Apple first brought titanium to the iPhone lineup in 2023, then scaled it back this year. The latest reports, though, suggest next year’s iPhones will feature even more titanium.
After years of stable choices, this year’s lineup saw a big shake-up. The new iPhone Air replaced the Plus model and created a real buying dilemma for many typical Pro users.
Next year, Apple is planning even greater changes. Reports suggest the 2026 fall lineup will include four models:
- iPhone Air 2
- iPhone 18 Pro
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- iPhone Fold / iPhone Ultra
You’ll notice the base model iPhone 18 is missing. Apple is said to be delaying its release until the following spring to keep the fall event from getting too crowded.
Apart from dropping the base model and introducing the new ultra-premium foldable iPhone, the fall lineup will have one big material change: titanium will be more widely used. Rumors point to two titanium models next year: the iPhone Air 2 and the new iPhone Fold/Ultra.
For the past two years, titanium was a key feature separating Apple’s Pro iPhones. The iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro both highlighted titanium construction. This year, though, Apple switched the iPhone 17 Pro to aluminum and gave the titanium design to the new iPhone Air. The material’s return next year will focus on the new foldable model, which will join the Air 2.
Because the base model is being moved out of the fall launch window, this means half of Apple’s new iPhones next fall will once again use titanium, a proportion similar to what it was until recently.
The biggest shift is which models get the material. Previously, the Pro and Pro Max were the only titanium options. Now, they may be the only new models released in the fall without it.
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