iPad with titanium chassis reportedly on the horizon

Apple could introduce an iPad using a titanium chassis, a future change to the tablet line that could make it lighter and more resilient to everyday use.

Apple is thought to be working on an updated iPad that it could launch before the end of 2021. While that iPad is seemingly on the way, it is claimed that Apple is already looking to the next generation, and beyond.

The 2021 iPad will be using an aluminum-alloy chassis processed by PVD, according to a report from DigiTimes. The 9th-generation model won't have significant design changes when it's unveiled this fall, but report sources say it will help increase iPad shipments to around 60 million units for 2021.

However, the same sources tell the report that the aluminum-alloy may get replaced in a future revision of the iPad. It is claimed the company is looking to introducing a titanium-based metal chassis to the device.

While doing so can offer many benefits to the product line, such as enabling thinner and lighter designs while maintaining structural integrity, Apple hasn't gone down that route. It is thought that the high cost of production makes the idea an uneconomical one for the iPad lineup at its current price point.

The iPad reports follow analyst claims from July that Apple will use a titanium alloy chassis or internal frame in the "Pro" models of the "iPhone 14."

DigiTimes is a reliable source of data from within Apple's supply chain, but is less accurate as it pertains to Apple's specific plans. This part of Friday's report is more the former, than the latter.

16 Comments

patchythepirate 12 Years · 1254 comments

About 3 years ago

It makes sense that a sturdier material will be needed if they move to a glass back as rumored. Hopefully they can also make them thinner. It's such a cool experience to have something so functional in such small and thin package, and it's something only apple can really pull off.

radarthekat 12 Years · 3904 comments

I’d vote not to employ a strategic metal in a consumer product. Unless someone has recently found a rich supply of Titanium ore somewhere in a friendly country.

charlesatlas 9 Years · 401 comments

radarthekat said:

I’d vote not to employ a strategic metal in a consumer product. Unless someone has recently found a rich supply of Titanium ore somewhere in a friendly country.

Titanium is quite abundant and easy to find. It's just difficult and expensive to refine. Don't forget, Apple has already used titanium in the past, namely the Powerbook G4 Titanium twenty years ago.

tht 23 Years · 5661 comments

This is one far out rumor. As others have said, why would Apple use a material that it uses as a premium feature in the Watch in a bottom end $300 iPad?

From the headlines, I thought the titanium was going to be for an iPad Pro, which makes some sense. Lo and behold, article is about the low end iPad. So, you can probably chalk this one as a supply chain rumor where leakers do not understand what Apple is contracting.

netrox 12 Years · 1511 comments

radarthekat said:

I’d vote not to employ a strategic metal in a consumer product. Unless someone has recently found a rich supply of Titanium ore somewhere in a friendly country.

Actually, titanium is everywhere, in every living organism and soil.

It's just that it comes in small amounts and it's hard to extract titanium which is the reason for the high cost, not the metal itself.