Polls

Our readers love metal phones, mostly because of the way they feel and look (poll results)

posted by Chris P.

Apr 05, 2016, 4:38 AM

Our readers love metal phones, mostly because of the way they feel and look (poll results)

At the end of last week, it seemed like all anybody could talk about was the LG G5, or how it apparently wasn't a standard metal phone. A video by YouTuber JerryRigEverything showed how the body of the new flagship was actually covered by a relatively thick layer of what appeared to be plastic, with the aluminum sleeping below. LG was quick to chime in and elaborate, saying that it's not plastic, but primer infused with metallic particles instead. It certainly explained why the G5 felt oddly un-metal like.

The debacle aside, this got us thinking: What is it that makes people like metal phones? Because if you're being objective, the G5 is a metal phone, you just won't be touching the aluminum every time you fondle it. So is metal good, because it feels good? Is metal good, because it looks good? Or have people been requesting metal because of any given structural advantages it brings to the table? And while we're at it, does everyone like metal phones?

As it turns out, the majority of participants in our yesterday poll like the sleek material, with just a fifth saying they don't. Those remaining 80% are split between those who most appreciate metals' feel in the hand, followed by folks who dig the looks, and finally people that welcome the structural advantages of the material.

If we get a little creative and careless with statistical extrapolations, we could say that nearly 40% of voters likely don't really mind the fact that the G5's otherwise metal body is covered by primer, because they either don't like metal, or are more concerned with its physical qualities anyway.

Do you like metal smartphones, and why?

Yes, because of the way they feel in the hand

38.8%

Yes, because of the way they look

23.45%

Yes, because of the structural advantages they bring

17.45%

20.3%

Options

19 Comments

25. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Wahhhhhh! I miss Apple's iPhone 3GS and Samsung older Galaxy/Note with poly-carbonate casing. Yes metal "looks" good. But all the plus of plastic is all the cons of metal. Metal, harder to cosmetically repair. Uses mostly glue to hold them together which makes user repair impossible, every single drop will cause damage outside and inside, fingernail cause scratches on metal surfaces, to easy to scuff, to easy to dent, metal doesn't absorb vibrations from drops which helps crack the glass, like plastic it gets hot and stays hot as long as a source of heat is being applied, make device production more expensive which increase retail costs do to the need for costly machines and cutting tools, more expensive to make waterproof/resistant, easier to bend and so many more bad things. Plastic is better even at looks if done right. When all phones were plastic, no one complained. When Apple first had metal and a dual-side glass phone, no one complained about it begin a fingerprint magnet. All of these no matter the OEM, including you Samsung; are simply cheap poor design choices. Sure they do look and feel good and yes I like it too; but a fact is a fact; it still a poor design choice. Other better options would be Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, Magnesium, Stainless Steel or Die-Cast Metal. Also, any metal phone should be covered with the same material they use on non-stcik pans. That coating would be harder to scuff, better resists fingerprints would make the casing tougher against drops and it is also very resistant to water.

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 3:08 PM 0

24. monoke

Posts: 1219; Member since: Mar 14, 2015

Too bad the g5 does neither according to reports even though it is inherently a metal shell. Why experiment with that thick coating lg?

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 2:48 PM 0

16. Hoggington

Posts: 356; Member since: Feb 23, 2016

Why is there a picture of a plastic phone for this article? Oh sorry, primer phone.

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 9:09 AM 0

22. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Thats primer phone will look much better after use than any full metal phone as the process they use wont tend to chip like the paint on many iphone 5S thats client return thats are chipped a lots. But its okay empty hate is welcome on PA :)

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 11:30 AM 0

11. gaming64

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 22, 2016

Yet I find it a shame a lot of metal phone users use plastic cases:(

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 6:21 AM 1

5. Wiencon

Posts: 2278; Member since: Aug 06, 2014

I like how they look and feel but prefer Lumia's polycarbonate anytime, aluminum gets scratched easily and could bend. Meanwhile my dad's Lumia 1020 looks still good as new and feels incredibly solid in hand, no need to buy ugly case for it

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 4:49 AM 0

15. medtxa

Posts: 1655; Member since: Jun 02, 2014

Then dont buy the ugly case. People who buy the ugly case are never care about the look anyway.. Thin transparent case are good enough to show the beauty.

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 8:56 AM 0

4. RichardYarell

Posts: 67; Member since: Mar 24, 2016

Metal phone serves no purpose but to prove themselves as stupid as the Fruity fan boi's logic it's so comical. Until the end no one beats mother android SAMSUNG phone period the international poll tell us all, not this comical fan base poll that show nothing

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 4:48 AM 2

6. GrimJow

Posts: 27; Member since: Mar 24, 2016

Chill out, typical. It was just a poll.

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 5:05 AM 1

9. Switch00

Posts: 536; Member since: Sep 04, 2013

coworker's S7 broke (back glass) the first time it touched the ground. 80 euros for repair. rubbish.

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 5:45 AM 2

12. amasog

Posts: 552; Member since: Aug 22, 2013

Narrow-mindedness and bitterness at its finest. LOL! Comments like yours just make PA even more inspired to post an article which can be considered nonsense and are just click baits. LOL!

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 6:46 AM 0

14. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

Is Samsung paying you that much?

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 8:05 AM 0

17. Hoggington

Richard, it's good to hold these companies accountable. The G5 is not a metal phone. It's a plastic/primer covered phone...and it feel like it. Cheap. LG marketed it as a metal bodied device. Simply isn't true. There are plenty of other phones out there that are actually metal. HTC, iPhones for example. The main thing is LG lied about this phone in their marketing. Doesn't matter if plastic or metal is better. It's the fact it was false advertising. Plain and simple.

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 9:16 AM 0

21. marorun

remove all the primer and you will have a full metal body under it Hoggington so sure the marketing was unclear but not a lie. Personally i agree i also like more the way HTC do it but lets not say its false advertising when its just playing with word like we know other OEM do it all the time.

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 11:28 AM 0

20. marorun

Richard take your samsung device and put it in your A** we dont care :)

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 11:26 AM 0

26. g2a5b0e unregistered

Richard, why do you do this? Do you just enjoy getting banned on every website you frequent? You can't be this stupid. State your opinion without bashing. I know you can do it.

posted on Apr 06, 2016, 7:52 AM 0

1. dil2abu

Posts: 315; Member since: Nov 09, 2011

G5 is a metal smartphone?

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 4:42 AM 0

8. kkmkk

Posts: 699; Member since: May 06, 2013

please do not upset lg fanboys .. let them get defrauded they way they want !

posted on Apr 05, 2016, 5:21 AM 0

18. marorun

if you remove primer and paint yep you would have a very bad looking metal phone ( the methode used to make the metal body give it better strenght than other methode but very bad and uneven finish ) for kkmkk might i point out 40.9% of the ppl agree ( they like look and structural strenght ) But its a question of taste personally i prefere HTC way of making metal phone i like the feel of the metal and the weight its give.