Debate: Best phone material - plastic vs. metal vs. glass?

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Cyberchum
Cyberchum
Arena Master
• 1y ago
↵Kelley71 said:

I guess that's PoV for you. No one claims car wheels are a failed design because they get sheathed in (relatively) inexpensive and replaceable tires.


Frankly, I like having a case on my phone; it allows me to customize its features (the last kickstand I had on a phone itself was an HTC Evo 4G) and its appearance. For the most part, their plastic/TPU is grippier in my hands than glass. Likewise a glass screen protector on the screen--it absorbs years' worth of scratches.


I'd be happier if my phone were designed around having a replaceable, inexpensive glass screen protector & case. It'd be a more affordable device than one where the engineers have tried (and failed) to endure 2+ years of drops, scratches, etc, with premium materials.

The wheel analogy is off. Like way off. Good points, otherwise.

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LiveFaith
LiveFaith
Arena Master
• 1y agoedited
↵Smg-Uk said:

Polycarbonate of the old Lumia phones was the best material

If anyone releases a flagship out of anything like that now, the entirety of the tech media would shame them into foreclosure before one ever hit a store shelf. The mantra would be "chintzy", "non-premium", "doesn't feel as luxurious", "without industrial quality", "plastic phone at premium price" ... etc. All judgments to show inferiority to this current "conventional wisdom" of antiquated glass and aluminum that cracks, breaks, dents, scratches, overheats, becomes ice cold. Things that must be protected by buying insurance or with some fat and expensive case that is made of the materials that are so derided!

It's nothing short of obtuse IMHO!

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wongwatt
wongwatt
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago
↵Babert said:

I believe if they make a phone with entire glass body and seal it shut with capacitive buttons and wireless charging, would make the best concept phone. if not the metal is the best material. I'd trade a metal back phone to glass or plastic any day. oh and lets face it, wireless charging is a gimmick, it's a huge waste of electricity and resources, battery degrading, and frankly none of us using wireless charging as a routine charging method.

all in all, the plastic is bad for the environment, your health and is flimsy, glass is fragile, but metal is the most durable and feels great in the hand.

I use wireless charging all the time, at home and in the car...

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farwell3d
farwell3d
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

I'd always prefer a high quality plastic that's nearly unbreakable to glass, but the only phones made of plastic these days are mid-level at best.


The move to glass backs really just forced every phone to need a case or be at a serious risk of breaking.


Plastic is cheaper, lighter, harder to break, and easier to replace but I guess it's not "premium" even though my S22 Ultra is wrapped in a plastic case that keeps me away from the premium materials anyway.

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44alexsmith
44alexsmith
Arena Apprentice
• 1y ago

Plastic because I am tired of heavy phones.

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