Future iPhone Pro models could ditch aluminium for something far stranger

Apple’s current iPhone Pro design might only be a temporary stopgap. A new leak claims that the tech giant is still actively developing more exotic materials for future iPhone Pro frames – including the long-rumoured liquid meta that it’s reportedly been exploring for well over a decade.

• Read more: iPhone 18 Pro Max leak shows a chunkier camera bump – and it might actually be a good thing

According to leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, Apple’s rumoured shift away from titanium and towards aluminium on the iPhone 17 Pro may not be permanent. Instead, the company is supposedly continuing to experiment with both liquid metal and improved titanium alloys designed to solve some of titanium’s thermal limitations.

While titanium helped make the iPhone 15 Pro feel lighter and more durable, some questioned whether the material’s thermal properties contributed to the device’s early heat complaints – issues Apple later addressed with software updates. Aluminium, meanwhile, is generally better at dissipating heat, even if it lacks some of titanium’s premium feel and structural rigidity.

Despite sounding like something pulled from a sci-fi script, Apple has reportedly been researching liquid metal material for around 15 years. It’s an amorphous alloy (a metallic material with a disordered, non-crystalline atomic structure, to be precise), manufactured through a die-casting process, and it’s said to offer a rare combination of high strength, low weight, corrosion resistance, and flexibility.

That flexibility could be especially important for Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone, aka the iPhone Ultra. Previous reports have suggested Apple wants to use liquid metal components in areas like the hinge to help reduce visible creasing on the folding display while improving durability and screen flatness.

At the same time, Apple is also said to be developing improved titanium alloys for future devices. Rumours surrounding the foldable iPhone claim it could use a revised titanium material that’s both stronger and lighter than the titanium currently used in existing iPhone Pro models.

Apple also appears to be experimenting with different materials across its future lineup. While the iPhone 17 Pro models are rumoured to use aluminium, the thinner iPhone Air is still expected to stick with titanium because of its strength-to-weight advantages.

Before anyone starts expecting a liquid metal iPhone 18 Pro this September, though, there’s an important catch. According to the leak, Apple’s manufacturing plans for the next generation are likely already too far along for these more experimental materials to make the cut. Still, we’ve been pleasantly surprised before…

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.