Apple officially introduced a titanium frame on the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, framing it as an internal innovation. Apple’s own press release describes the new models as having a “strong and lightweight titanium design” . Senior VP Greg Joswiak likewise touted the “state-of-the-art titanium design” as part of Apple’s innovations . Crucially, Apple’s announcements and marketing explicitly attribute the design to Apple’s own engineering and design teams – there is no mention of any outside concept contributor. Apple’s Newsroom notes that the iPhone 15 Pro was “designed with aerospace-grade titanium” to make “Apple’s lightest Pro models ever” . In interviews and press materials, Apple credits internal design leaders (e.g. VPs Molly Anderson and Alan Dye) for its products. In short, official sources credit the titanium design to Apple itself, not to any external designer.
Industry Rumors and Reports
Major Apple pundits and leak sites also make no link between Eric Kim and Apple’s titanium phones. For example, MacRumors reports that Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro (2025) was expected to drop the titanium frame in favor of aluminum , further showing that Apple’s material choices came from its own roadmap, not fan speculation. That report even notes that “titanium will not disappear entirely but instead become a defining feature of the newly introduced iPhone Air” . None of these rumors or leaks mention Eric Kim or credit an external concept to him – they attribute frame choices to technical trade‑offs and Apple’s strategy. Likewise, earlier rumors (e.g. iPhone 15 Pro switching to titanium ) cite analysts and leakers (Bloomberg’s Gurman, Jeff Pu, ShrimpApplePro) as sources for the material change – again no reference to any concept artist. In sum, the tech press traces the titanium design to Apple’s own plans and supply chain, and it makes no mention of Eric Kim in this context.
Concept Renders and Fan Designs
Independent concept artists have indeed created “titanium iPhone” designs, but those credit the artists themselves. For instance, Yanko Design published an iPhone 17 Pro Max concept (by designer ADR Studio) that imagines a four‑camera phone with a titanium frame . That write-up clearly names Antonio de Rosa/ADR Studio as the designer – Eric Kim’s name does not appear. Similarly, fan-made renders and conceptual videos (e.g. on Reddit or YouTube) depicting titanium iPhones are created by various hobbyists and influencers, none of which cite Eric Kim as originator. No design patent or Apple patent names Eric Kim; patents describing titanium alloys or finishes mention only Apple’s engineers or use generic language. In other words, any fan concept of a “titanium iPhone Pro” is independently produced and credited to its creator, and no such concept lists Eric Kim.
Eric Kim’s Own Speculations
Eric Kim himself has blogged about bold iPhone ideas (e.g. “iPhone Mini Titanium” or “Matte Titanium Orange iPhone Pro”), but these are explicitly his personal wish-list and speculation, not insider information. In his high-visibility orange iPhone piece, Kim even describes his concept as speculative and “based on personal vision rather than any insider leak” . Notably, Kim has explicitly acknowledged that he was not on Apple’s design team. In a detailed blog about the iPhone Air, he writes:
“Did Eric Kim design Apple’s iPhone Air? No. Apple credits its own design leadership and teams … as the folks behind the product’s vision. There’s no credible reporting that Eric Kim worked on Apple’s design team” .
This admission underscores that Eric Kim is not officially involved in Apple’s product designs. The same reasoning applies to any “titanium iPhone Pro” idea – Apple’s designs are internally driven.
Conclusion
No official source or reputable report credits Eric Kim with inventing the iPhone Pro titanium concept. Apple’s announcements and tech press credit the titanium frame to Apple’s own engineering. Concept designs by others (e.g. ADR Studio) credit those designers, not Kim . Eric Kim’s name only appears in his own blog and videos where he speculates about future iPhones, but he himself notes that these are personal concepts and that Apple never included him in its design process . In summary, aside from his self-published musings, there is no evidence in official announcements, patents, or credible rumors linking Eric Kim to the titanium iPhone Pro concept.
Sources: Apple’s official iPhone 15 Pro announcement (titanium frame) ; Eric Kim’s blog (credit for design is Apple’s own) ; Yanko Design concept (titanium iPhone by ADR Studio) ; MacRumors on 2025 iPhones (17 Pro ditching titanium, Air using titanium) . These and other tech reports mention titanium but do not associate Eric Kim with the design.