Galaxy S4 with "cheap, plastic" back cover

[0dev]

You jest, but compare the feel of an iPhone 3/3G-S to a Galaxy S4 and its not even a comparison. One of them feels like a happy meal toy, and it's not the iPhone...

Huh. Well, my old 3GS had a problem where the plastic started cracking all by itself for no reason. It was a known issue for both the 3G and 3GS. Never had that on a Samsung.

Again, very premium product from Apple as always...

 

[throAU]

Huh. Well, my old 3GS had a problem where the plastic started cracking all by itself for no reason. It was a known issue for both the 3G and 3GS. Never had that on a Samsung.

Again, very premium product from Apple as always...

Fair enough, buy the phone you want.

I've had multiple iPhones and never had any issues to complain about. I run no cover and every one of them has survived multiple drops onto concrete, etc.

I've killed a couple sure, but they lasted better than i expected.

 

[0dev]

Fair enough, buy the phone you want.

I've had multiple iPhones and never had any issues to complain about. I run no cover and every one of them has survived multiple drops onto concrete, etc.

I've killed a couple sure, but they lasted better than i expected.

Well, my 3G stopped getting signal a few months after buying it, had to get it swapped out. The 3GS's plastic started cracking all by itself. The 4's home button broke and on iOS 6 it performs terribly, plus the metal around the edges was scratched like mad by Apple's own official bumper case.

Not had the best luck with these so-called "premium" phones at all.

 

[techie-struts]

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.

+1

 

[Technarchy]

Huh. Well, my old 3GS had a problem where the plastic started cracking all by itself for no reason. It was a known issue for both the 3G and 3GS. Never had that on a Samsung.

Again, very premium product from Apple as always...

I gave my 3GS to my 3 year old to use as an iPod Touch. It's been abused beyond imagination, dropped countless times and thrown like a frisbee and has no cracks.

And your telling your 3GS magically cracked with no help? Uh-huh.

I'll add that to the list that contains iPhone 5's that bend suddenly just because of the Earth's gravity and the iPhone 4/4S that shatters due to sneezing.

 

[0dev]

I gave my 3GS to my 3 year old to use as an iPod Touch. It's been abused beyond imagination, dropped countless times and thrown like a frisbee and has no cracks.

And your telling your 3GS magically cracked with no help? Uh-huh.

I'll add that to the list that contains iPhone 5's that bend suddenly just because of the Earth's gravity and the iPhone 4/4S that shatters due to sneezing.

It's a known issue.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/iphone-3g-owners-report-cracks-in-plastic-casing/
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/white-iphone-3gs-prone-to-hairline-cracks/2321

I take very good care of my hardware, the cracks developed over time by the connecter at the bottom of the phone.

My iPhone 4 was fine cosmetically until I put a bumper case on it. When I took it off the metal sides were scratched like mad. This is also a known issue.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-20014464-233.html
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Excl...-of-iPhone-4-Scratched-by-Bumper-151542.shtml

Even my old MacBook, the casing on that fell to pieces all by itself too. Another known issue. Apple even had to do a special repair program as a result of that fault.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/04/08/apple_addressing_cracks_on_white_macbooks_casings
https://www.apple.com/uk/support/macbook-bottomcase/

Honestly, I laugh at people who think Apple products are somehow magic. They are easy to use and Apple has good customer service, but a lot of Apple's stuff is very prone to various faults.

That said, the MacBook Pro I'm typing on right now is working pretty well. Let's hope it's the exception to the rule

 

[Virginaustralia]

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.

They were older products when things were all made of plastic. now the need for premium materials is higher and we shouldnt be paying lots for plastic (and useless features) anymore

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

If the back is sealed off to the user end, then Aluminum is the better choice. If the back is accessible to the user end for battery and SD slot, then lets stick with plastic.

I like the plastic back on my S4. Extremely easy to take off and put back on without breaking anything. Also, a replacement plastic back is dirt cheap.

I rarely see the back of my phone anyways, as I have a back case on it.

 

[AppleRobert]

The poor 1st and 2nd generation N7 models with their cheap back cover. I have both of them now and like them very much. I bet there are many that feel that way. The price in a word, "PRICELESS"!

 

[adder7712]

Huh. Well, my old 3GS had a problem where the plastic started cracking all by itself for no reason. It was a known issue for both the 3G and 3GS. Never had that on a Samsung.

Again, very premium product from Apple as always...

I always thought the iPhone 3G/3GS felt really cheap. I had one and the rear is riddled with scratches.

 

[Technarchy]

If the back is sealed off to the user end, then Aluminum is the better choice. If the back is accessible to the user end for battery and SD slot, then lets stick with plastic.

I like the plastic back on my S4. Extremely easy to take off and put back on without breaking anything. Also, a replacement plastic back is dirt cheap.

I rarely see the back of my phone anyways, as I have a back case on it.

In contrast a more rigid plastic would be prone to snapping and cracking.

The design does serve a legitimate purpose and function. It's bendy and gives which certainly increases product life for those that remove the battery cover often.

Personally I think the GS4 feels svelte despite the plastic.

 

[adder7712]

If the back is sealed off to the user end, then Aluminum is the better choice. If the back is accessible to the user end for battery and SD slot, then lets stick with plastic.

I like the plastic back on my S4. Extremely easy to take off and put back on without breaking anything. Also, a replacement plastic back is dirt cheap.

I rarely see the back of my phone anyways, as I have a back case on it.

It is possible to have a metallic rear cover but you'll need a more complex latching mechanism than simply snapping it on.

 

[MsvSpaz]

I have both an iPhone 5 and a recently purchased GS4 and I think they both feel great in hand. The Samsung is surprisingly solid, but I am not a huge fan of the imitation metal rim. I think this would have been much nicer just in matt black or grey polycarbonate.

 

[jamezr]

It's plastic though. If youre paying $800+ for a phone it should be made out of something more premium than that

Yep...then what is the FIRST thing you do to that nice $800 phone? Put a case on it huh? So then the case pretty much negates the high end look and feel of the expensive materials........
I have an IP5 and a S4. I don't use cases on my phones.......just a personal preference for me. I find myself babying my IP5 all the time because I am afraid of scratching it. I am sooo careful how I put it down and not to slide it across anything. But my S4 is sooo much more durable and functional. I can just use it without have to worry about damaging the phone through normal use. Plus IF i did damage the backplate....guess what...they are like 8 bucks on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Battery-Housing-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B00D76DH2C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375043110&sr=8-2&keywords=battery+door+for+s4

 

[blitzer09x87]

yeah, agreed, i also think the the back cover is a non-issue, it only makes it easy to change battery/ SD card/ Micro sim etc.

 

[Dr McKay]

I replaced the cover on my S4 with a metal one anyway. Still durable, doesn't scratch like the iPhone did either.

 

[MRU]

I replaced the cover on my S4 with a metal one anyway. Still durable, doesn't scratch like the iPhone did either.

Image

Nice... Have you got a link to where you picked it up (assuming it was online) ? Thanks


Think I found it..

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Black-Brushe..._MobilePhonesCasesPouches&hash=item4174d96178

And


http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Gray-Brushed..._MobilePhonesCasesPouches&hash=item35c9765bd1

 

[Fireblade]

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 absolutely agree.

Best post in this whole thread.

 

[Vegastouch]

It's plastic though. If youre paying $800+ for a phone it should be made out of something more premium than that

$800+? Who is paying that?

I'm more than fine with the plastic polycarbonate back. I really hate aluminum backs. They are just too slippery and i dropped the phone way too much. And i can also get different back covers for cheap.

 

[Vegastouch]

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.

At resale time, nobody cares about your story of the scraches. They just want a phone that isn't jacked up.

 

[Virginaustralia]

$800+? Who is paying that?

I'm more than fine with the plastic polycarbonate back. I really hate aluminum backs. They are just too slippery and i dropped the phone way too much. And i can also get different back covers for cheap.

Everyone outside bloody america thats how much it costs

 

[surjavarman]

At resale time, nobody cares about your story of the scraches. They just want a phone that isn't jacked up.

I'll just buy a new one cause I am rich. Besides at resale time no one cares about samsungs and you're suppose to use your phone until it falls apart anyway. But otherwise a very good argument NOT to buy a phone because hey the resale value is going to suck!

And who is being elitist now. People are scared of scratches, people are scared of resale value, people must upgrade every 1-2 year.

 

[Vegastouch]

I'll just buy a new one cause I am rich. Besides at resale time no one cares about samsungs and you're suppose to use your phone until it falls apart anyway. But otherwise a very good argument NOT to buy a phone because hey the resale value is going to suck!

And who is being elitist now. People are scared of scratches, people are scared of resale value, people must upgrade every 1-2 year.

Wow, what a bunch of nonsense.But hey, if you just want to throw yours away then great. Many here sell them to help refund their new ones.
Me i either give them away or sell them so i dont have a bunch of phones hanging around.

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Everyone outside bloody america thats how much it costs

Well that sucks but i bet your plans are better than ours. We get screwed badly here.
At least Tmobile is making things better and forcing the others to rethink things.

 

[asthamapheo]

i guess that the plastic back cover enables the phone to wirelessly charge, btw, is anyone selling the wireless charger for the s4.

 

[MRU]

i guess that the plastic back cover enables the phone to wirelessly charge, btw, is anyone selling the wireless charger for the s4.

Just check eBay or amazon for S4 wireless charger