Samsung has paid a lot of attention to the new materials used in its recently launched products Samsung Galaxy S24Ultra – namely a titanium frame and new Gorilla Glass Armor – and now a YouTube video has given us an idea of just how durable those materials actually are.
YouTuber and repair expert Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything put the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s improved endurance to the test as part of his test series for smartphone durabilitywhere the Galaxy S24 Ultra not only survives, but also succeeds with flying colors.
The all-new titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor glass front should make the Galaxy S24 Ultra one of the strongest phones ever and a notable upgrade over its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S23Ultra.
Tough as a gorilla
Corning Gorilla Armor is a unique addition to the S24 Ultra. Corning claims that Gorilla Armor is superior to the Gorilla Glass Victus and Victus 2 used in most other flagship phones, saying that it is not only rugged but also reduces screen glare by 75%, as seen in the video, which compares the Galaxy S24 Ultra with the much older Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
The resistance of the screen was tested by using progressively harder tools rated on the Mohs hardness scale, which runs from 1 to 10. The screen is then divided from 1 to 10, using correspondingly harder tools as the number progresses, initially producing no marks, then the light strokes ultimately into deep cuts and grooves.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra seems unyielding on the first several levels of hardness, with lines only starting to appear on the screen at level 7, but they look faint and shouldn’t have a major impact on the phone’s operation.
Nelson then comments on how the new glass feels even slightly different, stating that his tools started to sense the depth of the fractures at much later levels than normal, around levels 7 and 8.
The video shows that the Corning Gorilla Armor appears to be resistant to the micro-scratches commonly found in key scratches and everyday use, providing an improved level of protection over previous types of Gorilla Glass. And even with level 7 scratches on the screen, the fingerprint scanner still functioned well.
I am titanium
The same tool is then used to make scratches and deep cuts on the titanium frame, with Nelson noting that titanium resistance begins to show damage around level 6 and that more typical aluminum frames are usually rated around level 3, suggesting that the S24 Ultra’s frame offers a significant improvement in terms of sustainability.
Samsung doesn’t mention what grade of titanium is used, although these test results suggest it’s a significant upgrade over the aluminum used in previous Samsung phones. Titanium is rated for strength on a scale of 1 to 12, with lower grades being weaker and 12 being known for its extreme heat and corrosion resistance.
Samsung probably used grade 5, which is the same quality as the titanium used in it Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro And iPhone 15 Pro Max. It is also commonly used in spacecraft, naval vessels and racing cars as one of the hardest metals known to man, but it is also much more expensive to produce.
When Nelson tries to bend the Galaxy S24 Ultra with his hands, the phone gives very little, neither bending nor breaking under pressure. I recommend watching the video for a detailed overview of the incredible resistance of the Samsung S24 Ultra.
Resistance is not futile
While the overall look and design of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra hasn’t changed much from its predecessor, it seems clear that the improved materials will make a big difference to the phone’s durability.
And its ability to withstand both heavy loads and daily wear and tear could well set a new standard for ultra-premium devices that last much longer, making them a much better investment.