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jimbo1mcm

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 21, 2010
1,922
477
The early reviewers were really pounding Samsung for the S4 plastic back cover. I have had a Ip4, a Galaxy S3, and Iphone 5 and now a S4. The back cover is a total non-issue. I have a nice case on my phone.( Element Atom case). The back cover on the S4 is actually very good if you want to change batteries or micro sim. It comes off very easily and fits back on very precisely. I have many Apple products and would have stayed with Apple for the next iphone, but I am not going to wait another 12-15 months for a larger screen. I am totally happy with my S4.
 

Virginaustralia

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2013
200
0
It's plastic though. If youre paying $800+ for a phone it should be made out of something more premium than that
 

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,991
20,174
UK
It's plastic though. If youre paying $800+ for a phone it should be made out of something more premium than that

Not really

It's what the phone does is what matters

I don't buy a phone based on what it's made out of...most must feel the same hense why s4 is the phone most are buying and why alot of iphone lovers have jumped ship.
 

Explicitic

macrumors 6502
Oct 26, 2012
455
11
Undecided
I prefer the Galaxy S3/4's design to most other phones out there simply because it feels comfortable. I don't need my phone to feel "expensive" or "premium," I need it to feel good in my hands without a case.
 

maxosx

macrumors 68020
Dec 13, 2012
2,385
1
Southern California
Plastic phobia is unique to Appleland. The faithful will argue ad nauseum that this material is inferior, even though it's highly regarded in mainstream society. Light, strong and durable, it's the material of choice for many premium products. Yet that's not good enough for the elitist clan that is obsessed with aluminum.
 

Dr McKay

macrumors 68040
Aug 11, 2010
3,531
263
Kirkland
It's plastic though. If youre paying $800+ for a phone it should be made out of something more premium than that

I thought the back cover bent so easily so that it didn't shatter under shock. I want durability. A "premium " product shouldn't have to be babied by a case.

The ironic thing is people slander the plastic, and then often cover the phone, in a protective plastic case.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Ill just say that the white S4 back feels a lot more premium than the black mist S4 back which looks and somehow feels horrid in comparison. Whatever effect they have applied to the white version somehow feels noteably more premium.
 

appleisking

macrumors 6502a
May 24, 2013
658
3,022
Plastic phobia is unique to Appleland. The faithful will argue ad nauseum that this material is inferior, even though it's highly regarded in mainstream society. Light, strong and durable, it's the material of choice for many premium products. Yet that's not good enough for the elitist clan that is obsessed with aluminum.

lol yea this aluminum obsession with Apple is crazy. In fact, I nicknamed my macbook the aluminum block because that's what it is :p. Plastic can "feel" nice and look great too and gs4 is a great looking phone.
 

OceanView

macrumors 65816
Sep 16, 2005
1,094
39
At the end, who really cares what anyone else thinks?
If you're happy with your new S4, then that's all that matters.
Congrats and enjoy the freedom.
 

Assault

macrumors 6502a
Mar 19, 2013
513
0
in the taint
It's plastic though. If youre paying $800+ for a phone it should be made out of something more premium than that

You shouldn't pay $800 for a phone made from cheap aluminum that easily scratches, dents and bends.

----------

Plastic phobia is unique to Appleland. The faithful will argue ad nauseum that this material is inferior, even though it's highly regarded in mainstream society. Light, strong and durable, it's the material of choice for many premium products. Yet that's not good enough for the elitist clan that is obsessed with aluminum.
And isn't it ironic that high end supercars use plastic, carbon fiber and Kevlar over aluminum.
 

surjavarman

macrumors 6502a
Nov 24, 2007
645
2
Its funny how people here make fun of people that do appreciate the heft and the feel of premium materials such as aluminum. But then you complain about scratches. Well who is pretentious now?

I have use a naked iphone and I don't care about scratches. It still works, it still looks great and the iphone 5 is proven to be the most durable phone on the market. I would rather have a butchered iphone where each scratch has its own story and adds its own personality to the phone. Its like a battle scar. I'd take that over soulless mass produced flimsy plastic any day.
 

tech4all

macrumors 68040
Jun 13, 2004
3,399
489
NorCal
It's plastic though. If youre paying $800+ for a phone it should be made out of something more premium than that

Hehe funny and very predictable comment.

Tell me, what would you say to the plastic products Apple made in the past and still cost a premium compared to the competition? iBook, iMac, Cube, Power Mac G3/G4, etc.
 

Assault

macrumors 6502a
Mar 19, 2013
513
0
in the taint
Or the soon to be released plastic iPhone.

I remember the Apple faithful saying, "Apple won't make cheap plastic phones again. They only make products with 'premium' material."
I guess plastic has 'become' premium then? lol
 

0dev

macrumors 68040
Dec 22, 2009
3,947
24
127.0.0.1
Or the soon to be released plastic iPhone.

I remember the Apple faithful saying, "Apple won't make cheap plastic phones again. They only make products with 'premium' material."
I guess plastic has 'become' premium then? lol

Apple's plastic is magic! Only Apple plastic good! Samsung plastic bad!
 

Technarchy

macrumors 604
May 21, 2012
6,753
4,927
Nothing wrong with plastic, but it does feel cheap.

HTC One feels like the better built product and is certainly the better looking.

If there was nothing to the charge of cheap, creaky plastic builds then we wouldn't see these slick new designs like the One, One X, Moto X, Nexus S, Lumia line where they are trying to move away from cheap feeling plastic and toward and more premium feeling device.

Apple obviously put a spotlight on this in a big way with the release of the iPhone 4, which I think is stunning.

Fwiw I think the GS4 is a nice looking device. Way better than the GS3.
 

surjavarman

macrumors 6502a
Nov 24, 2007
645
2
Or the soon to be released plastic iPhone.

I remember the Apple faithful saying, "Apple won't make cheap plastic phones again. They only make products with 'premium' material."
I guess plastic has 'become' premium then? lol

Hence its rumored that its going to be cheaper than the current iphone and its targeting a different audience. The SGS4 is selling at a premium price for a flimsy disposable phone that is not more durable than the iphone5

But I don't expect people that go by specs to appreciate fine craftsmanship. You wouldn't understand the niche people that do appreciate the premium feel and heft of a phone.
 

throAU

macrumors G3
Feb 13, 2012
9,240
7,402
Perth, Western Australia
We ordered a couple of S4s for a couple of the management team (we don't generally get them, we usually run iPhones) and they back case feels so flimsy it felt like I was going to break the damn thing trying to get it off to put the battery and SIM on it.

edit:
I haven't used the new HTC One yet, but its the first android phone i'm actually interested in, specifically because it's built properly.
 

Assault

macrumors 6502a
Mar 19, 2013
513
0
in the taint
Hence its rumored that its going to be cheaper than the current iphone and its targeting a different audience. The SGS4 is selling at a premium price for a flimsy disposable phone that is not more durable than the iphone5

But I don't expect people that go by specs to appreciate fine craftsmanship. You wouldn't understand the niche people that do appreciate the premium feel and heft of a phone.

LOL. Sure junior.
 
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