Next Gen Galaxy Note Could Shed Samsung's Plastic Design

[NduPlessis]

Samsung could give the Galaxy Note 3 an aluminum body.

Next Gen Galaxy Note Could Shed Samsung's Plastic Design : Read more

 

[slomo4sho]

Moving from plastic to aluminum is an increase in build quality? Lets go from a durable plastic shell to a soft metal frame. Lets just throw out durability in favor of aesthetics.

 

[scook9]

Which I assume would also necessitate a sealed in battery 🙁

 

[wing2010]

I always look for a case first thing I have my phone. So, it doesn't matter it is plastic or aluminum.

 

[balister]

Moving from plastic to aluminum is an increase in build quality? Lets go from a durable plastic shell to a soft metal frame. Lets just throw out durability in favor of aesthetics.

You do realize that Aluminum is one of the strongest metals around right? Though not in the top 10, it's much stronger than the plastic you find in phones.

 

[fulle]

I don't like aluminum phones very much. Aluminum reduces cellular signal, is not very shock absorbent, is slippery in the hand, easy to scratch/chip/scuff, and it even dents pretty easily.

 

[slomo4sho]

You do realize that Aluminum is one of the strongest metals around right? Though not in the top 10, it's much stronger than the plastic you find in phones.

Actually, carbon fiber, silk, and many other synthetic polymers have much greater tensile strength than aluminum. Even bamboo is lighter and stronger than Aluminum. There are plenty of other options out there to enhance the quality of the phones without giving them the metallic aesthetics.

 

[soo-nah-mee]

You do realize that Aluminum is one of the strongest metals around right? Though not in the top 10, it's much stronger than the plastic you find in phones.

Now that's just silly talk. Aluminum is nowhere NEAR being the "one of the strongest metals around". It can be used to produce strong structures, but only when there is a lot of it, it is used as an engineered extrusion, or it is cast or forged. A stamped phone cover, or even a machined unibody is much less durable than plastic, let alone steel, carbon fiber, or titanium. Aluminum will not bend and return to it's original shape the way plastic can. Aluminum cannot take take an impact with denting. Think of how easy it is to crush an aluminum can. The same structure molded out of ABS plastic would be much more resilient to being crushed and would even provide some springback. Think of an aluminum bodied Acura NSX that will dent if you breath on it wrong.

Without getting into expensive titanium alloys or carbon fiber, plastic is the most durable, lightweight material you use for an application such as a phone. Aluminum looks nice and feels like it is better quality (It costs more, so it should), But unless you baby your phone, you will end up with ugly scratches and dents.

 

[Guest]

My wife has dropped her SG3 so many time and no cracks. I rather deal with no cracks or a cheap replacement, then paying Apple $93 to replace the back of my wifes old iphone 4 fomr a 2 foot drop and brag that th phone is made out of alluminum.

 

[ikyung]

So Samsung finally caves into the demands of people who actually has no idea why flexible plastic is almost always better then metal on phones.

 

[house70]

So Samsung finally caves into the demands of people who actually has no idea why flexible plastic is almost always better then metal on phones.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is just speculation at this point, based on some abandoned design for GS4. Even if they decide to replace plastic, they have way better choices than entirely metal. Some metal blend with ABS or kevlar or carbon fiber can be good.

 

[schnitter]

Thats Samsung in a nutshell, someone is successful? Ok, copy them. Did it wit Apple, now with HTC. HTC One, and LG Nexus 4 are the best phones out there now.

 

[mman74]

Has anyone else noticed that a lot of the aluminium phones out there don't have replaceable battery. I hope that's not the case (pun not intended) for Note 3.

 

[redeemer]

Carbon fiber, kevlar, aluminum?? Seriously guys Samsung would not be able to massively super produce smartphones with these materials like it does with cheap shiny plastics. Not to mention the increase cost to manufacture! It funny when the fanboys down play aluminum and relish hyperglaze plastics instead lol

 

[Spencer Castillo]

i have a galaxy s3 that was run over by a car, the display was cracked but the other parts are perfectly fine (cpu,battery even the micro sd and the sim card). i only replace the display and im still using it like new. Thanks to its durable shock absorbent plastic body

 

[g-thor]

I'll go with one of slomo4sho's suggestions. I would love a phone with a bamboo case - and talk about a unique aesthetic (I know - it's been done on USB keys, but I can't recall a phone using it). Have a bamboo back (removable, of course) with metal, Kevlar or carbon fiber sides, or possibly even some type of rubber for damage resistance.

 

[laststop311]

I don't think they will move away from plastic. For 1 simple reason, profit margins. If they use a more expensive material for the case the build order price goes up but the price they are selling the phone for doesn't go up. Samsung does not want to lower their profit margins when they are dominating the android field already. HTC had to push the cost of their phone up in a desperate attempt to gain market share at the cost of their profit margin. Samsung is not in this position so I believe they will continue to maximize the profit margins until their reign as king of android phones is threatened.