Why are some Android phones made of plastic?

[funkylogik]

My s3 is without a doubt a lot faster on aosp, I'd started to worry if I was just being a snob or if it was just the look of TW I hated but I've played with other people's stock s3 and it's felt really spongey.
I don't really have a hate for TW, it just isn't for me

 

[nickdalzell]

Am i the only one with a lag-free S4? i'm using power saver too. odd?

 

[chanchan05]

Am i the only one with a lag-free S4? i'm using power saver too. odd?

AFAIK if it's Exynos (usually international models), it's generally lag free compared to Snapdragons (NA versions).

 

[nickdalzell]

Well mine is the Snapdragon quad-core and it never lags. In fact the performance and stability blows my S3 away. But then Google Play is disabled. So not much is going on since i use apps that came with the phone and never update anything.

 

[CafeKampuchia]

Sooooo, can anyone explain why TouchWiz lags so bad Android phones are made of plastic?
:vroam:

 

[funkylogik]

Plastic is laggy

 

[dibblebill]

Well mine is the Snapdragon quad-core and it never lags. In fact the performance and stability blows my S3 away. But then Google Play is disabled. So not much is going on since i use apps that came with the phone and never update anything.

Interestingly, my experience with a Galaxy device was the opposite. I disabled all of the Samsung applications, and it got faster. Maybe having both just draws too many resources

 

[Shocky]

Interestingly, my experience with a Galaxy device was the opposite. I disabled all of the Samsung applications, and it got faster. Maybe having both just draws too many resources

The Samsung apps don't make much if any difference, I've tried a number of slim roms with most of the Samsung apps removed and performance is the same.

But it's true all jellybean roms for the i9505 were laggy, even the notification bar was laggy and/or sticky depending how you choose to describe it.

That's not the case with the newer TW roms using 4.4.2 though, I'm happy to say they are smooth and very responsive.

 

[dibblebill]

The Samsung apps don't make much if any difference, I've tried a number of slim roms with most of the Samsung apps removed and performance is the same.

But it's true all jellybean roms for the i9505 were laggy, even the notification bar was laggy and/or sticky depending how you choose to describe it.

That's not the case with the newer TW roms using 4.4.2 though, I'm happy to say they are smooth and very responsive.

Ah. I had a Galaxy Victory myself.

 

[MLSS]

Plastic is a very shock absorbing durable material. I prefer it over metal for me phones, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter because my phone ends up in a case to protect it.
If metal is so great, how come no one uses metal cases to protect their phones?

 

[Rxpert83]

Plastic is a very shock absorbing durable material. I prefer it over metal for me phones, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter because my phone ends up in a case to protect it.
If metal is so great, how come no one uses metal cases to protect their phones?

There are metal cases out there

 

[mikedt]

Plenty of metal cases for phones, even in 9 or 18 karat gold if you want.

 

[MLSS]

Plenty of metal cases for phones, even in solid gold if you want.

I'd just melt it down lol

 

[Shocky]

Ah. I had a Galaxy Victory myself.

That's an odd phone, weird Galaxy S2 /S3 hybrid.

 

[dibblebill]

That's an odd phone, weird Galaxy S2 /S3 hybrid.

It was quite the value in its day, too, for $250.

 

[Rxpert83]

The Samsung apps don't make much if any difference, I've tried a number of slim roms with most of the Samsung apps removed and performance is the same.

But it's true all jellybean roms for the i9505 were laggy, even the notification bar was laggy and/or sticky depending how you choose to describe it.

That's not the case with the newer TW roms using 4.4.2 though, I'm happy to say they are smooth and very responsive.

You're right. Its not the apps

Its touchwiz itself that was bloated/laggy on my s3, and you really didn't notice it until you got rid of it and saw exactly what you were missing. After experiencing AOSP, I couldn't run a touchwiz ROM anymore.

Current versions may be less demanding, but there was no doubt about it back then

 

[Shocky]

You're right. Its not the apps

Its touchwiz itself that was bloated/laggy on my s3, and you really didn't notice it until you got rid of it and saw exactly what you were missing. After experiencing AOSP, I couldn't run a touchwiz ROM anymore.

Current versions may be less demanding, but there was no doubt about it back then

The latest TW roms are pretty smooth on the Galaxy S4/S5, not quite as good as the Google edition roms I've tried but it's a lot closer than then you might think.

Can't really comment on the Galaxy S3 though, it's been a year since I used one and hope I never use one again.

 

[Hadron]

If metal is so great, how come no one uses metal cases to protect their phones?

Two words: Faraday cage.

 

[mikedt]

Two words: Faraday cage.

That's why the aluminium iPad has a plastic area, because that's where the antennas are. With the iPhone 4, part of the aluminium enclosure was the antenna... "You're holding it wrong!"

 

[mikedt]

I'd just melt it down lol

I've seen silver and gold cases for iPhones. I think Cartier or Tiffany & Co. makes them. With diamonds as well if you're a real baller...$$$$

 

[fdbryant3]

People think of wood as being a quality material but when you think about it, it's pretty crap compared to plastics lol.
If polycarbonate was as rare as diamonds we would be in awe of it.
Snobbery is just part of human nature, we're all guilty of it in some way

Actually polycarbonate might be as rare as diamonds. It turns out diamonds really are not all that rare nor should they be all that valuable. The only reason we thing they are rare is due to a cartel's stranglehold on the market and think they are valuable is because of a clever marketing campaign.

 

[nickdalzell]

Just for the record, yes my S3 was laggy, especially with 4.3 on there (just like iOS 7 slowing down the iPhone 4) but on my S4 it does not. My boss has the kitkat update though and his lags like my S3 did with the 4.3 update and music volume is much too low.

I have not updated mine and will not anyway as it works fine! Either way, compared with stock Android, i am suprised they work as well as they do, i mean they are literally doing a TON more than any Nexus.

I am not lying either. If anyone knows me enough they would know i am the first to complain whenever Android lags or does other crap. Notice how that is no longer the case? Notice i no longer have my iPad or iPhone? I honestly never expected it myself...

 

[CafeKampuchia]

Everybody seems to be in on this debate lately:

Why some plastic phones are better than others | Pocketnow

Here's my favorite quote:

 

[John Bean]

Perhaps but not necessarily. Some (good) plastics can be given a "soft touch" microtexture to the surface finish, no coatings involved.

 

[nickdalzell]

I am just sick of reviews considering plastic a 'con'

Case in point, Galaxy S5. CNET review had 'flimsy plastic' under 'cons'. Plastic isnt cheap or flimsy! How many iPhones with shattered screens are out there? I have seen tons.