Samsung exec: Galaxy S IV's plastic body balances manufacturability and 'premium feel'
In an interview on Tuesday, Samsung's executive vice president of mobile Y.H. Lee said that the company's forthcoming flagship handset will carry over the use of plastic materials in a bid to strike a balance between manufacturing efficiency and customer demand for a "premium feeling" product.
Talking to CNET, Lee said that Samsung doesn't limit its focus on mere aesthetic beauty when when designing a new smartphone, but instead accounts for a variety of concerns including how materials affect the manufacturing process.
Lee said the next-gen Galaxy S IV is no exception, and will utilize plastic in the same fashion as previous products in the popular Android-based smartphone lineup.
"I think the next product has a nice balance between this," Lee said. "We listen to the market and try to accommodate."
As Samsung ships millions of units a quarter, effective manufacturing techniques are key, and Lee noted that the Korean company must consider how quickly it can get new products into the hands of customers. This raises the question, however, as to why companies like Apple have successfully moved to glass and aluminum enclosures, seemingly leaving plastic behind.
Even other Android handset makers are making the switch to higher quality elements. HTC's One, for example, uses an aluminum frame, while Nokia has opted to use harder polycarbonate for its Lumia series of phones.
Samsung has argued that the plastics used in its smartphones are light but durable, making it better equipped to absorb shocks due to the material's properties, but many have knocked the handsets' feel for not being as "premium" as offerings made from metal alloys. Lee believes that the company struck a balance between practicality and premium looks with the S IV, and the world will find out whether her comments ring true on March 14, when Samsung is scheduled to unveil the S IV at a special event in New York.
Talking to CNET, Lee said that Samsung doesn't limit its focus on mere aesthetic beauty when when designing a new smartphone, but instead accounts for a variety of concerns including how materials affect the manufacturing process.
Lee said the next-gen Galaxy S IV is no exception, and will utilize plastic in the same fashion as previous products in the popular Android-based smartphone lineup.
"I think the next product has a nice balance between this," Lee said. "We listen to the market and try to accommodate."
As Samsung ships millions of units a quarter, effective manufacturing techniques are key, and Lee noted that the Korean company must consider how quickly it can get new products into the hands of customers. This raises the question, however, as to why companies like Apple have successfully moved to glass and aluminum enclosures, seemingly leaving plastic behind.
Even other Android handset makers are making the switch to higher quality elements. HTC's One, for example, uses an aluminum frame, while Nokia has opted to use harder polycarbonate for its Lumia series of phones.
Samsung has argued that the plastics used in its smartphones are light but durable, making it better equipped to absorb shocks due to the material's properties, but many have knocked the handsets' feel for not being as "premium" as offerings made from metal alloys. Lee believes that the company struck a balance between practicality and premium looks with the S IV, and the world will find out whether her comments ring true on March 14, when Samsung is scheduled to unveil the S IV at a special event in New York.
Comments
They really just need a rubberized rim around it. Make it all soft, like the first Zunes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
Even other Android handset makers are making the switch to higher quality elements. HTC's One, for example, uses an aluminum frame, while Nokia has opted to use harder polycarbonate for its Lumia series of phones.
The Galaxy S3's body is polycarbonate.
Hey, if you ask somebody: Do you want the same product cheaper the answer is always: YES. Samsung says: We heard what our customers want. OK - cheap products. But pls don't tell us lies like: plastic is the coolest material for high end smartphones. :no:
Plus Apple bought all of the material that was our first choice...
Ah, kind of plastic. Yepp.
LOL - our first choice had been USB, Slots, batteries to change, ... No. Apple delivers all the material that is the best before the consumer knows it ;-) Hehe
Quote:
Originally Posted by KDarling
The Galaxy S3's body is polycarbonate.
Exactly... and the polycarbonate Samsung utilizes is some of the better advanced composite currently available, as it's light-weight, durable, highly scratch and impact resistant and can maintain its coloration throughout the entire substrate, which can never be said of devices manufactured from any type of metal alloy.
'Manufacturability' and 'premium feel'?
I'll bet these guys think that plastic boobs do too....
What's the saying about polishing turds?
My iP4s is beautiful. I use it w/o a case. I find the cases add bulk to the phone and also make it difficult to get out of my jeans pocket.
The iP5 is a definite improvement not having the glass on the back and a lot less vulnerable edges.
I would not be adverse to Apple putting a sort of suedey/rubberized thin coating on the back. It would definitely be thinner than an snap-on case.
Plastic is just a material, it can be well-designed or not. Apple uses a lot of it too. Maybe not as much, but it might not be possible to make a complete electronic device without plastics.
Polycarbonate is a pretty nice material. It isn't a composite, nor is it made of composites. It is not scratch resistant on its own, it's pretty horrible at that. You are correct that PC is highly impact resistant.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaHarder
Exactly... and the polycarbonate Samsung utilizes is some of the better advanced composite currently available, as it's light-weight, durable, highly scratch and impact resistant and maintains its coloration throughout the entire substrate, which can never be said of devices manufactured from any type of metal alloy.
You do realize that polycarbonate is just another name for mid-grade plastic, right? It is nothing fancy. They make Lego blocks out of it too.
Do you have any links to support your claim that it a better, advanced, composite and not just a run of the mill thermoplastic. What is it composite with? Glass, Carbon fiber? Is it recyclable? Does it contain BPA?
I think Apple is on the right path with premium recyclable quality alloys. They look and feel like a precious object rather than a cheap disposable one.
How many premium made iPhones are in a cheap plastic case? Premium feeling out the window.
Good feel with plastic! No one can change you moronic SamScum!
I guess you didn't see when mythbusters did just that. To a surprisingly high gloss to boot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacHarry de
LOL - our first choice had been USB, Slots, batteries to change, ... No. Apple delivers all the material that is the best before the consumer knows it ;-) Hehe
Plastic has the right properties to protect a phone (flexibility and impact absorption and distribution) at a reasonable price point. Aluminum lacks these properties and that is why polymers are used across the vast majority of industries (most probably all) for impact protection. Not going that far, the most luxurious cars in the market do not use any form of metal in their bumpers.
It is incredibly stupid to suggest that using Aluminum, or any other metal for that matter, makes sense in a practical way for impact protection. suggesting that brushed aluminum is 'best' is pretty ridiculous as well.
There is no reason to replace plastic, unless composites get significantly cheaper (not happening anytime soon). Perhaps Samsung should use a higher quality finish but not move away from using it.
What's next? Criticize automakers for not using brushed Aluminum bumpers?
Had they gone with aluminum you would have been yelling "they copied!"