Samsung will be using a frame case made out of titanium in its upcoming Galaxy S24 Series, TheElec has learned.
The Ultra model in the series will be the first to adopt the titanium material and the company plans to expand the application depending on reception, sources said.
Apple was the first to apply titanium in smartphones with its latest iPhone 15 Pro models and the feature is heavily promoted in marketing.
If Samsung joins the bandwagon applying titanium frames in smartphones will likely become an industry-wide trend.
The South Korean tech giant was at the late stages of securing the yield rate for the titanium frame cases, the sources said.
Samsung was working with its multiple Chinese case suppliers as well as its staff at its assembly plant in Vietnam, they said.
South Korean supplier KH Vatec was also among those the tech giant was working with.
Chinese company Solomon processes the titanium alloy. This is supplied to Samsung and its suppliers and the alloy is attached to the backside of an aluminum case.
Sources said Samsung started researching ways to apply titanium in its smartphone case frames around two years ago but the decision to commercialize the technology only came recently.
The key will be the yield rate for the cases as a low yield will increase the price of the case by four to five times, they said. Samsung’s aluminum cases used in premium phones currently cost less than US$20.
Samsung has tentatively set a goal to make 15 million units of titanium frame cases, which matches the number of Galaxy S23 Ultra models shipped this year.
Titanium is lighter than steel and harder than aluminum, It also has low heat and current conductivity. The material is widely used in the aerospace sector. However, it is more difficult to handle in cutting and processing. The low heat conductivity means it is harder to cut cleanly.
The adoption of titanium also means that the Galaxy S24 Ultra will likely not become around 10% lighter than its predecessor. Apple used stainless steel prior to the adoption of titanium for Pro models so it could achieve a dramatic weight cut. Samsung has always been using light aluminum so it is difficult to achieve this.
Meanwhile, Galaxy S24 Ultra will also use a flat screen instead of an edged one. The edge will be rectangular rather than a 45-degree angle like before.
