Explore the wide application and future prospects of titanium alloys in consumer electronics

The application of titanium alloy in the field of consumer electronics is gradually expanding, and its high strength and lightweight characteristics have brought new changes to the mobile phone industry. In recent years, well-known 3C brands such as Honor, Apple, and Samsung have begun to use titanium alloy materials, among which Apple's iPhone 15 series has debuted with a new titanium body. In addition, media reports show that Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra will also use titanium alloy middle frames, further proving the popularity of titanium alloy in the field of consumer electronics. The high-end mobile phone market has become the main force in the application of titanium alloys, and the global titanium consumption is expected to reach 20,000 tons in 2024. Although titanium alloys are difficult to process and costly, their unique properties make them increasingly widely used in high-end mobile phones. At the same time, the continued growth of the global high-end smartphone market has also brought greater market demand for titanium alloys. Counterpoint data shows that the overall sales of global smartphones will decline in 2022, while the sales of high-end smartphones will rise against the trend. Assuming that the amount of titanium used in each mobile phone is 100 grams, it is estimated that by 2024, the global amount of titanium used in mobile phones will reach an astonishing 20,000 tons. At the same time, the processing characteristics of titanium alloys have also had a positive impact on the tool market. According to Aibang Polymer data, the yield rate of titanium alloy mobile phone frames is low, the processing time is 3-4 times that of aluminum alloys, and the requirements for cutting tools are extremely strict. Therefore, with the mass production of titanium alloy frames, cutting tools are expected to continue to benefit. Relevant beneficiary companies include Yinbang Co., Ltd. and China Tungsten High-tech, which have significant advantages and potential in the research and development and application of titanium alloy materials.
Titanium alloy, known as the "all-round metal", is gradually becoming a game-changer in the mobile phone industry with its light weight and high strength. This metal chemical element, with its unique physical and chemical properties, shines in the field of consumer electronics. In recent years, well-known 3C brands such as Honor, Apple, and Samsung have embraced titanium alloys, among which Apple's iPhone15 series is leading the trend with a titanium body. Not only that, Samsung GalaxyS24, GalaxyS24+ and GalaxyS24Ultra are also expected to adopt titanium alloy frames, further confirming the hot position of titanium alloys in the field of consumer electronics.
With the booming development of the high-end mobile phone market, the application demand for titanium alloys is growing. It is estimated that the global consumption of titanium materials will reach 20,000 tons in 2024, far exceeding the past. Although titanium alloys are difficult to process and costly, their excellent performance makes them more widely used in the high-end mobile phone market. At the same time, the continued growth of the global high-end smartphone market has also brought a broader market space for titanium alloys. In addition, the processing characteristics of titanium alloys have also had a profound impact on the tool market. According to data from Aibon Polymer, the processing yield of titanium alloy mobile phone frames is low, the processing time is significantly longer than that of aluminum alloys, and the requirements for cutting tools are extremely strict. Therefore, with the large-scale production of titanium alloy frames, cutting tools are expected to usher in continuous market opportunities. A new chapter in consumer electronics has quietly begun, and titanium alloy materials are gradually becoming the new favorite of consumer electronics products such as mobile phones. Since 2023, industry giants such as Honor, Apple, and Samsung have embraced titanium alloys and widely used them in many fields such as mobile phones, smart wearables, tablets, and laptops. Apple's iPhone 15 Pro series of mobile phones is leading the trend with its new titanium body, and Samsung's three new models, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra, are also expected to use titanium alloy middle frames, further confirming the hot status of titanium alloy in the field of consumer electronics. In addition, Honor's lightweight and large folding flagship mobile phone Honor Magic Vs2, released on October 12, also uses innovative materials such as Luban titanium hinges, highlighting the wide application of titanium alloy in consumer electronics. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, some titanium mechanical parts of the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, which will be released this fall, will also be manufactured using 3D printing technology, which will undoubtedly bring more innovation and breakthroughs to the application of titanium alloy. At the same time, the two new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max use titanium metal middle frames for the first time. Compared with the surgical-grade stainless steel of the previous generation, it has stronger corrosion resistance, higher hardness, and is thinner and lighter, bringing consumers a lighter and stronger product experience. It is predicted that the amount of titanium used in mobile phones is expected to reach 20,000 tons in 2024, indicating that the application prospects of titanium alloys in the field of consumer electronics will be broader.
Although the global mobile phone market has declined overall, the high-end market has continued to rise against the trend. According to Canalys data, the global smartphone market in the third quarter of 2023 only fell slightly by 1% year-on-year, and the decline slowed down. At the same time, the sales of high-end smartphones have shown an upward trend. The Counterpoint report pointed out that global high-end smartphone sales in 2022 increased by 1% year-on-year, accounting for 55% of the global smartphone market revenue, an increase of 6 and 11 percentage points compared with 2021 and 2020 respectively. Entering the second quarter of 2023, although global smartphone sales have declined year-on-year for eight consecutive quarters, the high-end market has achieved growth, and high-end smartphones account for more than one-fifth of all smartphone sales. Looking to the future, the application prospects of titanium alloy middle frames in mobile phones are broad. Market analysis agency TrendForce predicts that in 2024, as many as 197 million mobile phones in the world will use titanium alloy middle frames. Among them, the iPhone 15 series is expected to ship about 80 million units, and the "Pro" model accounts for as much as 60%. In addition, the Xiaomi 14 series has performed well in sales since its launch, and its total sales across all channels has set a new record for Xiaomi's high-end flagship. At the same time, Samsung also has high hopes for its next-generation flagship S24 series, which fully adopts titanium metal middle frame materials and plans to increase its shipment target to 35 million units. In summary, with the continued prosperity of the high-end mobile phone market and the growing demand of consumers for thin and sturdy mobile phone products, the application of titanium alloy middle frames in mobile phones will become more and more extensive. It is estimated that by 2024, the number of mobile phones using titanium alloy middle frames will reach 197 million, and the market prospects are broad.
It is estimated that by 2024, the amount of titanium used in mobile phone middle frames worldwide will reach about 20,000 tons. Based on the assumption that the consumption of titanium alloy per mobile phone is about 100 grams, and taking into account the continuous increase in the market share of high-end mobile phones, it is estimated that by 2027, the sales share of high-end models will be 3%, 25%, 27%, 29% and 31% respectively. Therefore, it is estimated that the amount of titanium used in mobile phones will be 5,200 tons, 19,700 tons, 22,700 tons, 27,800 tons and 33,500 tons respectively between 2023 and 2027. As high-end brands such as Apple, Xiaomi and Samsung gradually adopt titanium alloy middle frames, Huawei, Oppo and other brands may also follow suit, which will further promote the proportion of titanium alloy middle frames in high-end phones. In addition, Apple's new patent shows that titanium alloy is expected to be used in devices such as iPad and MacBook in the future.