Ever since the first rumors surfaced that Apple would use titanium in the iPhone 15 Pro, there were predictions that Samsung would follow suit with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, it has been a bumpy ride, with titanium being used or not in all members of the S24 family.

Now we are pretty much back to where we started, with the S24 Ultra just getting it, but according to a new report from Korean publication The Elec, in the long run it may not stop there.

The article confirms that the "frame case" coming next year will change from aluminum to titanium, and that the metal alloy will be processed by a Chinese company called Solomon.

The report claims that about 15 million titanium cases are in the works, which is roughly the number of S24 Ultra shifts the company expects. The site adds that low yields could mean component costs could be four to five times the current $20 price tag, meaning it is not exactly a risk-free move. Samsung may try to pass on the price increase to buyers, but there is no guarantee that consumers will bite.

That is why Samsung's plans to expand its use of titanium are probably only tentative at this point. According to the site's sources, the Ultra model will be the "first in the series" to use titanium, but the company "plans to expand its use depending on its reputation."

That could mean the 2025 Samsung Galaxy S25 series, or it could mean future folderable handsets where toughness is a major advantage if weight can be controlled (although next year's Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 seem premature).

Reports are coming in from the US and Europe.

The report adds that research and development of titanium has been underway for two years, but "the decision to commercialize this technology has only recently been made."

Samsung does not want to leave Apple with something to brag about, even though its use in the Galaxy series has fewer clear advantages than its use in the iPhone. 15Previous pro iPhones used a heavy stainless steel case but the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a lighter aluminum one. While it will still benefit from the added toughness, it's not quite the obvious home run that it is for Apple, in other words.

We still have a few months before we get to see Samsung's new flagship phone. According to a report yesterday, Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S24 series at an event in San Francisco on January 17.

The phone will use Qualcomm's latest AI-enabled Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in most regions, and the S24 Ultra will likely lean on this for the clever new video features Samsung had teased.