The Huawei Mate70 Pro+s Jin Si Yin Jin (Golden Silk Silver Brocade) colorway and its material controversy: The evolution and future of smartphone back panel materials

The Huawei Mate70 Pro+s Jin Si Yin Jin (Golden Silk Silver Brocade) colorway and its material controversy: The evolution and future of smartphone back panel materialsToday, the material of a smartphone's back panel is no longer just a functional consideration; it's a key differentiator in brand competition. Huawei's Mate70 Pro+'s Jin Si Yin Jin colorway, with its unique resin and glass fiber composite material, has sparked widespread discussion

The Huawei Mate70 Pro+s Jin Si Yin Jin (Golden Silk Silver Brocade) colorway and its material controversy: The evolution and future of smartphone back panel materials

Today, the material of a smartphone's back panel is no longer just a functional consideration; it's a key differentiator in brand competition. Huawei's Mate70 Pro+'s Jin Si Yin Jin colorway, with its unique resin and glass fiber composite material, has sparked widespread discussion. This raises a broader question: how important is the material of a phone's exterior, really? This article will delve into the evolution of smartphone back panel materials, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different materials, and look ahead at future trends.

From Jin Si Yin Jin

The Mate70 Pro+'s Jin Si Yin Jin colorway, with its unique textured design, has captured considerable attention. Huawei's official marketing compares it to "an aesthetic tapestry woven with needles instead of brushes, and threads instead of ink." This intricate texture is not easily achievable with traditional glass materials. Reportedly, the Huawei Mate70 series and Mate X6 utilize a resin base infused with glass fibers. This approach isn't unique to Huawei; Xiaomi, vivo, and other manufacturers have also adopted similar fiberglass materials in their flagship models.

However, this "very special" material has also sparked controversy. Many netizens express reservations about this non-mainstream material, questioning whether it meets the quality standards of a flagship phone. This skepticism stems from consumers' unfamiliarity with the new composite material and concerns about its unknown performance.

Xiaomi's 14 Ultra's "Dragon Crystal Ceramic" faced similar controversy. While only 5 grams heavier than the standard glass version, it lacked the hardness and scratch resistance of traditional ceramic. This demonstrates that new composite materials, while balancing lightness, thinness, and aesthetics, may require sacrificing some performance.

The Rise and Application of Fiberglass Materials

In recent years, fiberglass has seen increasing use in smartphone back panels. Flagship products like the vivo X200/Pro, Xiaomi 15 Pro, and iQOO 13 Racing Edition all utilize fiberglass. Practical experience shows that fiberglass offers almost no discernible difference in feel, appearance, and grip compared to glass. Advanced matte-finishing techniques give fiberglass a near-glass-like texture; only tapping reveals a different sound.

Why are manufacturers choosing fiberglass over glass? Besides cost, lightweight durability is key. Fiberglass is lightweight and strong, boasts good insulation and corrosion resistance, and allows for various visual and tactile effects through surface treatments (spray coating, skin application, texture transfer, etc.). Transsion's Infinix Note 30 VIP Racing Edition even uses stacking techniques to achieve a dazzling optical texture and leather-like feel, showcasing the immense potential of fiberglass.

However, due to fiberglass's inherent opacity, decorative effects are primarily surface-level, making it difficult to mimic the glossy look of glass.

The Evolution of Smartphone Materials: From Plastic to Composites

The evolution of smartphone materials reflects technological advancements, process innovations, design philosophies, and shifting user demands.

Early phones primarily used plastic due to its low cost and ease of processing. However, plastic's limited wear resistance and aesthetics couldn't meet growing user expectations.

Metal materials then gained popularity due to their durability, malleability, and unique feel. The iPhone 4 marked the widespread adoption of metal in the smartphone industry.

However, metal's limitations in signal transmission and wireless charging led to glass gradually replacing it. Glass offers aesthetics and excellent feel, but lacks scratch and drop resistance.

Ceramic emerged to address glass's shortcomings. It provides higher scratch and drop resistance while retaining many of glass's advantages.

The introduction of vegan leather brought a new texture and feel to phones, becoming a significant tool for enhancing product premiumness.

The Future of Composite Materials: Lightweight, Durable, Personalized

From plastic to metal, glass to ceramic, and now composites, the evolution of smartphone materials has consistently focused on lightness, durability, and aesthetics. Composites offer new possibilities.

Fiberglass, as a new composite material, maintains structural rigidity while significantly reducing phone weight and allowing for personalized designs through various surface treatments.

As materials science and processing technologies continue to advance, more innovative materials will undoubtedly be used in phone designs. We can expect future phones to offer greater material diversity, lighter weight, improved feel, and increased durability. The difference between fiberglass and glass will become less of a consumer concern.

In Conclusion

The choice of smartphone back panel material is no longer a simple technical issue; its a reflection of brand aesthetics and user experience. The controversy surrounding the Jin Si Yin Jin colorway highlights consumer perceptions and expectations of new materials. With technological progress, we'll see more innovative materials, delivering superior performance and richer visual experiences. Future smartphone materials will move beyond traditional glass and ceramic towards lighter, more durable, and personalized options, ultimately achieving the goal of "more beautiful, lighter, better feel, and even greater scratch and drop resistance."