Quality feel (use of materials) - LG V20 Real Life Review

Rate this thread to express how you think the LG V20 feels in terms of quality. A higher rating indicates that it feels premium and high-quality (attention to detail is high, manufacturing defects don't exist, etc).
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

Meh. It ain't no Note 7. That said, what wows me is performance first. My phone will be in a case which means aesthetics is moot.

The design isn't exciting, but honestly I didn't think much of the glass note 7. That stupid thing fell out of my pocket while I was laying down and cracked the back and the camera lens cover. as douger1957 said it'll be in a case anyway.

douger1957 said:
Meh. It ain't no Note 7. That said, what wows me is performance first. My phone will be in a case which means aesthetics is moot.
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agreed...the quality of my N7 was amazing...as for the V20, screen looks great...i like the simplicity of the design...performance is great as well!!

It is an elegant understated design IMHO, least in the titanium color. Done well. Varying materials match colors (matching Al to plastic ain't easy), feels good in the hand for a naked phone (most are ice cubes).

before everyone was complaining about samsung and others that they dont use "premium" materials.
Now when they do glass/metal is bad also. Easy to crack, fingerprint magnet and at the end you put case on it so what's the point really?! just higher premium price. every phone in case will look almost the same no matter if its glass or metal or plastic but people wanted so they have it

I think my V10 felt more solid, but this phone is great too!
Sent from my LG-H918 using XDA-Developers mobile app

masondoctorjt said:
I think my V10 felt more solid, but this phone is great too!
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I must concur with you. I in particular liked the steel rails of the V10, which were attached to the main body. I suspect the V20 would have done better in the torture test of trying to bend the main body if it still had the steel rails. Looks like most of the rigidity of the V20 comes from aluminum back, which isn't fully attached. True, that was a torture test, but still...

it's not shiny armor nor glossy glass. But since Optimus G Pro, I stick to LG products for their build quality. G Pro, G 3, G Flex 2 and now V20, all these guys looks and feels solid in my hand.

I'm coming from note 4. I feel that the built quality is nice. For metal phone it's light in hand, big enough to fit the hands. Nice to hold.
Also the screen is awesome. So far I'm liking the phone.
I wish I had note 7, but due to their fiasco, I purchased this and I'll be with it for some time now. I don't plan on getting a new phone until this one dies.

as for the V20, screen looks great

Honestly, I don't think it's the nicest looking phone I've ever had.
But, It fits in my hand perfectly and compared to my old samsung phones, it feels much more solid. Compared to the note 5, I can reach all of the screen with one hand no problem. I like the more rugged, metal look of the phone.

They have an obviously flawed camera glass design that is shattering for thousands of people for no reason and LG is refusing to own the issue as usual. Otherwise it feels like good quality.
Just be prepared to have a useless camera.

Maybe it has a kind of industrial look. but it is tough as hell! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2El1Fo8Pqc 1000Ft drop and it still works lol!

Who needs a glass back that easily cracks. It'll be in a case anyway as pointed out well in most posts. Mine had a case from the moment I bought it. Just a cheap $4 at first but bought the ringke onyx and spigen tempered glass instantly as well.
Purchased dbrand stickers as well for the rear dual cam since the factory installed clear plastic ones seems to be not durable and won't last long. Though I still have them on for addt'l layer of protection. I find drop protection more useful than waterproof or dust proof ability.

Durability
Speaking of durability, a guy dropped a V20 a thousand feet from a drone onto a concrete parking lot, and the camera glass didn't break, the phone was actually still functional. The glass seems to be more vulnerable to a scratch or maybe a direct hit, a guy scratched it with a box cutter and the glass cracked, something a protective skin should help with.

Ok gang, v20 has to be one of my ever lasting phones.
I've dropped it a few times (with case one and off) no issues.
Now my wife is using it, and it got into my little ones possession, and Bam .... To the floor ... Initially there was issues with the microphone. Saw the headphone icon on the top. I did the insert and pull out of headphone trick people mentioned on blog, after I did a soft reset.
I even cautiously or tried to replicate the drop see if it would goggle loose pieces together.
But after 2 days of waiting the headphone icon disappeared and my wife called me to see if mic was working and it was I was able to hear her.
So just getting it out there for anyone else with a similar predicament .... It's not solution but at least it will provide some hope for the problem to just wait it out.

kparikh82276 said:
Ok gang, v20 has to be one of my ever lasting phones.
I've dropped it a few times (with case one and off) no issues.
Now my wife is using it, and it got into my little ones possession, and Bam .... To the floor ... Initially there was issues with the microphone. Saw the headphone icon on the top. I did the insert and pull out of headphone trick people mentioned on blog, after I did a soft reset.
I even cautiously or tried to replicate the drop see if it would goggle loose pieces together.
But after 2 days of waiting the headphone icon disappeared and my wife called me to see if mic was working and it was I was able to hear her.
So just getting it out there for anyone else with a similar predicament .... It's not solution but at least it will provide some hope for the problem to just wait it out.
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Lucky. When I had a v20, lots of horror stories every week on Reddit about minor bumps breaking camera glass. One nice thing about the v20--a million screws but it is easy to tear apart and replace things if they die.

Related

Nexus 5 Drop test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkb5Qe_-0k0
Thought I'd share this video with you guys, this is mostly for those who want to keep their phones without any case so they may be able to take the proper precautions.
And for those who don't want to watch the whole video, skip towards 3/4 of the video and you will see the Nexus 5 screen break down after just one drop on it's screen, it was still functional but it was badly damage so this is more so you all may be careful and see what could happen if you phone falls just once on its screen at chest level.
hate too see this kind of test, obviusly if I drop the phone it will be somehow damaged, even if I drop my worst enemy head will be damaged.. just wasting of time and money
That was PAINFUL to watch, i cringed :crying: , wow i was very very surprised how bad it did, whole sections of the screen dettached themselves from the phone, I seriously thought gorilla glass was stronger
pretty brutal
prob grabbing a case just because of the camera protrusion however this helps reinforce that decision
stremax said:
hate too see this kind of test, obviusly if I drop the phone it will be somehow damaged, even if I drop my worst enemy head will be damaged.. just wasting of time and money
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this guy gets sent free phones to do these tests
Good video, but I can't stand cases.
Takes a cool looking phone and makes them look like bricks out of the 1980s.
No thanks. Keep your phones cool, don't be scared.
Chad_Petree said:
That was PAINFUL to watch, i cringed :crying: , wow i was very very surprised how bad it did, pieces from the screen went even missing , i seriously thought gorilla glass was stronger
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Gorilla Glass is just that - glass. It doesn't take side damage or flat landing good at all. The way Apple, Samsung & co are trying to protect the glass from drop damage is using an extra rim around the front panel, something that is missing from the Nexus 5, so no surprises that the screen cracked. What surprised me is the rigid plastic that shattered way too easy, it's something really cheap sorry to say.
The N5 is a lot more fragile than the N4. The phone isn't as rugged, though.
The N5 has no aluminum rim bezel as the N4. My N4 has fell from about the same height and only the bezel got dented. It is that rugged.
BoneXDA said:
Gorilla Glass is just that - glass. It doesn't take side damage or flat landing good at all. The way Apple, Samsung & co are trying to protect the glass from drop damage is using an extra rim around the front panel, something that is missing from the Nexus 5, so no surprises that the screen cracked. What surprised me is the rigid plastic that shattered way too easy, it's something really cheap sorry to say.
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One of the advertising points for the N5, Moto X, and I believe G2 is the side-to-side glass. The extra rim isn't missing; it is intentionally left off. I love that combined with Pie controls.
But yes, the Gorilla Glass is just glass. I agree with your point here. It is supposed to be scratch resistant, not drop-proof diamond material. People always seem amazed by these videos when the glass breaks. Guys, it is glass, it breaks when you drop it. It doesn't matter if it's a phone, a computer, a TV, or even a watch. Glass breaks when it hits something hard at a decent speed. Nothing surprising there.
I never understood the purpose of these drops tests. Wouldn't you have to drop hundreds if not thousands to arrive at a conclusion? There are tons of people who post that their screen broke on a drop but someone would come on and say they dropped there's and only got a dent.
When they do crash ratings on cars, they do very specific tests at pre-determined angles of impact, etc...
These drop videos are some random dude that drops it and the phone lands at some random angle.
Remind me not to drop this thing! I miss the days when you could drop a phone and the worst thing that happened was the battery cover popping off...
Mr. Sprinkles said:
Remind me not to drop this thing! I miss the days when you could drop a phone and the worst thing that happened was the battery cover popping off...
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Yeah, they were like Legos. You drop the phone, it shoots one way, the battery case shoots another way, the battery itself shoots a third way. Although that was unintentional, it is interesting that they make phone cases like that now. I can't recall off the top of my head, but I remember one that was designed to break into multiple parts when it was dropped in order to minimize the impact on the phone itself. Interesting idea. Never owned one, though.
Ordering case now
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
I'm usually very anti case, but the red one in the Play Store looks rad so I'll probably swoop on one of those
This post has been edited.
I can't wait til sapphire is the standard on phone screens. I would easily pay extra for a screen made with it.
I agree with you are all saying, sure is just glass and it is likely to break when dropped I mean we all know that is obvious but I decided to post this as a fair warning to every owner cause I have a Samsung S1 aka Captivate and have accidentally dropped it on the screen and not even a scratch, so yeah I know it depends on the build and materials so figured people should be more careful with their N5s.
Is the back cover removable? On the drop test it seems like it is.
I'm asking because I've to choose from a real bumper and a bumper with a protection on the back.
domenicop said:
Is the back cover removable? On the drop test it seems like it is.
I'm asking because I've to choose from a real bumper and a bumper with a protection on the back.
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Easy to remove. Just drop your phone! But it probably could be removed, if you were so inclined. I can't imagine why you'd ever want to though. Because your warranty is likely toast if you do. And it may never go on correctly again. Just keep checking Youtube, a teardown video will be up soon enough they will see how hard it is to get off.
EDIT: Nevermind here is the video. Fairly easy to get off. But it is glued at the bottom so your results may vary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-jDvZtpEJ8
I guess it's a good thing I don't drop my phones. :good:

Already dented my N5

Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
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Strange. The Cruzerlite (which are thin TPU cases, cheap in my opinion) drop test stood up to NUMEROUS drops & the device survived without any sign of damage. Not a scratch or dent.
Is you device white or black? My old Nexus 10 had a defect in the black soft touch coating that looked like a dent, but it was more likely an issue in the molding or application process.
vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
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Pics?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Endoran said:
Pics?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
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Mine is the white version, but the dent is on the top right above the camera, on the black portion, right where the side casing touches the glass. I would have a very hard time photographing this because of where it is on the phone/lighting etc.. ill try when I get home though.
vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
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a picture speaks a thousand words
I have about 5 or so nicks on the sides where the glass and plastic edge meet on my naked white N5. I agree that the plastic used is pretty brittle but it's not noticeable unless you really look for it.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Get a sufficient case otherwise you can't really complain...
I have one little mark or nick as well where the plastic case meets the glass on that tiny little lip. My 2 year old got a hold of my phone and dropped it on a metal external hard drive case the day I got it and it landed right on 90 degree edge of the case... I went temporarily insane. It is very small but kind of surprised me I guess. I dropped my galaxy S3 many times and never got more than the little hairline scratches you see in glossy plastic. That soft touch coating seems to have some give to it. It was my fault. My parents gave my kids a new ipad mini and I set my phone on top of it. I was in the other room and heard him say "new tablet". I knew at that moment the mistake I had made...
I have one of those really slim cases on the way which would have prevented it. I typically don't use cases and am usually not bothered by the small marks I get on my phones but because some of those ultra thin cases are so slim now days I am going to try one out. Marking up a brand new phone is a little different than one that's a year+ old...
I too, also have a slight dent under the screen bezel part of mine. I have never dropped mine. Noticed it while it was on the table; that the reflection of the curtain was slightly bent at the one area, instead of being completely straight. Looked closely, and sure enough, there was a dent. It's not noticeable during day-to-day use, but you CAN notice it if looking at the reflection it shows.
The chrome bezel on the nexus 4 was susceptible to dents as well.
A few weeks ago the Nexus 5 flew out of my hands and landed on our concrete driveway. I feared the worst, but only a small dent in the upper left corner of the back panel and some scratching is all that happened. Lucky me, but I still hate it. Never had a single blemish on the Nexus 4.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
The sides of this phone are fine, besides the fact that they collect dust like crazy. The screen, however, is not. Another guy posting on Android Central also reported having a dent, similar to mine. I actually think this dent came with my device. I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, but disregarded it, as I thought it was the screen protector that came with the phone, but I decided to remove it and check again. It IS a part of the screen
Hobbesfed said:
The sides of this phone are fine, besides the fact that they collect dust like crazy. The screen, however, is not. Another guy posting on Android Central also reported having a dent, similar to mine. I actually think this dent came with my device. I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, but disregarded it, as I thought it was the screen protector that came with the phone, but I decided to remove it and check again. It IS a part of the screen
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Normal. That's why most early glass screen protectors were not sticking properly.
bblzd said:
Normal. That's why most early glass screen protectors were not sticking properly.
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Normal? How is a dent on the screen normal? My Nexus 10 does not have this, my old Samsung Vibrant does not have this. Why would a dent on a Nexus 5 be normal?
Hobbesfed said:
Normal? How is a dent on the screen normal? My Nexus 10 does not have this, my old Samsung Vibrant does not have this. Why would a dent on a Nexus 5 be normal?
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I would say it's normal because of the following reasons:
1) it doesn't effect the usage of the device in any way
2) it's barely noticeable even in the "perfect" lighting conditions
3) many have reported the exact same thing in the early tempered glass threads; the only time it has ever come up or been noticed.
So why exactly is it a problem for you? Corners were cut to make this phone at a cheap price I would think that's pretty clear. It's also not the screen itself but around it.
Dented
In my N5 have no dent and any scratch..
I love with my N5
bblzd said:
I would say it's normal because of the following reasons:
1) it doesn't effect the usage of the device in any way
2) it's barely noticeable even the "perfect" lighting conditions
3) many have reported the exact same thing in the early tempered glass threads; the only time it has ever come up or been noticed.
So why exactly is it a problem for you? Corners were cut to make this phone at a cheap price I would think that's pretty clear.
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There's a difference between "corners being cut" to make the device cheaper and really poor quality control. I understand them using a less camera module and a lower capacity battery, and a screen that washes out when tilted, etc, but the numerous issues with the hardware is ridiculous. Dents in screen, poor GPS connectivity, Wi-Fi problems, dust under screen, loose vibration motor, rattling buttons, and so on.
There is no reason for hardware bugs like this. To lower the price, lesser powerful hardware is used, but the low price is no excuse for poor quality. Like some users said, in terms of hardware, this device is like an alpha, and the only way to receive the "perfect" device is to continuously RMA.
We paid for the device, we should not be getting so many faults and issues.
Hobbesfed said:
There's a difference between "corners being cut" to make the device cheaper and really poor quality control. I understand them using a less camera module and a lower capacity battery, and a screen that washes out when tilted, etc, but the numerous issues with the hardware is ridiculous. Dents in screen, poor GPS connectivity, Wi-Fi problems, dust under screen, loose vibration motor, rattling buttons, and so on.
There is no reason for hardware bugs like this. To lower the price, lesser powerful hardware is used, but the low price is no excuse for poor quality. Like some users said, in terms of hardware, this device is like an alpha, and the only way to receive the "perfect" device is to continuously RMA.
We paid for the device, we should not be getting so many faults and issues.
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How is it even a defect? It's not even noticeable. No one would consider it a hardware bug except apparently you. Please explain how this effects the usage of your device in any way.
Poor quality control is EXACTLY how corners are cut. Manufacturing anything has margin of errors and the less margin of error you're willing to release the more phones are "thrown away" and the more money a released device will cost. I'd explain more but I'm sure Wikipedia or a Google search can better explain the finer points of manufacturing and quality control then I can.
You read the specs of the phone and it has everything a $700 phone has but it costs $400. How did you think that was accomplished?
bblzd said:
.
You read the specs of the phone and it has everything a $700 phone has but it costs $400. How did you think that was accomplished?
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There is a lot of discussion about that price... but Google routinely undercuts the competition when it comes to the nexus line (looking at you, 7)
Looking at the specs of the 5, then looking at comparable phones out ing the market, the only conclusion I can come to is that Google is letting these things go at either zero margin, or (my thought) at a fairly beefy loss.... kicking back cash to LG to cover their losses.
All you need to do is look at the other phones available at the same full retail price... does the 5 seem anywhere close to those? Nope, it blows them all out of the water... laughable in most cases. Now, you can cut corners to lower prices, but you can't cut THAT much.
LeoRex said:
There is a lot of discussion about that price... but Google routinely undercuts the competition when it comes to the nexus line (looking at you, 7)
Looking at the specs of the 5, then looking at comparable phones out ing the market, the only conclusion I can come to is that Google is letting these things go at either zero margin, or (my thought) at a fairly beefy loss.... kicking back cash to LG to cover their losses.
All you need to do is look at the other phones available at the same full retail price... does the 5 seem anywhere close to those? Nope, it blows them all out of the water... laughable in most cases. Now, you can cut corners to lower prices, but you can't cut THAT much.
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The actual cost break down might never be known. One thing is for sure though, LG is not willing to take any loss and whatever Google may have paid them "extra" they will still try and build the phone as cheap as they possibly can.
LG does not consider the Nexus as their flagship phone and will never treat it as such. It's a phone they were contracted to build and they will cut every corner they can. It's just business.

What are your thoughts on the Note 4's Build Quality?

I finally got my hands on a demo unit of the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 4 yesterday at the T-Mobile Store near the airport and was amazed of how the device felt in the hand. A lot superior than Apple's iPhone 6 Plus. My eyes couldn't ignore the detail of 5.7" display and all round metal frame. Very refined look. Samsung has come a long way; now only if they could consolidate themselves and keep up a job well done.
What are your thoughts on the Note 4's Build Quality compared to previous Note Series Models?
Never had the previous notes before, but I love the new design. Looks and feels very premium. The metal sides feel great. Only thing I don't like is the gap on the right, I pretty much have to blow dust out quite often. And I have a couple of small scratches at the edge of the metal band, the unpainted part. Other than that one of the best build quality compared to other phones, and I have had quite a few of them.
The built quality is 10/10 on the Note 4. All three note devices used plastic. Apple however remains to still have the best aluminum built quality
I would like to know does anyone have problem with the aluminium edges?
I am hearing that they are getting scratched easily so i wanna know does anyone have similar problem?
*Emix* said:
I would like to know does anyone have problem with the aluminium edges?
I am hearing that they are getting scratched easily so i wanna know does anyone have similar problem?
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The only thing getting scratched when handling my phone is my finger that props up the phone from underneath
I did see the iphone 6/6+ in the ATT store a couple of days ago and I have to admit it looks and feels really good. The Note 4 and iphone 6/6+ bit have excellent build quality. That bending crap is blown way out of proportion.
It would have been nice if Samsung went with a different look for the back cover though, maybe something like the One Plus One's Sandstone backcover. But I don't mind it honestly. Hopefully we get some nice third party back covers soon.
Apart from the famous gap at the top and left hand side of the phone the phone feels solid. Love it, I just put a case on it to hide the gap and also coz im scared of it getting scratched.
Where are the potential areas to be scratched. i don't see aluminum anywhere on the Note 4; It's mainly metal with the surprising observation that the metal rim is painted.
RCJ89 said:
Apart from the famous gap at the top and left hand side of the phone the phone feels solid. Love it, I just put a case on it to hide the gap and also coz im scared of it getting scratched.
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Mine does not have a visible gap. Nor am I able to insert the edge of a business card.
arjun90 said:
Where are the potential areas to be scratched. i don't see aluminum anywhere on the Note 4; It's mainly metal with the surprising observation that the metal rim is painted.
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You don't see aluminium, but it's mainly metal...? Erm...
The bits people are saying scratch easily are the un-painted chamfered metal edges - which are aluminium - they do scratch quite easily, but the scratches are always hairline and as the edge is very small, so is the scratch.
Oh, and on closer inspection, yes, I have a gap - a teeny tiny gap that's so small as not to be visible or worrisome. I can barely get the edge of a post-it note in there, definitely not a business card.
It's a beautiful phone, without a doubt the best made phone Samsung have come out with.
The parts which are exposed can be covered with InvisibleShield Skin to prevent the scratches from rising. Do note however, this may make you feel awkward in the public. On the brighter note, at least you have a better chance of selling a device in mint condition. Cheers
SquidgyB said:
You don't see aluminium, but it's mainly metal...? Erm...
The bit's people are saying scratch easily are the un-painted chamfered metal edges - which are aluminium - they do scratch quite easily, but the scratches are always hairline and as the edge is very small, so is the scratch.
Oh, and on closer inspection, yes, I have a gap - a teeny tiny gap that's so small as not to be visible or worrisome. I can barely get the edge of a post-it note in there, definitely not a business card.
It's a beautiful phone, without a doubt the best made phone Samsung have come out with.
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arjun90 said:
What are your thoughts on the Note 4's Build Quality compared to previous Note Series Models?
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I got mine about an hour ago, it's white. It looks more refined than my Note 3 and feels more substantial. Is it "OMG! It's night and day!," no. I think it'll be more impressive to people who haven't owned previous Samsung products than those of us that have evolved with them. Even thought both were "plasticky" I think the Note 2>Note 3 evolution introduced a more serious look to the Note's than Note 3>Note 4. Don't misunderstand, I'm very happy with the design/build improvements in the Note 4 they just aren't life altering. I will say this, the tolerances it's built to are impressive. The plastic filler in between the metal trim is laser perfect. As is how tightly the back cover fits flush to the trim. HTC had issues pulling the same thing off.
RebDovid said:
Mine does not have a visible gap. Nor am I able to insert the edge of a business card.
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Mine does have a gap but its not big enough to really put a peice of paper in. I guess I only noticed it because I was looking for it.
Sometime with gaps, sometime not. I handed on about 4pcs of Note 4 and they have no gaps. Sony Z3 often come with gaps. Note 4 is stronger ( to bend ) than Z3.
Coming from an S4 its a marked improvement. I actually like the build quality better than the LG G3. Maybe it just fits in my hand better.
The gap seems more prominent on the Korean models, especially since initial reports of gap-gate originated from there. The T-Mobile Note 4 is assembled in Vietnam; I'm not sure how much leverage assembly workers there have in respect to minding the gap. Bear in mind the AT&T variant (with Snapdragon 805) is assembled in Korea.
Coming from note 2 it's a substantial improvement.
My note 4 is top notch. No gap anywhere.
willzilla said:
My note 4 is top notch. No gap anywhere.
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The gap on the Note 4 I've handled was the same as the ones found in the s4 and s5; no big deal.
People are blowing this way out of proportion. This was not a problem with the s4 or the s5, it's not a problem with the note 4.
One word... Excellent.
I do have a gapgate style gap at the top end of the glass, it's very small but a few bits of crud have got in there already.. I'm not happy about it but I'm also not going to get fussed over it as I was aware of the issue over a week ago. The other three sides of the glass are flush. The rest of the build quality is perfect, everything is so flush and the way the back fits around the curved metal bezel is just spot on. It's the first time I've felt Samsungs 'leather' back and I really like it, strangely soft to the touch.
I really wish they'd add lens covers to the cameras on these devices but that's a personal preference born out of the Sony Ericsson K series of phones.

Built Quality Compared to 4S

So the only reason why I have not pre-ordered, is the potential screen self cracking.
I have used an iPhone 4s for three years before I switched to Moto X. Even though both sides were glass (with aluminum side) that phone was sturdy and really well build. I used a plastic thin case that provides very minimal bulk/protection.
I've dropped it from my lap exiting my car and just falling off my desk. It has hit cement, road, or even tiles. Luckly it never hit face first. The metal band got dinged of and some chips on the edges. The glass however is flawless (except a scratch from keys).
Can anyone provide a honest comparison of the Z3 Compact with a iPhone 4s? Also even with this inconsistent "self cracking" screen, do you guys still recommend me getting it?
We don't really know how widespread the screen-cracking issue is, but I would say the overwhelming majority of people have had no problems with it, so I'm not terribly worried.
In terms of build quality, I don't have an iPhone to compare with, but my Z3c at least feels fantastic. There's no give on any components, nothing loose, everything's flush, no gaps between glass and edges.
Hjbotha said:
We don't really know how widespread the screen-cracking issue is, but I would say the overwhelming majority of people have had no problems with it, so I'm not terribly worried.
In terms of build quality, I don't have an iPhone to compare with, but my Z3c at least feels fantastic. There's no give on any components, nothing loose, everything's flush, no gaps between glass and edges.
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I should also state that, I am fully aware a dual sided glass phone is extremely fragile when dropped. I just want to hear about peoples opinions of its build quality.
Also one question, I have sat (lightly) on my phone in my back pocket on a office cushioned chair or car seat and nothings ever happened (iphone 4s and moto x). Would the z3 compact be any different? (more prone to breaking?)
I can't answer that. It feels solid, but I'm not going to go out of my way to sit on, bend and twist it to see if it'll break. I keep mine in my front pocket.
It doesn't feel remotely flimsy, if that helps.
Hjbotha said:
In terms of build quality, I don't have an iPhone to compare with, but my Z3c at least feels fantastic. There's no give on any components, nothing loose, everything's flush, no gaps between glass and edges.
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Personally I would have preferred if the finish was a bit less flush (edge to glass and glass to camera) because without a case there is no lay-on-the-table protection whatsoever against scratches, the camera glass and the sides are at exactly the same level.
degraaff said:
Personally I would have preferred if the finish was a bit less flush (edge to glass and glass to camera) because without a case there is no lay-on-the-table protection whatsoever against scratches, the camera glass and the sides are at exactly the same level.
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I agree! Thats why when I had my iPhone 4s, i normally had a case on it. Otherwise caseless, I kept it in my pocket or on some notebook/paper/cloth. Im feeling more comfortable about buying the phone now!
I upgraded to the Z3c from the iPhone 4S. The 4S took tens of drops varying from 2 feet off a bed onto carpet and 4 feet onto concrete. Only two years later did it finally crack the glass in the corner when dropped on concrete. I owned my Z3c for a week before it slid out of my pocket when sitting down. Falling 1 foot onto laminate tile and cracking horizontally across the back.
ragnorok161 said:
I upgraded to the Z3c from the iPhone 4S. The 4S took tens of drops varying from 2 feet off a bed onto carpet and 4 feet onto concrete. Only two years later did it finally crack the glass in the corner when dropped on concrete. I owned my Z3c for a week before it slid out of my pocket when sitting down. Falling 1 foot onto laminate tile and cracking horizontally across the back.
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:crying::crying::crying:
no case?
unk3 said:
:crying::crying::crying:
no case?
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Not yet :'( Was waiting for a nice bumper to come out. Never did I expect it to break so easily.
I have looked at and read about the Z3 C and it has its excellent points( camera etc).
Durability is not one of them, glass on back scratches easily but also is not very flexible, so can crack from flexing as well as impacts IMO.
Also , glass on back is not usually Gorilla or Dragontrail.
To make a Z3C durable, tempered glass screens front and back are needed, plus a case, preferably with rigidity to prevent flex and some shock absorbing later.
Or the,Rhino bumper might work, we will see.
Just my honest opinion.
Meh, Z3c camera's overrated IMO.
But the phone seems as solid as every other phone I've ever had. However, the materials seem a bit less lower quality than the 4s -- plastic sides, for example, and a lot of ports, buttons, flaps etc. which tends to make things feels a little less refined than the more minimalist iPhone. But at the end of the day it's just a functional object, not a design icon to be put on a pedestal.
Having heard the stories of cracking glass on the Z3c, however, I'm gonna be a little more careful with this phone than any of my previous phones (including the Nexus 4, another double-glass phone). But remember the iPhone 4 also had its own glass-cracking problems when launched.
Coming from an Iphone, I can see how you would think
the Z3 Camera overrated.
But I am thinking of Z3 C versus Alpha and took quick
Photos in Mall recently with a new Z3C at Sony Store,
and an Alpha and S5 at.AT&T nearby, same Mall.
Details and sharpness, the Z3C was good in Super Auto,
and slightly above Alpha and S5 in 20.7mp mods.
Just judging for sharpness , detail, and no tweaking just about 4 or 5 shots each one.
Friend's Note 4 was ahead of all , easy to see this.
But the Z3 was very very good, I was surprised,after reading complaints, lol.
This Z3C had the very quiet Speakers, but good,Camera.
IMO the quality control needs to be higher and Software
Optimised for Carriers on 4G to 3G data, texts etc.
messaging, calls....
pipspeak said:
Meh, Z3c camera's overrated IMO.
But the phone seems as solid as every other phone I've ever had. However, the materials seem a bit less lower quality than the 4s -- plastic sides, for example, and a lot of ports, buttons, flaps etc. which tends to make things feels a little less refined than the more minimalist iPhone.
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I couldn't agree more with that. I don't have owned a iPhone 4 but a friend of mine have a 4S and it fell already almost dozen times... Soles scratches but no crack at all, it's impressive considering all other iPhone cracked.
But the only that I regret on the Z3c is that it doesn't have the aluminium finish like his old brother and the volume button curved line Z Ultra. Maybe z4 ? Who knows... :sly:
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Note 4 poor design quality deeper perspective

Hi,
I read few threads about build quality of the Samsung Note 4 but mostly I fount speculations and opinions not supported with facts. I am mechanical engineer and I like to think that I know few thinks about processes that are being used in modern industry.
I would like to focus on metal finish which was a decision maker to upgrade from Note 3.
When I first received my new Note 4, first think I did was not turning it on, but inspecting quality of the new body. After few minutes I already knew that there will be problems. I wasn't mistaken...
Lets sort one think up, because there was a big discussion about it in previous threads. Note 4 is not made out of metal. Main body of the smartphone is made purely out of plastic. To better understand it, remove back cover and remove S-pen. This Grayish plastic you see everywhere is actually the main frame of the smartphone. Visible metal sides of the phone as well, are plastic. Metal finish is only metallic coating. There are few processes that allow to cover plastic with metal and most generally it is called metallization. You may ask - so what? Important that it is looking and feeling good... I would completely agree with you if not for the fact that coating is ridiculously thin. I am very careful with my Note 4, but I don't use any covers and additional protection for device. After only few months after using my smartphone I saw first negative signs such as flaking off black metallic paint where the USB receptacle is. Once it stars it gets only worse. later on you have to be even more careful for flaking will continue even when you scratch it lightly with the nail. I would like to point as well, that under this black metallic paint there is plastic. If you expected metal you will be disappointed. Actual silver chamfers are a little bit thicker - around 0,2+-0,05mm. I am not a fan of Iphone but I appreciate real metal body. It bothers me when I see price of the device. I would expect to see real premium device instead of constant covering up with better materials plastic "Samsung madness". Don't think than I am a Samsung hater, because its completely opposite. I didn't change brand since Samsung Galaxy S, and I had all smartphones from Note series.
After Note 3 I'm disappointed by note 4. At least N3 wasn't pretending anything. Not only from build quality newest note is not a good successor of good old note 3 but from software point of view as well but that is topic for other thread.
I covered only one aspect of poor quality of the phone. There are more but to reduce the length of the post I wont describe them. I will mention only at the end that if you are looking for robust made phone this is not what you should look for. I have a feeling that device is made like this to look like **** after warranty period ends.
Peace
Rbn
The Note 4 is metal, here is a metal test of the frame:
https://youtu.be/d-7Yw_XXviI
Go spew your nonsense somewhere else.
EDIT:
The black sides of my Note 4 are fine, no flacking, the USB and area surrounding it are also still fine. I have had my Note 4 since launch (got it 2days early). Used it for 8months with no cover, only recently put a cover as I wanted it to fee thicker and more substantial in hand and to protect it as I do drop it a lot.
Is he touching on the metallic coated chamfer or the actual side of the phone?
POLO_i780 said:
The Note 4 is metal, here is a metal test of the frame:
Go spew your nonsense somewhere else.
EDIT:
The black sides of my Note 4 are fine, no flacking, the USB and area surrounding it are also still fine. I have had my Note 4 since launch (got it 2days early). Used it for 8months with no cover, only recently put a cover as I wanted it to fee thicker and more substantial in hand and to protect it as I do drop it a lot.
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Are you serious with this youtube clip, or it is a joke? I am not sure... He is touching 3cm apart of each other on metallic chamfer which I already said is metallic (if you would read carefully) thickens of the metal he check resistance of i approximately 0,2mm as I as well said before. if he would touch on left and right side there would be no conduction because chamfer are separated in exactly 4 individual points.
Your comment has no sens what so ever apart of some strange attitude.
mark0326 said:
Is he touching on the metallic coated chamfer or the actual side of the phone?
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He touched both, 1st the chamfered side and then the side.
He did the video in response to another person who was claiming the Note 4 isn't metal, when in actual fact it is.
POLO_i780 said:
He touched both, 1st the chamfered side and then the side.
He did the video in response to another person who was claiming the Note 4 isn't metal, when in actual fact it is.
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I see words them self do not convince you so pictures will have to (self made).
Few words of commentary if you do not understand. picture ***23 show where the coating ends (probably for antenna connection reasons).
Picture ***43 shows that in fact there is a conductivity, therefore metallic surface (like on youtube video you posted)
On picture ***53 you can clearly see that there is infinite resistance = no metallic connection
If you still do not believe on the picture ***22 you can see that housing is in fact non conductive = non metallic
Stop your nonsense argument please.
Rubenqben said:
I see words them self do not convince you so pictures will have to (self made).
Few words of commentary if you do not understand. picture ***23 show where the coating ends (probably for antenna connection reasons).
Picture ***43 shows that in fact there is a conductivity, therefore metallic surface (like on youtube video you posted)
On picture ***53 you can clearly see that there is infinite resistance = no metallic connection
If you still do not believe on the picture ***22 you can see that housing is in fact non conductive = non metallic
Stop your nonsense argument please.
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All you have proved is that there are parts of the frame that are not metal e.g. the USB area, where the antennas are and may I add where the 3.5mm jack is, this is party to be expected as even with my iPad these areas in particular will have some sort of plastic within.
The frame is mostly metal. Its winter down here and the frame gets icy cold to the touch vs. the back cover plastic and front glass.
You haven't really made any point, the Note 4 at the end of the day is a well built premium phone, in my experience, Samsung have ensured the areas that shouldn't be metal aren't you can actually see them e.g. around USB port is a tiny bump, same with where the antennas are.
People are not satisfied with anything nowadays...
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
lordoftheriffs said:
People are not satisfied with anything nowadays...
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
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Indeed.
I can't quite believe you guys are fighting over a mostly plastic phone. I agree with the first poster and what he has posted makes sense. I've also taken my note 4 apart and you can clearly tell it is mostly plastic with the exception being the coated chamfer which is coated with metal then painted and polished, as well as the screws. Ignoring the logic board which contains many elements your left with the screen and glass covering. To be short the phone is mostly plastic and not mostly metal like the users are trying to argue.
Plastic is very inefficient at blocking radio signals, I'm happy.
If it was all metal, someone would say that it is very heavy and signal is poor. If it was glass, people would say it is fragile and a fingerprint magnet. I believe our phone is an ideal blend of premium and other features. I personally love the faux leather back, it is much more robust than a real leathet or gloss plastic.
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
lordoftheriffs said:
If it was all metal, someone would say that it is very heavy and signal is poor. If it was glass, people would say it is fragile and a fingerprint magnet. I believe our phone is an ideal blend of premium and other features. I personally love the faux leather back, it is much more robust than a real leathet or gloss plastic.
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Exactly. This phone is very well built and blend of materials very well thought-out.
The faux leather is brilliant, mine still looks as good as new since launch, while many LG G4 Leather Back owners already have wear and tear within weeks of owning the phone.
While I do think that this is very well designed phone, op is right in his claim that there's not a lot of metal for someone who expected at least outer frame to be aluminum. He is right that under black metallic Paint is only white plastic.
Actually it is amazing how well they have managed to fuse aluminum chamfer, and only that (this is best visible when taking pen out and looking at the cross section). The supposed antenna breaks, on top and bottom, are purely for decoration, and to fool the users into thinking that sections are solid metal and evocative of iPhone of yesteryear that had those cutouts for a reason.
Altogether, there's probably not much more than 5 grams of aluminum on the whole frame. If even that much?
Im just glad that the paint finish on this phone is much more durable than s4 and s5, where even sweat would cause peeling of the fake chrome coating,provided you don't drop phone (it is true that once metallic paints start peeling on certain section, the process accelerates.
All that said, I do agree with polo_i780 last post absolutely.
Note 4 ?
To the op, are you sure your note 4 is not a fake? I mean no disrespect just that mine has been dropped and such without a case, has lots of scratches all around and it doesn't flake as you say. I just tried scratching it with my nails and.... nothing.
If it does indeed have an insanely thin coating then no way would the frame get icy cold as the other poster said (mine does this).
My note 3 never felt like this. Also you're wrong the note 3 did pretend to be something. A leather notebook with the rear cover. But I actually preferred that cover instead of this one lol.
Either way no company is going to please everyone.
I kind of agree with the original poster. There's something "missing" in build quality on the N4, it just doesn't feel as premium as the metal flagships or even the S6. I think it's almost a half and half like Samsung were half way through redesigning their handsets the N4 is the result. I'm not saying it feels cheap or it isn't a nice design, I just don't think it feels like a full premium design.
Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Disagree. This phone is designed very well. I don't care for metal.
The OP's analysis perfectly describes the very well known problem of the N4's "metal" sides getting very scratched up due solely to the use of certain cases. If you've just recently picked up an N4, search the forum for "scratched metal" and you'll see no shortage of threads where the issue is mentioned (my search for topics with those terms from the main page of the N4 forum yielded 84 results).
@Rubenqben if the edges have become annoyingly scratched, there's a DIY fix that also protects the edges from future damage involving metal polish. Very detailed instructions w/ pics can be found via search, IIRC there have been a few guides in the "General" subforum. I've done this to my device that's now about 7 months old and the edges are even shinier than they were before removing the plastic from the phone (it should be noted that using metal polish on the edges lightens the metal color a few "shades", likely dependent on the specific product that you use... not in a bad way IMO, I actually think that mine looks better with the "Blue Magic Metal Polish Cream" from Amazon).
Now should it be necessary to use potentially damaging chemicals on a $$$ phone so that the edges don't get scratched up by a protective case?
I'm curious what other build quality issues you've discovered that were alluded to in the OP? I've been happy with my N4 overall, but I've definitely encountered some issues that seem like they can only be traced back to hardware design flaws... I'm no engineer though so I'm interested in your other findings :good:
My note 4 is fine its metal and the paint doesnt chip so did you buy a knock off phone.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
jazzmachine said:
the op's analysis perfectly describes the very well known problem of the n4's "metal" sides getting very scratched up due solely to the use of certain cases. If you've just recently picked up an n4, search the forum for "scratched metal" and you'll see no shortage of threads where the issue is mentioned (my search for topics with those terms from the main page of the n4 forum yielded 84 results).
@rubenqben if the edges have become annoyingly scratched, there's a diy fix that also protects the edges from future damage involving metal polish. Very detailed instructions w/ pics can be found via search, iirc there have been a few guides in the "general" subforum.
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Click to collapse
I couldn't agree more. I had a Note 3 and with the exact care and usage it was perfectly fine whereas my Note 4 has scratches on the metal sides! Yes the metal sides looks better but they also loves to be scratched, without even trying to, just by changing covers and cases! Even the Samsung Protective cover wasn't able to prevent the scratches! With S6 Samsung has hardened/improved the metal so hopefully Note 5 will not have any metal issues like Note 4. Btw, can you share the exact guide you tested and confirmed it works? Thank you!

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