Other Anyone else want aluminium sides on the iPhone 13 Pro/Max?

[The-Real-Deal82]

It’s all subjective, I don’t know why we waste our time trying to convince each other. Some people prefer aluminium and some prefer stainless. What matters is which phone you buy and whether you like it or not. Telling each other one is better or more premium is pointless if those reading it don’t agree. There is no correct answer to this lol.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Well for starters I’m not a guy so the weight of the 12 Pro Max isn’t an issue for me.

I meant it as in “a group of people”...apologies

“no idea how you people do it”

 

[internetrando]

Hell no. Stainless or bust. I’d also accept titanium.

 

[dk001]

It comes down to personal preference.
My Android is glass and aluminum. My 12 ProMax glass and steel. I don't use a case.
I prefer the glass/aluminum for feel and weight.

MHO YOMVW

 

[transpo1]

I would much prefer aluminum over steel. Heck, I would prefer plastic over steel.

There was an unapologetically plastic iPhone. It didn’t last that long.

 

[turbineseaplane]

There was an unapologetically plastic iPhone. It didn’t last that long.

Make one as a flagship (or close) and let's see..
5C was sort of odd offering from the get go

I'm not sure we can use that as a great example to say plastic can't work or wouldn't be bought, etc

I can say though that the 5C was the only iPhone I've ever truly loved using with no case.
It was amazing in hand - very grippy with hand warmth and plastic

 

[transpo1]

Make one as a flagship (or close) and let's see..
5C was sort of odd offering from the get go

I'm not sure we can use that as a great example to say plastic can't work or wouldn't be bought, etc

I can say though that the 5C was the only iPhone I've ever truly loved using with no case.
It was amazing in hand - very grippy with hand warmth and plastic

It's personal preference, I guess. The 5C was fun but I prefer the feel of cold steel and glass. The original iPhone was aluminum and I didn't mind it, but the iPhone 4 was peak design as far as I'm concerned-- nothing but stainless steel and glass.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's personal preference, I guess. The 5C was fun but I prefer the feel of cold steel and glass. The original iPhone was aluminum and I didn't mind it, but the iPhone 4 was peak design as far as I'm concerned-- nothing but stainless steel and glass.

I just wish they'd do "both"

I really think there's a large market that would love the hardware to be more creative in terms of colors and materials.

The 5C effort was 8 years ago now also...

I'm staying hopeful on more "fun" and creativity coming back now that we are seeing the direction of things like the iMac M1

 

[transpo1]

I just wish they'd do "both"

I really think there's a large market that would love the hardware to be more creative in terms of colors and materials.

The 5C effort was 8 years ago now also...

I'm staying hopeful on more "fun" and creativity coming back now that we are seeing the direction of things like the iMac M1

Fun is nice but fun can be achieved with cases for the phones, which most people buy anyway. I bought the "Pacific Blue" Pro Max in a flight of whimsy last year and now regret not getting black, which doesn't wear on me as much as this color...event though I do keep it in a case most of the time.

That said, it does seem like they will fulfill your wish as the standard iPhone models are coming with increasing color options, "purple," being the latest offering.

 

[macOS Lynx]

Sweeping generalisations surely help to set a calm counter-example!

It wasn’t a counter-example. It was me trying to escape this section of the forums. Like Buzz Lightyear said…

 

[Grey Area]

Aluminium right now and into the distant past has cost more per kg. The premium element is the manufacturing processes needed to make these stainless frames. Longer machine cycle times, and higher tool wear mean these frames take perhaps twice as long to manufacture even if this is a matter of minutes. Apple have marketed stainless steel as premium and done so by claiming it’s a better quality material. People have rightly bought into that, but I’m glad I know a bit more of what is involved.

Aluminium costs more by weight, but it is a lot lighter than steel, and stainless steel costs more by volume (usually - we'd have to know the exact alloys and contracts). As we are dealing with fixed dimensions here, a stainless steel iPhone might very well cost more than an otherwise identical one made of aluminium.

And even if the higher cost of an SS phone over an aluminium one is in part due to the machining cost, I think that is a valid factor in making an option "more premium." After all, with aluminium the high "raw" material cost is also mostly due to processing: Aluminium is the most common metal - it is just almost never found in a pure form, and it is the expensive process of turning bauxite into useful aluminium that accounts for most of the price.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Aluminium costs more by weight, but it is a lot lighter than steel, and stainless steel costs more by volume (usually - we'd have to know the exact alloys and contracts). As we are dealing with fixed dimensions here, a stainless steel iPhone might very well cost more than an otherwise identical one made of aluminium.

And even if the higher cost of an SS phone over an aluminium one is in part due to the machining cost, I think that is a valid factor in making an option "more premium." After all, with aluminium the high "raw" material cost is also mostly due to processing: Aluminium is the most common metal - it is just almost never found in a pure form, and it is the expensive process of turning bauxite into useful aluminium that accounts for most of the price.

Indeed but they are both in effect ‘premium’ materials regardless of what anybody says here. The problem we have is perception of these materials because of a few words that have been used by a company in its marketing. You got people here claiming SS ‘feels’ more premium because it’s heavy in the hand, but then if titanium was introduced with its lightweight properties, this claim would go out of the window. I think it’s all buzz word driven to be honest but it really doesn’t matter I suppose. What matters is you enjoy the phone you’ve bought and I’m more than happy using an iPhone with aluminium sides that I rarely see anyway.

 

[Rainshadow]

Aluminium has better thermal conductivity and dissipates heat faster than steel. Aluminium sides also don't like look a mushy mess within seconds of holding the phone.

Like I said, people fell for marketing hype and think the shinier the phone the more premium it must be.

Dude. You asked. Don’t get hot and bothered when people disagree. Aluminum is too soft, doesn’t have the heft That makes a device “feel” premium. You disagree. Fine. Dont buy the pro. There isn’t much difference anyway and you clearly feel strongly About it.

SS may have light scratches but it doesn’t gouge like aluminum does. No thanks.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The problem we have is perception of these materials because of a few words that have been used by a company in its marketing. You got people here claiming SS ‘feels’ more premium because it’s heavy in the hand, but then if titanium was introduced with its lightweight properties, this claim would go out of the window.

You just nailed it
People are eating up Apple’s brilliant marketing...hook, line and sinker

 

[Grey Area]

Indeed but they are both in effect ‘premium’ materials regardless of what anybody says here. The problem we have is perception of these materials because of a few words that have been used by a company in its marketing. You got people here claiming SS ‘feels’ more premium because it’s heavy in the hand, but then if titanium was introduced with its lightweight properties, this claim would go out of the window. I think it’s all buzz word driven to be honest but it really doesn’t matter I suppose. What matters is you enjoy the phone you’ve bought and I’m more than happy using an iPhone with aluminium sides that I rarely see anyway.

I somewhat agree, though I think the perception of stainless steel as premium has deeper roots than just Apple's marketing. With fine watches, tools and other pricey items, the aluminium option is usually cheaper than stainless steel, if aluminium is offered at all. Rolexes are stainless steel, aluminium is for soda cans and tin foil - that is what people have seen for decades. I think Apple has actually done a lot to elevate the prestige of aluminium, for better and worse: The material is too good to be regarded as disposable, but it does have weaknesses that make it less suitable on items like watches (bends and dings more easily, discolorations from skin contact unless coated), and those are relevant for phones as well.

But as you say, my phones also spend their lives in cases and I do not really care about the material hidden inside. I would love a titanium phone, though, and that one I would use it caseless: light, strong and virtually corrosion-proof. Scratches easily, but so easily that I regard scratches as a signature surface feature of titanium.

 

[James Godfrey]

Personally, because I always go silver with my iPhones and Apple watches, I prefer SS, for two main reasons only…

1. You can buff out scratches and dings.

The one issue I have with aluminium is the fact that once it’s scratched or nicked that’s there permanently, with SS you can use some cape cod and it will come right out.

2. More premium look.

This is more so on the Apple Watch for me, but does apply to both, the matte aluminium does look very cheap IMO, especially on the silver models.

TBH with the differences between the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro last year, you can quite easily just go for the standard 12 and you won’t be missing many features off the 12 Pro.

 

[luckypiglive]

I definitely prefer aluminium, even if it looks a bit faded...

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I somewhat agree, though I think the perception of stainless steel as premium has deeper roots than just Apple's marketing. With fine watches, tools and other pricey items, the aluminium option is usually cheaper than stainless steel, if aluminium is offered at all. Rolexes are stainless steel, aluminium is for soda cans and tin foil - that is what people have seen for decades. I think Apple has actually done a lot to elevate the prestige of aluminium, for better and worse: The material is too good to be regarded as disposable, but it does have weaknesses that make it less suitable on items like watches (bends and dings more easily, discolorations from skin contact unless coated), and those are relevant for phones as well.

But as you say, my phones also spend their lives in cases and I do not really care about the material hidden inside. I would love a titanium phone, though, and that one I would use it caseless: light, strong and virtually corrosion-proof. Scratches easily, but so easily that I regard scratches as a signature surface feature of titanium.

It all depends on the application. You mention high end watches but these are built to last decades and need to be made from harder metals. I don’t think a Rolex made entirely of aluminium would hold up over a 50 year life span when it’s been deep sea diving and used as a tool watch. Aluminium is indeed used in food foils and cans etc, but it’s also used in aircraft and luxury cars due to its lightweight properties. You wouldn’t eat your dinner with aluminium cutlery but do with stainless steel for instance lol. Again it’s not about a material having a particular status, but more to do with suitability of the application. For me stainless and aluminium are perfectly suited to phones and smart watches. I think much of the snobbery surrounding aluminium in tech comes purely from pricing scales and marketing.

 

[One2Grift]

I'm amazed that Pro phone users don't want the weight to get reduced.

I was playing with a friends 12 Pro Max the other day and - my god - it was literally like a patio paver

I would never even dream of carrying that brick around all the time.
No clue how you guys do it

Correction, you’re amazed that a handful of posters state they don’t want Aluminum/lighter weight. On these forums, IME, the first handful of posters for most things Apple are not, ahem, well received.

Just something to keep in mind…?

 

[Feyl]

I vastly prefer aluminium in current iPhones. I have nothing against stainless steel, but for the love of god Apple make it matte like you did it with iPhone 4. I mean it's like a mirror and fingerprint magnet now. It looks so cheap.

 

[ericwn]

It wasn’t a counter-example. It was me trying to escape this section of the forums. Like Buzz Lightyear said…

Escape through participation - brilliant strategy!

 

[Falhófnir]

I just wish they'd do "both"

I really think there's a large market that would love the hardware to be more creative in terms of colors and materials.

The 5C effort was 8 years ago now also...

I'm staying hopeful on more "fun" and creativity coming back now that we are seeing the direction of things like the iMac M1

Plastic can certainly be used to good effect, I had a Nokia Lumia 930 at one point, which was not dissimilar to the iPhone 12 in overall shape, with an aluminium band around the edge, but the back was a slightly convex piece of soft-touch polycarbonate, and it felt great in the hand. If they wanted to switch out the glass backs at some point for another radio-transparent material I'd certainly be open to something similar!

 

[kevcube]

Firstly, aluminium is actually three times more expensive than steel, so it's ironic stainless steel is reserved for the premium models. Aluminium is also lighter, which as iPhones grow bigger and thicker would keep the weight down.

Perhaps Apple feel the shiny stainless steel looks more premium, but I've always been more impressed with the anodized aluminium sides on iPhones. The stainless steel wasn't too bad on the rounded corners on the X/XS/11 Pro but on the new flat edges it turns into a disaster within seconds of handling your phone. It completely subverts the premium image that Apple is aiming for.

I've seen a lot consumers wishing for matte sides on the Pro & Pro Max models. Even matte steel would be better but I'd still take aluminium out of the two.

Is there any chance that Apple will use aluminium sides on the iPhone 13 Pro & Pro Max models or we stuck with steel?

You don’t describe any pros/cons to steel. You imply ONE when you say aluminum is lighter.

What do you mean “on the new flat edges it turns into a disaster within seconds of handling your phone” are your hands corrosive to steel? Does your phone cause a catastrophe every time you touch it, but only because of stainless steel?

to respond to your post, no, I don’t want aluminum. Stainless holds up way better to drops. I don’t want little cavities and dings all over my phone because I went for a day

 

[pianostar9]

What do you mean “on the new flat edges it turns into a disaster within seconds of handling your phone” are your hands corrosive to steel?

Not the person you were responding to, but they probably were exaggerating that they feel it's hard to hold.

 

[therealMasa]

You don’t describe any pros/cons to steel. You imply ONE when you say aluminum is lighter.

What do you mean “on the new flat edges it turns into a disaster within seconds of handling your phone” are your hands corrosive to steel? Does your phone cause a catastrophe every time you touch it, but only because of stainless steel?

to respond to your post, no, I don’t want aluminum. Stainless holds up way better to drops. I don’t want little cavities and dings all over my phone because I went for a day

Not the person you were responding to, but they probably were exaggerating that they feel it's hard to hold.

I'm talking about the smudges. Within seconds of handling the shiny, stainless steel sides they turn into a mess, which instantly ruins the premium vibe they're going for. It's especially bad on the "new" flat edges.