The Note 4 bends, too. Screenshot: Cult of Android
Smartphones made of metal are far fancier than their plastic counterparts, but like other metallic objects, they will bend with enough force. No, “Bendgate” is not exclusive to the iPhone 6 Plus; Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 4 — its first phablet to sport a metal chassis — will bend just as easily if you’re not careful with it.
Leaked pictures of a purported Galaxy Note 4 prove that Samsung does have the ability to build good-looking smartphones. Its new flagship phablet looks set to debut a much-improved design with a sleek metal chassis and a leather-like back panel that replaces the cheap and tacky plastic.
New images of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Alpha indicate it will be even thinner than Apple’s iPhone 5s. The handset’s rear-facing camera protrudes out of its back somewhat — just like the Galaxy S5’s — but overall, the device could well be the slimmest Samsung smartphone to date.
It was just over a week after the Galaxy S5 went on sale worldwide that we first heard rumors of a “premium” model that would soon be following it, and since then, the “Galaxy S5 Prime” moniker has been popping up all over the place. It has appeared yet again this week in the unlikeliest of places.
For a high-end smartphone, the Galaxy S5 feels a little… cheap. I absolutely love mine; it’s one of the best Android phones I’ve ever owned thanks to its super speedy processor, stunning display, and excellent 16-megapixel camera. But I choose to carry the HTC One M8 instead. It’s just as capable in almost every way, and its sleek aluminum form factor is a joy to hold.
Like many of its predecessors and siblings, the Galaxy S5 has received criticism for its plastic design, and now the man who oversaw it is moving on. Chang Dong-hoon, head of Samsung’s mobile design center, will be replaced by vice president of mobile design Lee Min-Hyuk.
