OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition: An In-depth Analysis of Ceramic Phone Materials: Current Status, Advantages, and Challenges

OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition: An In-depth Analysis of Ceramic Phone Materials: Current Status, Advantages, and ChallengesIn recent years, the materials used for phone back covers have constantly evolved, from early plastics to today's metals, glass, vegan leather, and even ceramics, offering consumers a wider range of choices. However, due to the high complexity and cost of the manufacturing process, ceramic materials have not been widely adopted in the mobile phone market

OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition: An In-depth Analysis of Ceramic Phone Materials: Current Status, Advantages, and Challenges

In recent years, the materials used for phone back covers have constantly evolved, from early plastics to today's metals, glass, vegan leather, and even ceramics, offering consumers a wider range of choices. However, due to the high complexity and cost of the manufacturing process, ceramic materials have not been widely adopted in the mobile phone market. This article will delve into the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and future trends of ceramic phone back covers, and analyze the market positioning and significance of the recently released OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition.

I. Ceramic Phone Materials: The Unique Texture of Gentle Jade

Ceramic, as an ancient craft art, is beloved for its smooth, jade-like texture. In the mobile phone industry, ceramic materials are not traditional ceramics but rather advanced special ceramics, primarily using zirconia ceramics. Zirconia ceramics boast high melting points, high hardness, and excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Its melting point exceeds 2700, withstands temperatures as high as 2300, and possesses exceptional chemical stability, withstanding at least 800. As an additive, it significantly enhances the strength and toughness of ceramics. Furthermore, zirconia ceramics have a multi-phase structure, exhibiting three different crystalline structures under varying temperatures and pressures. This allows for stress-induced phase transformation and transformation toughening under suitable conditions, dramatically improving fracture toughness. Its hardness surpasses that of metals, its toughness exceeds that of ordinary ceramics, and it meets the performance requirements of hot extrusion dies, exhibiting excellent high-temperature, corrosion, and wear resistance, particularly withstanding high temperatures and pressures with minimal permanent deformation. These properties make zirconia ceramics an ideal material for phone back covers, adding a unique charm with its jade-like feel and understated luxury.

While many brands, including Nokia, Samsung, Gionee, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Meizu, and Huawei, have experimented with ceramic materials, the Xiaomi MIX series was the first to widely adopt and garner significant attention for its extensive use of ceramic. The Xiaomi MIX series pioneered an "all-ceramic" design, incorporating ceramic in the body, frame, SIM tray, and buttons a true "ceramic + full-screen" design showcasing Xiaomi's prowess in exploring new technologies and forms. Prior to this, the Xiaomi 5 Premium Edition had already begun using ceramic back covers. It's worth noting that early ceramic phone back covers were predominantly black and white, with white better highlighting the smooth texture of the ceramic. Some classic ceramic back cover phones include: Samsung S10+, Meizu 17 Pro, Huawei P40 Pro+/Mate40 Pro+, Xiaomi 11 Ultra, OPPO Find X5 Pro, and Honor Magic4 Ultimate Edition. These models have all garnered considerable attention for their unique ceramic back cover designs.

II. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ceramic Phone Materials: A Balancing Act

While ceramic materials possess many advantages, their application faces several challenges.

Advantages:

• Unique Texture: The smooth, jade-like feel provides a premium visual and tactile experience, elevating the phone's perceived quality.

• Wear and Scratch Resistance: High hardness prevents scratches, extending the phone's lifespan.

• Corrosion Resistance: Excellent chemical stability prevents corrosion.

• High-Temperature Resistance: High melting point enables it to withstand high temperatures.

Disadvantages:

• High Manufacturing Complexity: The manufacturing process of ceramic phone back covers is extremely complex, involving multiple steps such as slurry casting, high-temperature sintering, and repeated grinding and polishing. For example, the OPPO Find X5 Pro uses "integrated nano-microcrystalline ceramic technology," undergoing 45 processes and 168 hours of repeated firing and polishing to achieve a fully integrated 3D curved ceramic. The entire process includes slurry casting, stamping, degassing sintering, vacuum blackening, shaping, CNC external processing, front polishing, outer arc polishing, laser drilling, CNC fine processing, cleaning, inspection, laser engraving, anti-fingerprint film plating, secondary inspection, and packaging and shipping, totaling 16 processes. This results in low production efficiency, low yield rates, and increased production costs.

• High Cost: The complex manufacturing process leads to significantly higher production costs compared to other materials. For instance, OPPO Vice President Shen Yiren revealed that the cost of a ceramic back cover exceeds 200 yuan. The OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition is also 100 yuan more expensive than the glass version. The Huawei Mate60 RS's "Ru Hong" (Cinnabar Red) color, requiring the addition of cerium dioxide and other rare earth elements for the red hue, further increases the cost.

• Increased Weight: The density of zirconia ceramic is approximately 5.6-6 g/cm, significantly higher than other phone back cover materials. For example, the ceramic version of the Xiaomi 13 Pro is 19 grams heavier than the tech nano-leather version. This adds to the phone's weight, impacting user experience.

III. Market Application and Future Outlook of Ceramic Phone Materials: From Niche to Mainstream?

Currently, ceramic materials are primarily used in high-end flagship phones due to their high cost. Mid-range phones rarely use ceramic back covers, making the OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition a notable exception. It attempts to bring ceramic materials down to the mid-range market, providing consumers with a more cost-effective option, reflecting manufacturers' proactive efforts to promote ceramic materials.

However, the widespread adoption of ceramic materials still faces challenges. Besides cost, weight is another issue. Despite its advantages, the relatively high weight is a significant drawback for phones aiming for thinness and lightness. Therefore, the future development of ceramic phone materials requires breakthroughs in reducing cost and weight.

It's noteworthy that China has made significant breakthroughs in transparent ceramic technology, breaking the foreign technology monopoly. Compared to glass, transparent ceramics offer superior scratch resistance, wear resistance, and high-temperature performance. This provides new possibilities for the future development of ceramic phone back covers. If transparent ceramic technology matures and is adopted on a large scale, the cost of ceramic phone back covers could decrease, and weight could be controlled, potentially driving the wider adoption of ceramic materials in the mobile phone market.

IV. OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition: A Mid-Range Ceramic Attempt

The launch of the OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition marks a significant step towards bringing ceramic phone materials into the mid-range market. The 16GB+512GB version costs 3099 yuan, and the 16GB+1TB version costs 3599 yuan, only 100 yuan more expensive than the glass version. This demonstrates manufacturers' efforts to reduce the cost of ceramic back covers and make them available to a wider consumer base. The success or failure of the OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition will significantly influence other manufacturers' adoption of ceramic materials in the mid-range market.

V. Conclusion

Ceramic phone back covers, with their unique texture and excellent performance, have been well-received by consumers. However, their high cost and relatively high weight have limited their widespread adoption. In the future, with technological advancements, cost reductions, and the application of new ceramic materials like transparent ceramics, ceramic phone back covers are expected to become more widely adopted in the mid-range and even entry-level markets, making the "smooth jade" experience attainable for a broader audience. The emergence of the OnePlus Ace 5 Ceramic Edition is a positive signal of this trend, and its market performance warrants continued attention.