Apple has not used a titanium finish on any of its iPhone 14 models this year, but it introduced the material with the announcement of the Apple Watch Ultra. According to the latest patent, the technology intends to bring this finish to more product lines later on, and in a variety of colour options.
Titanium has several advantages over aluminium and glass, so Apple is hoping to move to this material in the future. The patent was issued on October 4, 2022, and provides the following description.
The US Patent Office has granted Apple patent 11459668 B2, entitled “Titanium alloy component having an anodic oxide layer”. The patent granted by Apple covers a case for a portable electronic device that may include a titanium substrate defining a textured surface and a nominal surface.
Apple has reportedly introduced titanium into numerous products on several occasions. Firstly, it offers several benefits over the aluminium and glass sandwich that the company has been using for many years. Firstly, titanium will make future products such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac more scratch-resistant. They will also be more durable, making the devices less likely to bend compared to other products.
Unfortunately, apart from the cost, another reason why Apple is currently avoiding using this material is that it is difficult to etch on it, as this could leave permanent marks. Apple has been researching and developing a method involving the use of sandblasting, etching and chemicals to produce a more glossy surface on each product range, making them aesthetically appealing to customers. In addition, the use of thin oxide surface coatings is being investigated, which will make future Apple products less susceptible to oily fingerprints.
In short, it may be some time before we see commercial installations of the various Apple products launched in the future. It’s also possible that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max already have prototypes for their titanium finishes, but due to increased costs and other factors, Apple is sticking with aluminium and glass this year. If you want a detailed look at this patent and how Apple intends to bring a variety of colour options to future products, be sure to check out this link
