If this was true wouldn't there be a market for a ruggedized version that has the toughness of a case, from the factory as shipped? Its a little silly for Apply to shave every possible half-millimeter from the design and then have 99% of people add back the thickness plus a lot of extra by adding a case. Why not have a factory-ruggedized version which isn't as thick as adding that case but is just as rugged?

If you like the color, you can use a transparent case.

Transparent cases are a thing dontchaknow!

Ask workers of cell phone stores and you’ll find that figure is way off. Not everyone wants a case. Having a case significantly changes the feeling of the device in hand.

I bought a blue iPhone 16 last year at this time; I've never used a case. More people are going case-less these days.

Anodizing titanium creates an oxide layer, the thickness of which varies with the voltage used. The thickness of that oxide layer determines which wavelengths of light it refracts [0]. In practical terms, your choices for color are pretty limited[1].

I'm not a chemist, but I looked into this years back when I was wondering why everything titanium is offered in the same couple of colors. Personally, I like the plain gray.

[0] https://wisensemachining.com/titanium-anodizing-guide/

[1] https://www.snowpeak.com/collections/cups/products/ti-single...

But even the non-Pro phones had mostly ugly colors in the last couple years. Maybe to match the ugliness of the Pro models?

The changed colors are the signal that you have the new one.

And i have no idea what color my phone was when i got it. It has been inside an otterbox case since the hour i first had it. For me, the color of a cellphone is about as relevent as the color of a motherboard. It will look cool for, at most, a few minutes before it is forever locked inside a case.

> I don't get why Apple doesn't do consistent colors

The materials used is a factor: the last few iPhones were built with aluminum (iPhone 16), titanium (iPhone 16 Pro) and stainless steel (iPhone 13 Pro).

Not all colors work with all materials; my understanding is titanium is particularly bad for bright colors. The colors for the iPhone Pro models have been pretty drab--not this year.

I have that one, I sometimes take the case off just to look at it.