The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air will boast a titanium frame, according to reliable analyst

iPhone enthusiasts across the board are almost certainly looking forward to what Apple has to offer with its widely rumored iPhone 17 Air. According to a recent report by the respected analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 17 Air will boast a titanium chassis, which is somehow both perplexing and unsurprising at the same time.

Apple has opted to differentiate its 'Pro' and non-'Pro' iPhones in a variety of ways in the past. While the upcoming 'Pro' iPhones are still more than likely to boast far superior camera systems, the iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to ditch premium materials in favor of an aluminum housing, same as the vanilla iPhone 17.

Now, if the iPhone 17 Air ends up with a titanium frame, it would be quite awkward for Apple to position its pricier iPhone 17 Pro above the Air despite the latter featuring less premium materials, especially considering that Apple left no stone unturned with promoting titanium as a selling point for the iPhone 15 Pro when it first hit the scene.

However, when we remind ourselves of the fact that titanium is a stronger material than aluminum, it makes sense why Apple would choose the metal. After all, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be both thinner and larger than the iPhone 6 Plus, which was at the center of the infamous bendgate situation. As such, opting for a stronger material was likely necessary for Apple to help alleviate durability concerns. 

Here is what we can expect from the iPhone 17 Air, based on the leaks that we have gathered so far:

• Next-gen A19 SoC with an Apple-designed modem
• 5.5 mm-thin chassis housing a 6.6-inch 120 Hz ProMotion display
• Pricier than the iPhone 17, but cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro