# Why did Samsung switch from titanium to aluminum on the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

*Published: 2026-03-05 | Updated: 2026-03-05 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/answers/why-did-samsung-switch-from-titanium-to-aluminum-on-the-galaxy-s26-ultra*

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## Product: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
**Brand:** Samsung

Samsung went back to aluminum after using titanium on the S24 and S25 Ultra. Here's what's going on.

**The real reasons:**

**Cost:** Titanium is expensive. Aluminum lets Samsung keep the $1,299 starting price while upgrading other components.

**Weight:** The S26 Ultra is lighter than titanium predecessors. Noticeable if you hold phones frequently.

**Colors:** Titanium limited options. Aluminum enables Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, and other colors.

**Manufacturing:** Those rounded corners required different tooling. Aluminum is easier to form.

**Is aluminum worse?**

Depends what you care about.

Titanium is harder and resists scratches better. Some loved the premium feel.

Aluminum is softer. It might dent instead of crack when dropped hard. Some prefer this since dents are less catastrophic.

**Does it matter?**

For most people, no. The glass front and back break when you drop your phone, not the frame. Gorilla Glass Armor 2 and Victus 2 provide primary protection.

If titanium was a feature for you, you might be disappointed. If you just want a phone that works well, you won't notice. [Compare S26 Ultra prices](https://shopsavvy.com/products/samsung-samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-galaxy-s26-ultra-97x94afl).

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*Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from thousands of retailers, and analysis of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.*