Samsung Replaces Galaxy Series designer

[Fernandez21]

I'm in this boat with you MRU. I don't think Samsung's most recent devices are ugly, per se, but rather feel less substantial and/or premium. I think much of it comes from using a design that allows for a removable battery and the required removable back plate. I'm personally a big fan of metal/glass, practical or not, and seem to generally prefer devices using these materials (iPhones/iPads, Nexus 4, HTC One, LG G Pad, and now the Xperia Z line are my recent personal favorites in design and materials). But there are certainly quite a few devices made from plastic that I found quite pleasant--Nexus 5/7, quite a few Nokia Lumia's--all of which have a better feel to me than Galaxy devices--more heft, more substantial and solid, so blaming the materials used is a cop out, IMO.

I agree with Technarchy in that Samsung changing for the sake of change would be foolish. Moving a new dramatic direction could very well alienate a large portion of their customers. I'd personally would just like to see a different build design using materials that feel (and look) better--go ahead keep the general Samsung design. Absolutely doesn't mean my design tastes are better, just what I'd need to see before considering using a future Samsung device.

I don't think a removable plate has anything to do with, I have seen several phones in the past that had removable plates be metal. Off the top of my head there was the original flip phone RAZR, krazr, slzr, RAZR 2, HTC inspire, Nokia e71 and another flip phone Nokia. All had metal back plates that were removable.

And really, the plastic isn't the problem, its the design of the plastic. It would've been cool had they used the same texture as the Nexus 5, if they did that and cleaned up touchwiz I might have got one because of the water proof ness.

 

[tbayrgs]

I don't think a removable plate has anything to do with, I have seen several phones in the past that had removable plates be metal. Off the top of my head there was the original flip phone RAZR, krazr, slzr, RAZR 2, HTC inspire, Nokia e71 and another flip phone Nokia. All had metal back plates that were removable.

And really, the plastic isn't the problem, its the design of the plastic. It would've been cool had they used the same texture as the Nexus 5, if they did that and cleaned up touchwiz I might have got one because of the water proof ness.

I should have clarified my thoughts regarding the removable back plate. My issue is less with the materials used for the back plate (though they have also been lackluster in the past) but rather that devices of this nature feel less sturdy vs. those using a unibody type design. If I applied any torsional pressure to my Galaxy Note 2 it creaked worse than an old wooden rocking chair and would flex and give, especially the back panel. I don't think substituting a metal back plate is going to resolve this issue entirely. It's like the difference in structural rigidity between a convertible car and it's hardtop counterpart--the hardtop is just going to be more structurally sound.

 

[Max(IT)]

I actually think Samsung can occasionally make good-looking products. Haters say they always make ugly phones.

Samsung Soul
Samsung Giorgio Armani
Samsung Focus / Omnia 7
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Even their wearable accessories like the Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Gear 2 look quite nice.

I think tech reviewers (like David Pierce) are so emo about premium build quality because they are Apple fanatics and prioritize premium feeling over practicality. Metal isn't even the most practical material used for ruggedness.

And while I don't like TouchWiz, you can use a launcher and apps to get rid of the ugliness and bloat. You can disable them. I actually like that Samsung still provides a memory card slot and removable battery. And I like they use a physical home button. Save from wearing out the power button.

Hopefully with this change, Samsung can finally correct one of the main complaints about them. Design. But people sometimes forget they do alot of things right and provide alot of practical features with long-term value. Samsung might not be great at software and half-baked features but some can correctable. Disable it or don't use them. But they are rarely guilty on having missing features.

And the Note 3 "faux everything" phablet is what you define a good looking phone ?

Btw you can't get rid of TouchWiz just using another launcher, since it is not just a launcher. Another launcher is just something else you install ABOVE TouchWiz and its bloatware.


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The most premium feeling Samsung handset I've ever owned was this:

Image

Real solid & weighty and the metal parts did feel nice in the hand.

I't a pity the materials and feel of the Omina 7 wasn't replicated on the Galaxy S line.

It is subjective, but in find that design highly uninspiring and old ....