iPhone 15 Pro tipped for Grade 5 Titanium design — what that means for you

iPhone 15 Pro Max mockup with thin bezels

(Image credit: Unbox Therapy / YouTube)

Rumors are heating up about the potential design of the iPhone 15 Pro models expected to launch in the fall of 2023. According to leaker @URedditor on Twitter (or X), Apple could be planning to construct the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max out of a titanium alloy frame, with the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus likely to stick with an aluminum body.

This new titanium alloy frame would make the devices more durable while still allowing for a lighter overall weight. The material provides increased dent and scratch resistance compared to stainless steel, which has been used for the frame on the iPhone 14 Pro and previous Pro models.

@URedditor explains that Apple has been testing various titanium alloy mixes over the past year to find the optimal combination of strength, durability, and radio frequency (RF) performance. The company seems to have settled on a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy for the iPhone 15 Pro, an aerospace-grade material that offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Let’s kick things up a notch, shall we?Grade 5 Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V), Aluminum (Al 6013 T6). https://t.co/2KfX4l1dXhJuly 23, 2023

Apple is likely to make at least one major design change in the 2023 iPhone launch due to EU legislation forcing USB-C charging across all gadgets sold in Europe. With such a change, there may be concerns about how heavy the new devices are. A shift to a lighter yet more durable titanium alloy frame could help address concerns about weight.

The potential titanium and aluminum design represents an exciting upgrade for the iPhone 15 Pro models. If the rumors prove true, Apple's higher-end iPhones could offer a more premium feel in the hand while still providing the durability and performance that pro users demand.

On top of the new materials, rumors have circulated in the lead-up to the launch. For instance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max may come with a periscope camera for the first time, while new renders show smaller bezels around the display for both Pro phones. The iPhone 15 Pro is also rumored to come in a new blue color option, along with titanium gray, space gray or silver, but we'll have to wait for the anticipated September 2023 launch event to know for sure.

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Elliot MulleyGoodbarne is a Staff Writer at Tom’s Guide covering news, reviews, buying guides with wit and charm. He has had a keen interest in mobile, tablets, laptops, and everything in between since his first phone, the Samsung U600. Starting at Mobile News, Elliot has been writing about mobile and the business of technology since 2016, and has edited four trade magazines in that time, attending award shows for three of them. He has attended a range of industry events including 5G launches, device announcements, and trade events, where he developed a nose for picking up on trends, interviewing executives, and networking with the tech community. In his spare time, Elliot can usually be found watching, playing, or attending sporting events. With season tickets to West Ham United and Surrey County Cricket Club he often spends weekends in winter in a foul mood and evenings in the summer with a smile on his face. Outside of sport Elliot enjoys cooking, pubs next to rivers, and chilling out with a G&T, Whiskey, or Port after a solid week of excellence.