Samsung to Again Follow Apple’s Lead and Use Titanium for Its Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung is once again following the leader when it comes to smartphone features, as the South Korean device maker will adopt the use of titanium for the chassis of its upcoming Galaxy S24 Ultra handset. Apple began using titanium for the chassis of its iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max devices.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra will be the first Samsung phone to use titanium and the company intends to expand the application depending on users’ reception, according to a report by The Elec.

For the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple is now using a titanium frame in place of the stainless steel frame used in previous generations of the iPhone, which cuts down on weight. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are approximately nine percent lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Samsung’s adoption of titanium for the S24 Ultra likely won’t result in ad much of a weight reduction from the S23 Ultra, as Samsung uses lighter aluminum in its flagship handsets, while Apple had previously used the heavier stainless steel for the iPhone’s frame.

Samsung’s move to titanium will come at a higher cost for the firm and possibly its customers. Titanium is more difficult to work with, which will increase the price of the frames. The aluminum cases for the S23 Ultra cost approximately $20 to manufacture, while titanium frames could cost as much as $100.

Samsung has a history of “following the leader” when it comes to smartphone features. When Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone, Samsung poked fun at the Cupertino firm for its move, only to remove the headphone jack from its headlining smartphones a few years later.

Shortly after Apple announced its new iPhone 12 handsets would not include power adapters, Samsung ridiculed them in an ad pointing out that chargers were still included with Samsung Galaxy devices. Samsung then removed power adapters from the box with Galaxy S21 devices.