Do you think all the praise the One's build is getting will make Samsung change?

[Thegonagle]

The problem with Samsung continuing to use cheap-feeling plastic: it reflects complacency and a lack of enthusiasm for the product. Samsung treats its phones like it does a washing machine or air conditioner: it's all about selling a commodity based on specs, not building the best experience. See the load of half-functional features and a high-speed chip bogged down by inconsistent software.

The GS4 will sell well through marketing clout, but it doesn't deserve to. If you want all-around quality, go buy an HTC One or iPhone 5.

QFT

Plus, I don't believe Brian had to put the HTC One in a freezer to complete the benchmark test suite without overheating. What good is the extra 200 MHz when your game starts lagging from thermal throttling?

 

[Thegonagle]

What's going to change is flexible screens.

To go with all those flexible circuit boards, SOC's, and batteries? Call me pessimistic, but I'm not seeing the practical applications of a flexible screen in a smartphone.

 

[lopri]

It's because the tech press generally likes an underdog..

That claim made me smile. ^^ Especially when applied to this site.

 

[GTRagnarok]

QFT

Plus, I don't believe Brian had to put the HTC One in a freezer to complete the benchmark test suite without overheating. What good is the extra 200 MHz when your game starts lagging from thermal throttling?

We did notice a single case of thermal based throttling under SunSpider 0.9.1 (the benchmark alone is fine, but running it after a bunch of others caused throttling), so we're once again presenting results in our standard test environment as well as inside of a freezer to show peak performance.

In other words, it throttled in one CPU test AFTER running through the other tests (while it was still warm). But even while throttled, it got a better score than the HTC One. In the freezer, it got a score that's seemingly much better than an extra 200mhz should allow for. That tells me that the One and other phones are also throttled to some extent. It's really a non-issue and it's not going to affect games.

 

[lopri]

Wasn't that some browser test that takes less than 30 seconds or so? The dude is doing his best to undermine his own credibility.

Edit: Yeah, SunSpider.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Sunspider in itself is a terrible "benchmark" anyway since getting good results is more dependent on the web engine.

 

[lopri]

To go with all those flexible circuit boards, SOC's, and batteries? Call me pessimistic, but I'm not seeing the practical applications of a flexible screen in a smartphone.

Not to the extent that you can roll, no, but outside the PCB area. I think we've already seen a prototype earlier this year.

 

[Thegonagle]

In other words, it throttled in one CPU test AFTER running through the other tests (while it was still warm). But even while throttled, it got a better score than the HTC One. In the freezer, it got a score that's seemingly much better than an extra 200mhz should allow for. That tells me that the One and other phones are also throttled to some extent. It's really a non-issue and it's not going to affect games.

Good point. I mainly noticed the lack of a HTC One (freezer) result on the result graphs.

 

[lopri]

And if one really can't stand the glossy back of the S4, check these out. They're damn cheap but undoubtedly will give you high quality "feelings."

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...xy%20s4%20case

Another advantage for the S4, for its removable back cover can easily be replaced by something to your liking without adding any mass.

(I feel like I am on crusade against the One but I decided some measures to counter the biased critics are warranted)

 

[lopri]

These are the One cases from AT's review.. (umm.. Toys?)

http://anandtech.com/show/6747/htc-one-review/2

You are not going to hide the convex back without making it look/feel like a brick.

See also what's available for the premium-feeling unibody design: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...=1367394419546

 

[QueBert]

Another advantage for the S4, for its removable back cover can easily be replaced by something to your liking without adding any mass.

(I feel like I am on crusade against the One but I decided some measures to counter the biased critics are warranted)

So it can be replaced with unibody Aluminum?

 

[lopri]

As I explained, what I am doing here to expose some critics' hypocrisy, bias, and frankly their idiocy. (I may even open a separate thread regarding this after my average-Joe/Jane friends decide on their upgrades)

And as to your preposterous question - Sure, why not? We're living in capitalism. I am sure you can find a talented, willing smith to forge a unibody aluminum back for whatever phone of your choosing. Heck, you can have unibody 18K gold back with some diamond sprinkled around to accentuate the premium look/feeling.

I won't ask whether you can afford or are willing to pay for such. ^^

 

[leper84]

Maybe Samsung realizes that if a majority of smartphone owners are just going to put a plastic/rubber case on regardless, it doesn't really matter to them what you build the back out of.

http://www.amazon.com/elago-Breathe-...words=s3+elago

I put that cheap (now) case on my s3. Its still thin. Its still light. The only part of my phone I ever interact with is the screen. If I had never seen it with the case off would I give a crap if its metal or plastic underneath? Personally I'd rather have a plastic featherweight phone in my pocket vs. something heavier. I've been using this thing, at work no less for almost a year and the 'cheap plastic construction' has yet to show its ugly face.

I think its good to have a premium Android option like the One, but I think the S4 will still outsell it. Put a case on both and the only difference you will see is the S4 is a better spec'd phone, add that to HTC's reputation for sucking at updates and there you go.

 

[lopri]

For $10, you can get a nice, solid looking TPU or hard-casing for the S4, and the S4 acquires quite different looks.
For $20~$30, you can even get a (gasp) metal casing for the S4, while retaining its slim profile. As seen in the pics, they look pretty nice. (Though they make the S4 kind of look like a giant iPhone 5)

For the One, no matter what casing you buy, you will not "feel" the aluminum. One way to retain the aluminum look, while losing its feel, is Ghost-Armor/Invisishield or something like that. And even then I doubt every edges and lips can be protected. And forget the speaker grills - dust, rain, ear wax, dandruff, bread crumbs, coffee,.. With a casing, the speaker grill protection + the One's thick bezels dwarf its screen. And that will certainly get in the way of screen swype/scroll because the protection has to be on top of the phone's frontal side. (i.e. the screen's level will be below that of the casing as the casing is elevated)

Of course one can be brave and forgo any protection for the One. I'd say good luck and strongly advise to purchase an insurance for accidental damages.

The more I look at it, the One is a design disaster. HTC tried hard to copy Apple and at the same time add their own flavor, but the end result is a spectacular fail.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

I don't really care too much considering all my phones end up looking like a TPU case with a big piece of glass across the front but.. would it really cost that much more to put a Nexus7-esque soft-touch plastic back on the GS4??

Are people actually planning on carrying a One around without a case and insurance??

 

[Red Storm]

Are people actually planning on carrying a One around without a case and insurance??

I myself never get insurance or cases. If I had after all these years I can't imagine how much wasted money that would have been.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

I myself never get insurance or cases. If I had after all these years I can't imagine how much wasted money that would have been.

Almost every piece of electronics in my house got fried when lightening struck the telegraph pole outside a few years back and I probably drop my phone on a hard surface once every 6 months or so (which is probably well below the average). Cases and contents insurance have definitely paid for themselves for me, especially when you consider the resale value of pristine devices.

 

[lopri]

This is $10. Doesn't add much volume/weight, doesn't get in the way of phone's operation. I suppose this should help alleviate cheap plasticky-feeling the S4 possesses? With another plastic.

http://www.amazon.com/SPIGEN-SGP-Sam...galaxy+s4+case

 

[lopri]

I myself never get insurance or cases. If I had after all these years I can't imagine how much wasted money that would have been.

Cases aren't expensive. Stop by at an Apple store and check out how iPhone 5s age.

Some phones are more resistant and resilience. I don't use a case for my N4 but I sealed it off with Ghost-Armor. As long as I don't break it, it should withstand scratches or slight rain drops. You may have chosen your phones wisely but for the One I can't imagine it lasting fresh without a case.

 

[Red Storm]

Cases aren't expensive. Stop by at an Apple store and check out how iPhone 5s age.

Some phones are more resistant and resilience. I don't use a case for my N4 but I sealed it off with Ghost-Armor. As long as I don't break it, it should withstand scratches or slight rain drops. You may have chosen your phones wisely but for the One I can't imagine it lasting fresh without a case.

I baby my phones very well. Don't drop them or treat them bad. Nothing ever shares the same pocket as my phone. I also hate cases, I don't spend big bucks on these sleek phones just to cover and thicken it up with rubber or plastic (or metal). No thank you.

 

[lopri]

No one forces you buy a case! (unless you plan to buy the One, then I might try to persuade you) I find it strange to every post of mine you respond with hostility. I even stated that you might have chosen your device wisely (and likewise take good care of it)

But if you visit an Apple store and look at the iPhone 5s, you will see how they've aged. This isn't my opinion or a statement about how you use your phone. It is a fact.

Edit: And the topic at hand is the S4 v. the One in design perspective. I have no idea why you think everything that's said here somehow implicates you.

 

[Red Storm]

No one forces you buy a case! I find it strange to every post of mine you respond with hostility. I even stated that you might have chosen your device wisely (and probably take good care of it)

But if you visit an Apple store and look at the iPhone 5s, you will see how they've aged. This isn't my opinion or statement about how you use your phone. It is a fact.

Huh? No hostility here.

I don't get iPhones so I'm not sure what that will show me. I don't even keep phones beyond 6 months, that hurts resale value and you end up paying a bunch to keep up to date or you're stuck with an aging device.

 

[lopri]

OK, then you're way off-topic here. I don't know why you even bothered to comment, if you've followed the thread.

 

[poofyhairguy]

No matter what phone I have I would put it in a case. TPU just protects too well to not use.

The only difference with a HTC One is that it could leave its case two times in my life- to show off to my iPhone addicted sister and my one friend who promised me no Android phone will ever feel like an iPhone.

I also use a screen protector the first year of a phone's life.

 

[lopri]

Back on topic: My thought's on the HTC's allegedly superior design to the S4 is in post #64.