Apple really went backwards when it ditched titanium on iPhones

2 hours ago 5

(Image credit: Future)

So there I was, thinking about how the iPhone 17 having a larger, and correct size, 6.3-inch display complete with a 120Hz refresh rate, would mean I wouldn't miss the big specs of my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Heck, the new Fusion main camera even goes some way to making me forget my love of telephoto cameras. So all was looking rather rosy…

Of course this is down to my own dumb clumsiness, which seems to have got worse over the years. And as I’m not a fan of cases ruining the slick industrial designs of the best phones, I tend to raw-dog my iPhone experience, leaving the hardest I test out at the mercy of the elements and my fumblings.

But as I’ve written before, all this was fine with the past two generations of Pro iPhones as they made use of a titanium chassis, which proved pretty much immune to Roland foolery.

Yet that’s not the case with the iPhone 17, with its aluminum frame. Or indeed the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, both of which have ditched the titanium chassis for aluminum in order to save weight.

Given the above, I’m not a fan of this. And I also think that at its current price, the standard iPhone could make use of titanium. I get that it’s harder to work with. But Apple touts sustainability, so surely having stronger phones out of the box would save on energy, and indeed money, spent on repairs.

And while I’m talking durability, I still think more could be done, especially on flagship phones.

Sure, Gorilla Glass is tough and weathers scratches, and Apple’s own Ceramic Shield coating is very good on the display. But outside the use of titanium, I’ve yet to see a glass or coating that truly makes iPhones, Pixels phones and Galaxy S-series handsets truly durable.

Maybe I’m just trying to eschew blame for my own butterfingered nature, possibly aided by enjoying the holiday season festivities with a little too much gusto. But here’s to harder, stronger, tougher phones in 2026.

What’s do you reckon? Do phones need to toughen up? Or are you a case user? Let me know in the comments below.

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Roland Moore-Colyer is Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives, and supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets.

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