Samsung's flagship phone could come in for a carbon fibre upgrade
Samsung has acquired a 50 per cent share in carbon fibre specialist, the SGL Group, hinting the Samsung Galaxy S5 could benefit from a premium design and build.
With the high-end Samsung Galaxy S4 having come under widespread criticism for its plastic construction, Samsung's newly confirmed partnership with a carbon fibre specialist has seen the company suggest future products could benefit from more premium materials.
Entering a 50/50 partnership with Samsung, the carbon fibre experts will be rebranded Samsung SGL Carbon Composite Materials and will, according to the South Korean manufacturer, “position Samsung as a leading player in the development and application of carbon fibre-based products."
"The cooperation is expected to provide a stable long-term supply of carbon fibre materials for Samsung and promote its use in various Samsung products and applications such as consumer electronics, medical devices and engineering applications," an official statement from the two companies has stated.
While reports earlier this month claimed the Samsung Galaxy S5 would land next year with a metal bodied design to rival the HTC One and iPhone 5, the newly announced SGL partnership has pointed towards a carbon fibre finish similar to that which adorns to back of the Motorola Razr i.
"Lightweight materials have become an important factor not only in industrial applications but also the consumer end markets such as digital media," Yoosung Chung, President & CEO of Samsung Petrochemical said. He added: "This partnership will position Samsung as a leading player in the development and application of carbon fibre-based products.”
Although Samsung has defended the use of plastic in the Samsung Galaxy S4’s design, suggesting it allowed the company to make the handset quickly and more efficiently, the decision to opt for the lower quality material has been branded a mistake by rival manufacturers.
“I would say the plastic build of the Samsung Galaxy S4 was a mistake yes,” Nick Woodley, Head of ID Design for Huawei stated in a recent interview with TrustedReviews.
He added: “If you start with plastic and paint it to look like metal initially it will look ok but a week later when you have dinged it and the paint has fallen off, the secret is out and people start to feel cheated.
“I think the more honest you can build into these things the better people perceive it and I think that is probably what’s gone wrong there with Samsung, people will be thinking ‘hang on I’ve just paid a lot of money for this and that’s not real metal’.”
Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 Review
Via: AndroidBeat
