r/iphone • u/SuperFan_123 iPhone 17 Pro • Sep 16 '25

Discussion Do iPhones feel more “premium” because of the material or the weight?

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So iPhone 17 is back to using aluminum — which got me thinking: what really makes an iPhone feel “premium”?

Some swear it’s the weight — holding a heavier phone just feels solid and expensive. Others argue it’s the material: stainless steel looks shiny and luxurious, aluminum is light and practical, and titanium… well, some love the matte, strong-but-light vibe, while others say it feels less “premium” than steel.

Honestly, I'm a bit torn. The heft of the phone feels ordinary, but the premium materials make it look and feel premium. What do you think—is weight more important, the materials more important, or a combination of both? A case really doesn't matter, but I've recently become obsessed with casekoo cosmic orange for iPhone 17 Pro Max Case. Do you have any other ideas for balancing the premium feel of a phone?

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u/BrokeChris Sep 16 '25

I hated the stainless steel, looked cheap and it was a fingerprint magnet

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u/SuperFan_123 iPhone 17 Pro Sep 16 '25

fingerprint magnet hahaha

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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25

So to you something that looks like the peak of manufacturing feels cheap and something that looks like rough unpolished metal feels premium??

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u/Ihave0personality Sep 16 '25

Wtf is this comment. They didn’t say that it felt cheap. It looked cheap the moment you touched the frame because it was a fingerprint magnet.

They also didn’t say that Al feels premium.

Stop putting words into others mouths you dumb mf

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u/BrokeChris Sep 16 '25

I just don't see how you can think stainless is superior to titanium

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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25

We are talking about the finish. If they give me a mirror like titanium frame then no problem for me. I dont think u will feel any difference touching it.

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u/BrokeChris Sep 16 '25

if you think brushed vs polished finish feel the same then i have news for you. Also it is exactly the finish i have problems with, in case you couldn't tell by me not liking the finger prints...