PhoneArena is looking for new authors! To view all available positions, click here.
  • Options
    Close




Confirmed: the Samsung Galaxy S III is polycarbonate, not plain plastic

0. phoneArena posted on 21 May 2012, 13:45

Just about every article around has been giving the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III generally good reviews except for one downside: the casing. Everyone, including us, were convinced that the Galaxy S III was using a plastic case...

This is a discussion for a news. To read the whole news, click here

Want to comment? Please login or register.

1. RamyRamz69 posted on 21 May 2012, 13:50 37 46

Still, looks as ugly as hell. I would've preferred if they kept the S2 design.

3. sithman (banned) posted on 21 May 2012, 13:54 24 31

Amen to that

11. WirelessCon posted on 21 May 2012, 14:09 23 33

Yeah, the S III is very ugly. The phone is a disappointment.

31. ivanko34 posted on 21 May 2012, 14:32 26 15

looks very nice classy to me
I wait 1st of june to buy when it is available here

76. Saamic posted on 21 May 2012, 16:45 1 2

Where is it comnig out the first of June?!

111. jiasdft posted on 21 May 2012, 23:24 3

ZOPO ZP200 Smart Phone Android 2.3! It to do better! The price is more cheap! http://clck.ru/15fsl

118. ivanko34 posted on 22 May 2012, 06:14

in athens, greece

http://www.plaisio.gr/Cell-Phones-Internet/Mobile-Telephone/Cellular-Phones/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-Ceramic-White-GT-I9300RWDEUR.htm

125. jeraldjamescapao posted on 27 May 2012, 16:51

I can't wait.
Swisscom!!!

44. Mario1017 posted on 21 May 2012, 14:57 5 11

-This is to all who dislike this comment-
The phone is amazing, we all know that. but when the phone came out there where tons of comments exclaming how ugly the phone is, and the comments got liked. Now (still the same phone) comments like these are getting disliked, i dont really get it, and yes i think this phone is lacking in design.

64. MichaelHeller posted on 21 May 2012, 16:16 21 6

I kind of like the design if for no other reason than it's something a bit different. It's not just another vaguely rectangular black/grey slab.

90. PhoneArenaUser posted on 21 May 2012, 17:51 9 2

"the Samsung Galaxy S III is polycarbonate, not plastic"

Polycarbonate is thermoplastic polymer but it is still kind of plastic. :)

89. GENARAL.LEVY (banned) posted on 21 May 2012, 17:45 1 3

Tottaly agree

2. Sniggly posted on 21 May 2012, 13:53 28 1

This is pretty cool info, Phonearena. Thanks!

Waiting for Taco to comment in 3...2...1....

4. danwatson posted on 21 May 2012, 13:54 17 36

It still looks like crappy glossy plastic, it still feels like crappy glossy plastic, and it still shows fingerprints like crappy glossy plastic. The biggest issues with the Nexus & the GSII were the plastic build quality. How did Sammy miss this. Too many engineers in the software department designing toy features that we will all use for a couple days to show off and then never use again. No one is asking for more software and yet they keep adding it. Need to move some of those jobs to the materials department focusing on build quality and hardware improvements and let Google handle the software

7. MichaelHeller posted on 21 May 2012, 13:59 29 5

When and where did you get a chance to see and feel this as yet unreleased device in order to make this statement?

14. shadowcell posted on 21 May 2012, 14:11 22 1

Dan Watson, time-travelling visionary.

39. ZEUS.the.thunder.god posted on 21 May 2012, 14:55 6 2

he doesnt even know what he is talking about. probably dint even care to read the article. btw thanx for this article. now people can stop crying about premium materials not being used by samsung.

41. taz89 posted on 21 May 2012, 14:55 6 1

his an obvious hater micheal no point even wasting your time on him...he doesnt realise that theres a big diiferent from seeing an image and actually holding a device..many people who badmouthed the s3 on photos alone have changed there tunes when actually holding the device in person.

63. MichaelHeller posted on 21 May 2012, 16:14 5 2

Thanks, but I've found that other commenters will tend to either directly attack the person, so make a joke rather than point out the flaw in the statement, so I prefer to respond directly.

Also, Michael is never spelled "eal", it's always always "ael".

121. SonyFTW2020 posted on 22 May 2012, 08:11

I'll tell why they change there minds when "holding the phone in person" because that 4.8 inch screen probably seems to blow your mind when you first hold and look at it! Removing all other complaints that could possibly come into play.... But when you hold it JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER and you start using the phone and swipping through it, You find out how UNCOMFORTABLE AN ALMOST FIVE INCH PHONE REALLY IS!! and i say this cause I have a 4.3 inch atrix 2 and it seems to fit my hand WHOLE, and yes I have AVERAGE size hands not iphone 4S girl size hands....So I couldnt imagine using a 4.8 inch "Phablet" or phone/tablet..

122. taz89 posted on 22 May 2012, 08:59

I dont disagree that its too big for some but for many the added benefit of having a bigger screen is worth the sacrifice...hey I wish it was the same size as my s2 but considering the massive screen the s3 is only a cm taller and half a cm wider and for me that extra hieght and with is no issue because I use my s2 and ip4 when I had it with 2 hands as for me using a touch phone is natural to hold with 1 hand and navigate with the other..considering by the pre orders in the UK it seems like many may agree with me...but like I said I woulf have been happier if it was smaller but I can see the benefit of the bigger display...

52. paulyyd posted on 21 May 2012, 15:13 1 3

@heller there are countless video reviews showing what crappy glossy plastic looks and feels like. thats where he got the information to make that statement.

77. MichaelHeller posted on 21 May 2012, 16:49 9 1

I must see these videos that allow you to know and understand the feel of an item. That sounds magical.

99. remixfa posted on 21 May 2012, 20:56 4 3

michael,
these trolls only buy magical things.

120. danwatson posted on 22 May 2012, 06:52

True, I have never felt this device but it is the same feel as the GSII and Nexus from what I have read and I have handled the Nexus extensively and I own the GSII (epic) though I have the new Evo LTE on preorder. I also am an mech engineer and use polycarbonate all the time and thus i'm very familiar with the material. I was really hoping samsung would kill it this time but I just feel that they punted on the hardware and went all out on the software. Since ICS though, most everyone is satisfied (finally) with the software so I want the manufactures to focus more on the hardware. Not sure what is wrong with that.

17. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 May 2012, 14:15 10 2

WHAT?!?

Hey can I please take a ride in your time machine? I want to see my favorite dinosaur the stegosaurus! lol

5. 1ceTr0n posted on 21 May 2012, 13:55 19 4

Damn, S3 haters are in full force still. Hopefully iphone 5 launchs soon and they will all go away and shut up

25. Galen20K posted on 21 May 2012, 14:22 5 1

Seriously! lol AMen to that brother

6. remixfa posted on 21 May 2012, 13:59 13 12

whatta ya know. all of our cries of "quit calling it cheap plastic" were completely accurate. yaaay.

I'll take the plastic Samsung has been using or the new Poly any day over metal and glass. you can keep your "premium" wanna be BS, ill take a phone that can stand up to life.

13. WirelessCon posted on 21 May 2012, 14:10 14 4

remixfa has a good point.

15. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 May 2012, 14:12 12 5

I am with you, plastic makes the phone get better reception, last longer weigh less & get less scratches. I have no problem with the build quality of all Samsung products. The phone can look good but if it sucks with what’s inside then it’s all a waste. Panasonic ELUGA I am looking at you.

33. iamcc posted on 21 May 2012, 14:37 2 5

Dude, they use glass to make plates and glasses for a reason... it's better than plastic.

Somehow that applies to phones and means your plastic phone is cheap but I don't know how.

Oh s**t... I need taco to help me out.

35. remixfa posted on 21 May 2012, 14:48 7 4

no, taco said because they make Vases at hotels out of glass, that means that glass on your phone is more premium than plastic. You know.. because those 2 subjects merge together so well.. lolol

45. wsucoug13 posted on 21 May 2012, 14:58 2

glass is not a structurally supporting material.. they make plates and glasses from glass so you can see through it. why do you think the iphone shatters so easily? its glass

50. remixfa posted on 21 May 2012, 15:06 1 2

know what a glass window is surrounded by? plastic. lol

55. iamcc posted on 21 May 2012, 15:45 1

I was being sarcastic. We have a "friend" around here who insists that because certain things are made of glass that somehow transfers to the mobile phone industry where glass > gold.

61. PaulNotFromSweden posted on 21 May 2012, 16:14

Dude, most glasses have plastic or poly lenses. And most plates are made of ceramic, not glass. There's a reason neither of these things is made of glass; it breaks. Easily. If you want something to last beyond the first drop onto a relatively hard surface, you don't make it from glass.

56. gallitoking posted on 21 May 2012, 15:50 1 5

to bad the OS will be outdated in 6 moths... stock it with the unnoficial version

104. taz89 posted on 21 May 2012, 21:33

if it gets out dated it gets out dated as long as it means the phone still functions like the day its brought then thats all tha matters...

59. ph00ny posted on 21 May 2012, 16:11

But Polycarbonate is plastic

65. PaulNotFromSweden posted on 21 May 2012, 16:16

Swing and a miss.

67. Bangthering_007 posted on 21 May 2012, 16:20 1

Seriously I have to admit the GS3 dint look that great when it was first unveiled. But now after getting accustomed to the pebble design I kind of like it. It's got that zing!!

8. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 May 2012, 13:59 6 1

Ohh Ok, but isn't polycarbonate a thermoPLASTIC? It's still plastic & if I am 100% correct that means it didn't come from "natures" plastic tree right?

Here is a link: http://www.sdplastics.com/polycarb.html

20. SleepingOz posted on 21 May 2012, 14:19 3

Indeed! Polycarnate is still plastic.

27. SleepingOz posted on 21 May 2012, 14:23 3

*Polycarbonate

22. remixfa posted on 21 May 2012, 14:21 7 1

plastic comes from oil, which is drilled out of the ground. :) hydrocarbon based oil is the left overs of millions of dead plants and animals. So, is there anything about plastic that ISNT from nature? :) its nature concentrate! lol

26. SleepingOz posted on 21 May 2012, 14:23 4

Everything comes from nature.

30. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 May 2012, 14:31 1 1

Ok Mr. Technical. lol Yes the same can be said of anything that is manmade. Sure the ingredients do come from Earth. But if it's concocted in a lab then it's really not inspired by nature. If they need to make it in a lab with centrifuges then it really is not inspired by nature. To me nature inspired means sand to form glass or ceramic, metal, & wood. Those can be used without a lab.

P.S. I know you are messing with me! lol

36. SleepingOz posted on 21 May 2012, 14:48 1

Apart from wood, none of the materials listed above make me think about nature. And they're also manmade materials, even metal and wood must be treated by man in order to fit our needs.

37. remixfa posted on 21 May 2012, 14:50 1 1

nothing in the modern world would be able to be made without the wide array of plastics and other things that petroleum gives us. So, technically, NONE of its made by nature if plastic isnt.. since none of these electronics would be here without plastic! :) :) :)

i win (does goofy hip shake dance).

of course im messin.. im always messin around :)

97. tedkord posted on 21 May 2012, 20:31 1

I'm pretty sure glass is manufactured from natural materials (sand/silica). There are no glass trees either.

Alloys also, man made.

100. remixfa posted on 21 May 2012, 21:00 1 1

aluminum is naturally occurring. we just have to process it out of ore. Processing sand to glass is just heat, not a whole lot different. plastic from oil is slightly more complicated, but its still derived from natural substances.

technically EVERYTHING is derived from nature. Unless we start producing our own atoms like Tony Starke, its all natural. :)

114. FunkyEyez posted on 22 May 2012, 02:55

That what I was thinking too... where the hell can I find Natural glass??? f**k glass is made by processing silica under high temp and pressure!!! basic chemistry!!

57. MobileCaseReview posted on 21 May 2012, 15:55

SuperAndroid, you are indeed correct my friend. The correct term is polycarbonate plastic. So yes, it is still plastic, however stronger than just any ordinary plastic. Much more resistant to scratches and so on.

70. MichaelHeller posted on 21 May 2012, 16:30 1

Polycarbonate is the same as plastic in the same way Kevin Durant and Brian Scalabrine are both basketball players. Quality makes a big big difference.

88. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 May 2012, 17:44 1

Yes you are 100% correct but never the less it's still plastic. Just like Durant & Scalabrine are both humans who happen to play basketball. Anyways I am just messing with you. lol

110. xtian1103 posted on 21 May 2012, 22:33 1

@michael, how could you mention the white mamba with kevin durant in the same sentence? lols
so polycarbonate is made to lessen the scratches. i wonder it would look the same as my macbook plastic polycarbonate after a year. especially the white one!

9. Bluesky02 posted on 21 May 2012, 14:04 11 1

But the plastic won't break like iPhone

10. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 21 May 2012, 14:07 3 2

Sorry but gotta say it. IN YOUR FACE RAY S!

12. asahi posted on 21 May 2012, 14:10 5 2

LOL! Polycarbonate is just a kind of plastic. So if ever gs3 is made of polycarbonate, it is still a plastic!! PA, do some research first.. Hahahaha!

**********http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-polycarb​onate.htm

Want to comment? Please login or register.

  • LG Optimus F3LG Optimus F3
  • Kyocera Hydro EDGEKyocera Hydro EDGE
  • Kyocera Hydro XTRMKyocera Hydro XTRM
  • Nokia Lumia 925Nokia Lumia 925
  • BlackBerry Q5BlackBerry Q5
  • Sony Xperia ZRSony Xperia ZR
  • Nokia Lumia 928Nokia Lumia 928
  • Vertu TiVertu Ti
View all