Apple recently released its iPhone 15 Pro series, boasting upgrades such as a titanium build and a USB Type-C port. However, in a drop test comparison conducted by popular YouTuber PhoneBuff, it was revealed that the iPhone’s titanium body did not live up to expectations in terms of strength. After a back-facing drop from waist-level height, the iPhone’s back shattered with wide cracks, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra only suffered smaller cracks on two corners. Despite the titanium body, the iPhone performed worse than the Galaxy, which features an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on both the front and rear.
The drop test continued with both phones being dropped with one corner facing down. While the iPhone’s titanium frame remained fairly undamaged, its rear glass started falling off. In comparison, the Galaxy’s aluminum frame got slightly deformed but remained intact. Both phones were fully functional after this round. In the third test, the screens of both phones cracked significantly, with the Galaxy performing slightly worse due to its curved screen. However, both phones continued to function perfectly. The Galaxy S23 Ultra ultimately won the drop test, showing that there may not be any significant real-world benefits to Apple’s implementation of a titanium body.
There are rumors that the upcoming Galaxy S24 Ultra will feature a titanium body, and it is hoped that it will offer improved strength compared to its predecessor. Titanium is known to be stronger than aluminum for the same weight; however, Apple used titanium in the iPhone 15 Pro to reduce its weight compared to earlier models. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to maintain the same weight as its predecessor, suggesting that the rumored titanium frame may offer some benefits over the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s aluminum frame.
