Last year, Apple introduced two members of the iPhone 15 family, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, to the world with titanium cases. Why might the company not use titanium in the iPhone 17 series when it introduced the iPhone 16 series in the same way this year?
Brands fear Trump’s China tariffs
Apple switched to stainless steel frames with iPhone X. The company then switched to titanium with the iPhone 15 Pro series. In 2023, after Apple switched to Titanium case, South Korea-based smartphone manufacturer Samsung started using titanium in the new S24 Ultra model in the same way. While it is estimated that Samsung will leave the titanium case with the S26 series, it is estimated that Apple will not use titanium with the iPhone 17 series.
While Samsung is expected to drop the titanium case with the S26 series, Apple is expected to stop using titanium with the iPhone 17 series. The main reason for this situation is estimated to be the additional tariffs that Donald J. Trump will impose on China when he becomes president again in the presidential elections held in the USA last month. China is currently at the top of the list as the world’s largest titanium producer.
From Apple and Samsung’s side, the price of iPhones could rise even higher if the devices, which are already sold with a high pricing tag, continue to be made with titanium cases. Companies may not want to have problems with any titanium trade barriers that may occur in the event of increased trade tensions between the Far East and the United States. Especially Apple is expected to switch all its models from titanium cases to stainless steel cases with the iPhone 17 series.
So what do you think about this issue? Please do not forget to state your thoughts in the comments section below.
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