Titanium, once touted as the material of the future for smartphones, appears to be taking a step back. After Apple introduced the material with the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, promising a revolution in design, durability, and weight reduction, both Apple and Samsung have quietly moved away from titanium frames in their latest models. This shift highlights the challenges of balancing premium materials with practical manufacturing and performance considerations in the competitive mobile market.
Supermateriál pro topmodely budoucnosti. Apple a Samsung zůstali věrní titanu jen dva roky
The first mass-produced phone with a titanium frame was the Nokia 8910, followed by a long hiatus. In 2017, Essential Phone PH-1 attempted to revive the use of titanium, but it was again followed by a prolonged period without titanium devices. Now, after just two years, both Apple and Samsung have abandoned titanium. The iPhone 17 Pro has reverted to aluminum, and the word “titanium” is absent from the color options of the Galaxy S26 series, according to reports.
Too Many Drawbacks
While titanium presented a compelling marketing narrative, the iPhone 15 Pro’s titanium frame wasn’t entirely titanium. Due to the metal’s poor thermal conductivity – crucial for dissipating heat from phones – titanium was used only on the exterior of the frame, with aluminum incorporated internally. Despite this, users reported increased heating, which could have been less pronounced with a purely aluminum frame. This became a significant concern as mobile chipsets continue to increase in power and require more effective cooling.
iPhone 16 Pro byl zatím posledním iPhonem s titanovým rámem, od řady iPhone 17 se Apple vrátil k hliníku
Manufacturing likewise proved challenging. The machining of titanium is significantly more expensive and requires specialized tools. This led to slower production, increased defect rates, and a higher cost for the frame.
Coloring titanium also presented difficulties. While aluminum is easily colored through anodization, titanium requires more complex processes. Imperfect application can lead to scratches or color changes upon contact with oils from skin.
U Samsungu je zatím posledním telefonem s titanovým rámem Galaxy S25 Ultra. Spekulace naznačují, že titanový rám bude u Galaxy S26 Ultra chybět
Apple and Samsung essentially created a problem for themselves, now resolving it after two years by returning to aluminum. Aluminum is easier to machine, cheaper to produce, colors more readily, and has a smaller carbon footprint than titanium – a key consideration for Apple’s sustainability goals.
The decision to revert to aluminum also comes amid rising memory prices and signals of potential price increases. Manufacturers are seeking cost savings wherever possible, and the titanium frame, given its drawbacks, became a clear candidate for change. While the durability of titanium frames proved satisfactory, the manufacturing challenges and other disadvantages suggest it won’t be reappearing in smartphones anytime soon.
