything illustrated. With a chassis made from titanium alloy, Apple could finally iron out this apparent weakness of its otherwise highly respected iPad lineup. Apart from the better stiffness, titanium alloy is also more scratch resistant than stainless steel and aluminum, which overall makes it a much more appealing casing material for mobile devices.

However, the report by DigiTimes also asserts that the production of titanium alloy chassis for smartphones and tablets is not yet economically feasible, which is why the Cupertino-based company is still in the process of carefully considering the advantages and disadvantages of the change in material. The etching of titanium appears to be quite costly and complex, especially when it needs to be integrated into a mass production. In conclusion, it could still take several years until Apple will equip its iPad and iPhones with a rugged titanium alloy frame.