When rumors surfaced last year that the iPhone 15 Pro would have a titanium frame, I wasn’t convinced. Not because I doubted the veracity of the near-constant churning of the smartphone rumor mill, but because the use of titanium could be a marketing gimmick and a way to drive up the price of the next generation iPhone and the subsequent handsets that followed it to float. footsteps.
I was wrong.
There’s nothing like experiencing things first hand, and once I got my hands on the iPhone 15 Pro Max it completely changed my view on it and the use of titanium, to the extent that the iPhone 15 Pro Max put me off going back to return to Android.
Simply put, the use of titanium on the largest iPhone chassis not only made the phone significantly lighter compared to the iPhone 14 Pro with its stainless steel frame, but also turned what I considered a slightly oversized iPhone into a device. that is much easier to handle. So suddenly I’m a Max man.
After initially feeling like I would miss the weight of steel on the Pro iPhones, my opinion has changed to the point where I now find myself gently caressing the slightly soft-feeling sides of the titanium-rocking iPhone 15 Pro Max. That, and the work Apple has done to integrate four color options into the metal, has resulted in an attractive phone that retains what’s good about its predecessor’s design but refines it wonderfully.
The neat use of titanium on one phone does not mean that this will be the same for other phones. But maybe I should rein in that mild skepticism again.
I also have the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to try out, which, like its Apple rival, has also opted for a titanium frame.
Elemental, my sweet smartphone
Samsung’s new flagship hasn’t managed to shed as much weight as the iPhone 15 Pro Max compared to its respective predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but it still feels just that little bit easier to use with one hand. Combined with new flat screen edges and gently curved titanium sides, the large 6.8-inch phone feels soft and comfortable in my hands, with the edges seemingly blending in better with the phone’s overall body.
In addition, I also received a real-world demonstration that titanium is indeed both strong and light. A few days ago, as I draped my jacket over a chair at a local pub, the Galaxy S24 Ultra decided to pop out of the inside pocket of my jacket and dive-bomb onto the hard floor. While fellow editor-in-chief Matt “Entertainment” Bolton chuckled wryly at my clumsy nature, I looked bewildered at what I thought would be a ferociously chipped phone. But instead, the Galaxy S24 Ultra was left unscathed.
This was understatedly impressive, not least because the Galaxy S23 Ultra somehow managed to dent its body simply from being in my bag, let alone landing on the floor. So the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a pretty badass puppy and might set a standard for other phones to follow.
Don’t get me wrong: the Galaxy S23 Ultra is still a beautiful phone that can withstand the rigors of everyday life. But the S24 Ultra is a testament to how iterative evolution can ultimately lead to an overall fantastic piece of hardware; I hate myself for saying that because I wanted Samsung to push phone innovation further, but I imagine that’s more for its foldable phones.
Speaking of which, while I’m now convinced that titanium is great on flagship phones and should be adopted by the next generation of Pixels and OnePlus phones, it could be a huge boon for foldable phones.
I love using foldable phones, currently having a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 within reach as I write this. But because of their weight, they will never be my most important phones. If the rumored Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 opts for a titanium frame, it could be a foldable phone that feels a lot easier to use and carry in your pocket for everyday use. I hope that by using stronger metal, a next-generation Fold can also be made a little slimmer.
In short, I’m a convert to using titanium in phones. Even if that means they get a price increase, I think the extra staying power, lightness and overall feel are worth it. And now I wait to see if future versions of some of our best Android phones will follow the example of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra; roll on 2024.