dibblebill
Android Expert
For me, it's preference. I don't like Samsung plastic, but I don't mind the kind on a Sony
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Why are some Android phones made of plastic?
- Thread starter Trackr
- Start date
For me, it's preference. I don't like Samsung plastic, but I don't mind the kind on a Sony
chanchan05
The Doctor
Compared to the plastics Nokia used to use, and the ones on Sony, the ones LG and Samsung use for the backs are indeed flimsy. The Note 3 was a good change, but sadly doesn't translate to S5. Although the S5 plastic isn't so bad. Way better than the back used on the S3.
Stuntman
Android Expert
My Samsung Galaxy S3 plastic after a year and a half is in much better shape than my Nokia N97 plastic after only 7 months. You can really see the wear and tear on the N97, but you have to look closely to see some minor scuff marks on the Galaxy S3.
Often it's the fit and finish that makes all the difference of how something is perceived. I had the original Galaxy S, and that would often groan, creak and flex like a cheap toy. And the silver metal looking trim started to rub off after a short time as well, just like a $50 fake.
With the S5, if the back isn't a perfect fit, and it has gaps, movement, squeaks and creaks. The reviewers will pick up on it, this is an expensive phone, so therefore it must appear to be expensive and well made. Doesn't matter what it's made of, as long as the fit and finish is top notch.
You're going to break the glass on any phone if you hit it hard enough, not just iPhones. That's down to care really. I've seen more than enough broken glass on Androids and iPhones for real, and not just blogs and YouTube.
Absolutely. I have numerous fake copies of things like camera lens caps that the OEMs charge rip-off prices for, and while the material and overall design of the fakes is identical to the originals I can see instantly which is which just because of poor finish.
I don't mind poor plastic finish in the case of a cheap lens cap but there's no excuse when it's a part of an expensive product like a phone.
chanchan05
The Doctor
My old N70 still is in better shape than my brother's S3. Then my brother is a clutz. 1 week out of the box he broke the S3's screen and won't really tell us what happened. The chrome lining has peeled off and the Samsung logo on the back cover has deteriorated. The 5800 he handled for over a year survived a lot of rough treatment.
So it may also be based on the person using it.
But anyway, back to topic, plastic when built right, is far from flimsy. I mean look at the 3750. It's plastic but can survive being run over by a car and any drop test you can think of:
http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_3720_classic-review-389p6.php
The Galaxy S3/4 back covers are anything but flimsy... they can be bent almost in half without damage, instead just springing back into shape. It's this 'plasticity' that gives the material its name, after all. 
funkylogik
share the love peeps ;)
Yeah people seem to prefer brittle which isn't an ideal property for a hand held device prone to drops lol
Stuntman
Android Expert
It's not really a fair comparison when different people handle the different phones. At least with my experience, I used both phones the same way. I also carry both in a leather holster with no case. I only recently (a few months ago) got a case for my S3 because the new plastic holster only worked with the S3 in a case.
AnonGuy
Android Enthusiast
The HTC HD completely invalidates your entire point. You can do metal removeable backs. It's been done well before. Plastics have advantages but that is not one of them.
The issue isn't that it's plastic but it's pretty bad plastic construction to boot. People don't like seeing part of their $700 phone bend like Kabaeva.
dibblebill
Android Expert
The irony of that always amuses me, regarding its shock absorbing functions
chanchan05
The Doctor
Considering that bendable means better impact protection in falls, I'd take that as a better choice. Unless the metal phone is like the Nokia N8 which was built like a freaking tank (leaks long ago showed support struts and shock absorbing design inside the metal casing).
AnonGuy
Android Enthusiast
That doesn't make it feel any less cheap. I have a Samsung phone so clearly I don't care since I case all my phones which renders the build materials not much of a factor to me.
But plastic doesn't feel premium and rarely looks premium. Some people care about that especially when they're paying that much for a device.
Plastics can still crack, peel, dent, scuff, etc. just like metal, and honestly given how compact these devices are it's role in absorbing shocks is wildly overrated.
dibblebill
Android Expert
Can't disagree with the bit about look and feel
AnonGuy
Android Enthusiast
That's not necessarily true. Display panels are thinner now. The phones are more compact and there is a lot in there with hardly any dead space in the device. The fact that it is plastic does not really give it that great of an advantage over metal. Especially given the fact that even a metal phone is fairly light so there isn't a huge difference in how fast the devices fall (how hard each falls from same position) unless it's falling from a pretty high level in which cast plastic won't help you. .
Once again I give you the iPhone 5C and Nokia Lumia 1020 as examples disproving this.
It's all down to choice of material and build quality.
AnonGuy
Android Enthusiast
Once again I give you the iPhone 5C and Nokia Lumia 1020 as examples disproving this.
It's all down to choice of material and build quality.
Have never used a 1020 so I'm not sure I can comment on it. That phone is hideous.
The 5C is a pretty bad example to use to prove your point, cause it accomplishes what it does with a metal piece in the phone. This has been widely known since it was formally announced. Plus. It sells terribly because the build simply doesn't measure up to the other iPhones.
Looks are a personal preference, but there's no denying its premium build.
So what? It's still a plastic body, which is the bone of contention in this topic.
Sells terribly? Maybe in the US, but over here it's just as popular, if not more so, than the 5S.
AnonGuy
Android Enthusiast
The 1020 doesn't look premium to me. It's hideous.
The 5S sells terribly compared to other iPhones. Windows phone sells well in Italy. Still sells terribly overall so location is not the factor.
It's a plastic outer with a metal frame to make it feel sturdy. That's completely related to the point and apple did that for a reason. Otherwise the plastic feels kinda cheap.
I had an iPhone 5S. The feel of plastic isn't premium after you've felt phones like that or the HD2, One/M8, etc.
Either it's cheap feeling soft touch/matte or slimy glossy finish. The Nokia don't hold a candle to those phones I mentioned in build and premium look and feel.
dibblebill
Android Expert
I like aluminum phones myself, but I'm not 100% opposed to plastic. I like Sony phones. The iPhone 5C plastic is, in my opinion, HORRIBLE... My opinion on its selling points belongs in a price thread. I didn't mind the plastic on the Galaxy Victory, even though it wasn't my favorite, and the old LG Optimus V. The plastic on the HTC Wildfire S wasn't bad, either.
The biggest offender for me is the plastic chrome trim on the 2014 Note 10 (reminds me too much of action figures from Dollar Tree) and that leather. THAT LEATHER. It's HORRIBLE.
The biggest offender for me is the plastic chrome trim on the 2014 Note 10 (reminds me too much of action figures from Dollar Tree) and that leather. THAT LEATHER. It's HORRIBLE.
Allow me to quote your previous comment:
So what's your point exactly? That the only valid use of plastics as a body material is if it's deliberately made to feel cheap and flimsy?
All I'm pointing out is that it's quite possible to produce a plastic-bodied phone with a quality feel. The technology and the materials are available, it's simply up to the manufacturers if they choose to use them.
AnonGuy
Android Enthusiast
Allow me to quote your previous comment:
So what's your point exactly? That the only valid use of plastics as a body material is if it's deliberately made to feel cheap and flimsy?
All I'm pointing out is that it's quite possible to produce a plastic-bodied phone with a quality feel. The technology and the materials are available, it's simply up to the manufacturers if they choose to use them.
That's an excerpt not a quote, and semantics is boring (welcome to 1999?).
My point is pretty obvious.
My point is that they don't feel premium and rarely look premium. That's my point. I'm not sure if you quoted the wrong thing or what, cause what you quoted doesn't allow the question to make any sense to me.
As I said earlier:
Flapship Lumias have been reviewed to have a gap between the casing the device internals, where you can push in the plastic and bend it a bit. You call that "durable" and "shock Absorbing." I call it crappy construction. Part of the first thing I do in the carrier store when I see a plastic phone is check for these kinds of things.
I couldn't get the S4 or G2 because the body was a slime/fingerprint/oil/dust magnet and there were gaps. They're also glossy phones which personally limits my color choices (white is the only one that looks remotely decent because a black phone will show everything the minute light hits it).
This is no different than a laptop having a gap behind the display where you can push it in. Does the MacBook Air or Pro do that? No.
Plastics are "Acceptable" if you put an acceptable amount of effort in designing the device. This is why the iPhone 5C isn't rampantly complained about. Apple thought about that, where Nokia didn't, and put in a Metal Piece to prevent the back from bending in that way. Does that mean I'm going to buy it? No. Again, it's a glossy magnet phone and frankly doesn't even look that good to me (when I can get a 5S for not much more, which looks a ton better and is better constructed).
There can be terrible metal phones as well, as well as the terrible use of glass some OEMs used (the back of the Nexus 4 that was randomly cracking for some people), Antenna Gate on the iPhone because of the materials used and placement/design of the Antennas. Those phones aren't immune to suckage. iPhones here shut themselves down when they get too cold. Galaxy S3/4/Note 3 don't have any issues functioning in the same conditions.
Just cause it's metal doesn't mean it's automatically good.
But there is almost no plastic phone that can hold a candle to the metal flagships on the market these days for premium feel and looks. None. We're talking about look and feel, and why people dislike plastic.
It's comical that the two examples you bring up for great plastic phones - don't even run Android and are pretty much not even an option given the OP's question (why are Android phones made of plastic, or something to that effect).
AnonGuy
Android Enthusiast
Agree about the iPhone 5C. Horrible colors and slimy plastic feel.
However, the 5C is a great value for apple users who stay a generation behind because it gave them double the storage of what would have normally been an 8GB iPhone 5, with an updated (better) FFC. And If you've ever been in the iOS ecosystem to any decent extent, you know how TERRIBLE an 8GB iPhone is for storage practicality.
In that case, then it's probably not a bad pitch to those users. The color options were a complete showstopper to me, and if you get anything other than white it becomes extremely hard to resale them. There are still people on CL trying to sell Pink iPhone 5Cs, for months now... Good luck, Lol. All the people that I know have 5Cs, got the white one so that they can resale it easily. Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink, whatever... Not an option unless you're just going for something that's "cute" without thinking it through.
The Faux Leather on the Note Series is okay. It doesn't attract fingerprints and oil the way the S3/4 does and other phones like the LG G2. It's way grippier than the glossy finishes and doesn't tend to scuff the way some matte finishes can. The Note Tablets... I haven't held one enough to form a solid opinion on the big faux leather backs on those, but it doesn't look too bad.
If you touch it after touching an iPad [mini] though, you will instantly know the difference.
The S5 is okay, if you pick the right color. I put its build/materials/feel in the same league as the iPhone 5C, except it has a pretty flimsy back cover (but the IP67 sort of makes up for that). I wouldn't buy it, though.
I'm not anti-plastics, but if there was a Metal and Plastic Galaxy S5. I'd get the metal one. With only the plastic one available right now, it isn't even in contention. I wonder if the G3 will be metal. The only reason why I haven't ditched the Note 3 yet is cause I'm waiting to see what that phone is built like. If it's plastic, then I'm probably going to get the M8 and just deal with the camera until I can find a second hand iPhone on the cheap (Sprint-Locked, Blocked ESN/IMEI, and just tether it, etc.).
dibblebill
Android Expert
The issue I think exists for the 5c in the states is this (and I've heard this voiced by Apple fans, not just my own opinion): "Why would I get that? THe Moto X/HTC One/Galaxy S9000 is the same price and does more stuff." (Mind you, this is overhearing people at various phone stores).
Anyway, I don't like hte leather. It's not bad on the Note 3, I'll admit, but on the Note 10, it's horrible and feels like cheap plastic. Especially in white.
EDIT: I have an 8GB iPhone 3G and 8GB iPhone 3GS. I know.
Anyway, I don't like hte leather. It's not bad on the Note 3, I'll admit, but on the Note 10, it's horrible and feels like cheap plastic. Especially in white.
EDIT: I have an 8GB iPhone 3G and 8GB iPhone 3GS. I know.