It became evident back in 2017 that metal is the preferred material for a phone body, as indicated in this source. However, the choice of metal is a topic of discussion. While aluminum is commonly used due to its affordability and lightness, Apple and Samsung both opted for stainless steel and then titanium for their flagship phones.
Each metal has its own set of advantages. Aluminum is lightweight and cost-effective, but not as sturdy as steel. Stainless steel is strong, but also heavy, which led Apple to switch to titanium, a material that is more durable than aluminum but lighter than steel. For instance, the iPhone 14 Pro Max weighs 240g, while the 15 Pro Max is 221g.
Using titanium comes with its own challenges as it is a difficult material to work with and is expensive. Therefore, it is used in limited amounts. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra uses an aluminum frame and plastic to secure titanium strips for the exterior, while Apple directly fuses the titanium to the aluminum frame for the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
Aluminum is susceptible to scratches and dents, and only well-designed phones made of this material can survive typical bend tests. On the other hand, stainless steel and titanium offer better resistance to damage.
Apple is the only company that has made a serious effort to use stainless steel in mass-market phones, which lasted from the iPhone X in 2017 to the iPhone 14 Pro in the previous year. However, the weight of stainless steel remains a persistent issue.
When considering a new phone, do you prefer a device made with titanium, or are you satisfied with aluminum? Are you hoping for a company to reintroduce stainless steel as a phone material?
