The smartphone market has drastically evolved in the last decade- displays have become wider, phones have become stylish, and every new model has an extra camera than the previous one with higher resolution. Yet, the materials used have been consistent in making these phones. Plastic and glass are two everyday items used in manufacturing mobile phones. Another widely used element is aluminium.
The silvery grey lightweight metal aluminium is presently the best-integrated and most cost- effective smartphone body material. Ever wondered why? Why, in most cases, other durable metals like stainless steel are not used in making mobile phone cases instead of aluminium.
Why is stainless steel or any other metal not a preferred choice in manufacturing smartphones' body material?
The tiff between aluminium and stainless steel continues in the tech industry regarding mobile phones. Stainless steel is a common and highly durable metal. Yet, it is used less frequently in smartphones.
The reason is its weight. Mobile phones need a larger battery capacity for better battery life. These batteries are heavy, so stainless steel cannot be used in mobile phones. Both heavy battery and hulking body will make the mobile phones inconvenient to carry around, defying their whole purpose.
Additionally, other metals like titanium are not used in making mobile phones because they can hinder connectivity. Mobile phones use electromagnetic waves to connect with the service provider's network. However, these rays cannot penetrate through metals like titanium. Moreover, it is an expensive and heavy metal that will increase the mobile phone's weight and price. Finally, magnesium is lighter than aluminium but way too expensive. Hence, it is not a feasible choice of material for manufacturing smartphones.
Why is aluminium the metal of choice?
Aluminium has an array of qualities that makes it the metal of choice for mobile phone manufacturers, such as,
- Aluminium is a ductile metal and can be shaped as desired.
- It is inexpensive compared to its competitors and, therefore, fits the manufacturers' and customers budgets.
- It is lighter; hence, the perfect choice for new-age sleek and feather-light phones.
- Aluminium has a low coefficient of thermal expansion. Therefore the unibody does not stretch and damage the other parts of the phone.
- It is known for its thermal and electrical conductivity.
Last but not least, aluminium is a 100% recyclable metal. So, when used in any consumer product, it makes the item even more environmentally sustainable. Aluminium recovered from the e-waste generated from mobile phones can be recycled and reused without any loss of goodness.
In the age of sustainability, when every brand strives to make its offerings less environmentally harmful, mobile phone makers will use more aluminium to stay ahead in this journey.
Aluminium alloys used by notable smartphone brands
Aluminium alloys from the 6000 and 7000 series are used in making mobile phones. Apple used aluminium alloy from the 6000 series in the iPhone 5 launched in 2012.
Common alloys used in this series are 6061 and 6063. Furthermore, after the Bendgate controversy, Apple did not move away from aluminium. It updates the alloy series to 7000, which is assumed to be 60% stronger than standard aluminium alloys.
Apple's journey with aluminium is a part of Bill Gates's mission to create a greener Apple. In an open letter in 2007, the founder highlighted the company's environmental policy changes, including adopting aircraft-grade aluminium. It highlights the recyclability of aluminium and its reputation as an environmentally friendly metal. It started with the unibody MacBook laptop made from extruded aluminium.
Popular brands that use aluminium in their smartphones:
Apple is one of many popular mobile phone brands leveraging the benefits of aluminium in its products. Samsung, one of the most significant market players of Android phones, used the alloy 6013, supplied by aluminium giant Alcoa in their latest Samsung Galaxy S6. Other noteworthy brands like LG, One Plus and HTC have also jumped on the aluminium bandwagon.
Final words:
Although aluminium is the go-to metal for high-end mobile phone manufacturers, it has its limitations. It has higher perceived skin temperatures, and it can get uncomfortable to hold an aluminium phone when the temperatures go down. With technological advances and the increased need for mobile phones, the demand for aluminium will rise. However, it will be interesting to see if technological advances can fix the limitation of other durable metals and if they can enter the race any time soon.
