Yup, titanium is somewhere between aluminum and steel in terms of strength-weight, but it scratches quite easily, somehow it seems even softer than aluminum despite numbers saying otherwise(I suspect that the oxidized layer isn't as strongly attached to the alloy itself, compared to aluminum's case), so I don't see the point of making a phone with it except if one were actually looking for that rugged look, which generally works on watches. Also it's resistant to bacteria, but again that works better on watches, and for a phone it would at least need to cover the entire back to make a difference.

If the Essential Phone is anything to go off of both of these phones will be HEAVY. Titanium isn't a lightweight material.

I.e. just another way to inflate prices. I couldn't possibly think of a situation where I would need such a superfluous material; rather, far more useful would be the inclusion of a qualcomm processor, not a exynos as roumoured. I just can't fathom how a company can get so much right and still be on a path to make such silly bad decisions.