Rumours of Apple bringing titanium back to future Pro iPhones may have been a little premature. A new leak now suggests the company is sticking with aluminium longer than expected, and it’s apparently all down to AI.
According to known Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, Apple’s growing focus on on-device AI features is making heat management a much bigger priority, and Aluminium offers better thermal performance than titanium. In short, aluminium may not feel quite as premium, but it does a better job of keeping increasingly powerful phones cool.
That directly pushes back against an earlier claim from fellow leaker Instant Digital. They suggested Apple was exploring improved titanium alloys and even liquid metal materials for future Pro models. At the time, it sounded like Apple’s switch back to aluminium for the iPhone 17 Pro would only be temporary.
Now, though, the latest leak suggests aluminium could be sticking around for a while.
The report also claims this is not just an Apple problem either. Android phone makers, including Huawei, are reportedly leaning on aluminium for similar reasons. Especially as local AI processing becomes more demanding across flagship devices.
That context makes the rumoured material change feel a bit more understandable. While titanium helped give the iPhone 15 Pro a more premium feel, the phones were also hit with overheating complaints shortly after launch. Apple later addressed some of those issues through software updates. However, it now sounds like thermal efficiency is taking priority over flashy materials.
Interestingly, the leak claims Apple is still experimenting with titanium and liquid metal for other products, including its long-rumoured foldable iPhone. However, for the standard Pro line-up, don’t expect a titanium comeback anytime soon.
If the report is accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro could retain the same aluminium unibody design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, potentially pushing any major material change back until at least 2027.
For now, it seems Apple is choosing practicality over prestige, especially if it means future iPhones can handle heavier AI workloads without turning into pocket hand warmers.
