Plastic, one of the best inventions in the world, what would we do without it?
Metal, a fantastic discovery – it has helped us build the world we live in.
Plastic is versatile, metal is strong and feels robust but which do you prefer, a plastic or a metal structure?
You may wonder what I am going on about and why, well here is the point that I want to make.
Why is it so many products but specifically phones manufactured from plastic and would users be more satisfied with devices is they were metal, even if it added to the weight?
I completely understand that plastic can often be moulded with more ease, it is cheaper, it allows the phone to transmit signals better etc. but the one problem you always get is no matter how much you pay, it just feels plasticy and a little flimsy.
Yes, I know you get better grades of plastic, but why is it that the Motorola MOTOLUXE which I have been using recently feels stronger, more robust and more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Nexus which is considerably more expensive….the reason is that is has a metal body.
Yes, the back cover may be coated in a soft touch, grippy material, but remove the battery cover and you have in your hand a solid metal back cover.
I am not complaining, I know the likes of HTC and others have manufactured phones with metal bodies and I know metal can increase the weight of the device and I certainly wouldn’t want metal keys on a keypad (so thank you for plastic) but why isn’t a little more time put into making a device feel great.
The Galaxy S II, the Nexus, and many others are examples of fantastic phones, but would they be that bit better if they felt a bit more solid?
I was thinking that it would add to the size and put users off, but I think most are interested in product that looks the part and feels the part. The RAZR has a strong metal body (ok there is a bit of Kevlar in there too) and it is impossibly thin.
I use a Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc on a daily basis, I love it (although its slow now) and I have no desire to change, it looks fantastic but it just feels cheap because of the plastic. The same elegant design could be kept with metal but it would feel wonderful and you wouldn’t get the problem of the plastic casing cracking as it has done on many Xperia Arc’s to date.
So am I the only one who thinks this or would you compromise 5-10grams and 2-3mm in thickness to get a phone that just feels more solid?
About Jon
When I first got my Galaxy Nexus I felt the same having been an HTC user for years. While the Desire HD I had last felt re-assuringly sturdy, the Desire Z I had before it was just too sturdy – the solid metal case made it feel like you had a brick in your pocket.
I’m a convert back to plastic now that I’ve had the Galaxy Nexus for a while, weight is a major factor for me.
If your Arc is constantly cracking, then surely that is just a problem with the design / build rather than with plastic? My Galaxy Nexus hasn’t cracked yet.
The metal vs. plastic argument is a tricky one and highly dependant on the intended use of the device (as well as a large amount of personal preference) – for mobile phones I now prefer plastic over metal, but when it comes to tablets my iPad is perfect as it is, and I’d much rather my current metal Macbook over my older plastic one.
I understand what you mean about it feeling like a brick in your pocket and maybe it depends on your circumstances. For example most of the time my phone is on my desk and when out, in a cradle in a car and for the times it is in my pocket its not such a big issue for me. Some will make sacrifices others wont?
The metal plastic argument would never be one we all agree on unless metal can be just as thin and as light I guess.
The cracking is not a huge issue, phone is in one piece and I hardly notice it, but it could very well be a design issue, but would metal have the same ability to crack?
It is also interesting that you want your larger tablets and PC’s to be metal but your phone to be plastic, I guess it comes down to portability. You move your laptop and tab around less frequently than your phone so are more willing to accept the extra bulk/weight?
It’s exactly that, and when I do move my laptop or tablet, it’s in a bag and then in my car. A few years ago when I used to commute on the train, I might have thought differently!
Now you’ve gone and mentioned cradles and got me irked – new blog post topic for you ‘Why do Samsung (and other manufacturers?) think it’s acceptable to launch and flagship phone and not release accessories?!’. Seriously, I love playing music via bluetooth in my car, using GPS, etc. that’s a reason why I have a smartphone; or it was until I got my Galaxy Nexus.
I believe the phone should be composition of “soft touch” plastic and metal.
Considering the weight factor: well, I’m a strong man and having a phone of 50 grams or 250 grams is of no importance for me. Even a lady could handle a 250 grams phone easily, if its dimensions are good. I’m scared by the Kindle and iPhone: they lose weight and dimensions with each update, and theirs designers are saying it’s good and it’s revolution improvement. LOL. Who really cares?
But back to material selection: soft touch plastic sits in my arm perfectly, it’s impossible to accidentally drop the phone or harm it. The metal is cold and sometimes not as comfortable.
I own a Desire Z and feel like it’s good solution. Back side of the phone is metal, while its sides are made of soft touch plastic: you won’t drop it by accident. But if that’s not an option, I’ll vote for more metal.
It’s bold and has nice feeling when you get it in in hands. The phone feels and looks solid. Not like a funny toy or alien device, but like a good phone.
Of course, soft touch plastic feels perfect for my hands, not my arms — sorry, English is not my native language. And about feeling of plastic and metal: in general, metal feels as good as soft touch plastic. But when it’s cold outside, plastic is better.
I own a Galaxy S II and Transformer Prime and I can tell you that while the metal finish of the Prime is a pleasure to behold and hold alike, side-by-side the weaker radio signals the Prime receives is a true functionality impairment that means that plastic reigns supreme in my book. Also, the metal in my old Nexus One got rather hot after heavy use, and after years of use it has accumulated a few small dents that plastics would have shrugged off.