Aug 31 AT 10:27 AM Taylor Wimberly 70 Comments

Samsung teases Android fans with aluminum smartphone

Samsung is known as the King of Plastic to Android fans, so it was a little bit shocking to see them unveil a new smartphone this week with at IFA 2012 a metal casing. The new Samsung ATIV S features a thin 8.7 mm brushed aluminum chassis and looks quite stunning, but don’t get too excited because it runs Windows Phone 8.

Hopefully this is a new direction for Samsung Mobile. Hardcore users have been pretty vocal about wanting a smartphone made from materials other than plastic, and Samsung appears to have been listening. If you recently purchased the Samsung Galaxy S III and wish it looked like this, let us know in the comments below.

Gallery

Via: Windows Team Blog

Source: Samsung Mobile

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70 Comments Join the discussion!

93 triangle 08/31/12 10:33 AM

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Are you certain that it is made of aluminum? It looks like it could be plastic with the metallic finish that is used on the GS3 phones.

I would love aluminum to be added to the Galaxy line of phones, but more than that, it would be nice to have a great design along with a premium fit and finish.

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- 49 theviper21 08/31/12 10:39 AM
  
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  I agree, it would be nice for once to be able to buy a phone and not have to worry about putting a protective case around it.
  
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  - 36 ddpacino 08/31/12 11:10 AM
    
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    ALLLL of my ‘plasticky’ Samsung devices hold up like soldiers. I don’t know what the problem is.
    
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    - 75 clocinnorcal 08/31/12 11:30 AM
      
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      Right?! I thought I was the only one that preferred unbreakable plastic over easily dented aluminum.
      
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      - 47 Jon Garrett 09/01/12 9:22 PM
        
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        dented and scratched.
    - Ken MarshallGuest 08/31/12 4:58 PM
      
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      Exactly! Seriously the aluminium will be dented as soon as its dropped! Plastic flexes!
      
      i have dropped my GNex about 5 times and could not believe it had zero damage!
      Seriously do hold up like soldiers!
      But I will admit aluminium does ‘look’ nice.
      
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      - ari-freeGuest 09/02/12 10:10 AM
        
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        There’s a huge market for a phone that looks nice. I can mock them for superficiality but I can’t deny that it would be a good thing for android if it came in a really nice, shiny phone.
    - GeorgeVGuest 09/02/12 5:17 PM
      
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      It doesn’t have to be aluminum, but I really wish they’d use at least machined polycarbonate, like in the HTC One X. It’s sooo much better than the regular plastic that Samsung is using.
      
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  - 54 dVyper 08/31/12 11:57 AM
    
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    Even if it were aluminium, that doesn’t mean that it’s scratch proof. Depending on the quality of the finish it could just as easily look weathered after heavy use.
    
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  - ari-freeGuest 09/02/12 10:06 AM
    
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    All aluminum gives you is a nice shiny phone you can show off to your friends but won’t last if you actually use it.
    
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- 100 Taylor Wimberly 08/31/12 10:41 AM
  
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  Some of the close up pics show scratches on the back of the case. It looks metal to me, but I have read mixed reports from people who played with the phone in Berlin. Some said it was real aluminum and others said it felt like plastic.
  
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  - 91 jonathan3579 09/01/12 4:27 PM
    
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    Here’s a video showing the phone next to a Galaxy S3. The guy removes the back cover (which surprisingly is plastic) and shows the removable battery and SD card slot. I hope the other parts of the phone are a metal of some sort.
    
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- mahmut-al-dhabu mansirGuest 08/31/12 11:21 AM
  
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  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  aluminum? seems like they are copying the iphone 3g, invented by apple inc
  
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  - AlexGuest 08/31/12 11:35 AM
    
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    If you’re going to be a troll get you facts straight, I was the first iPhone “2g” and who cares
    
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- SimonSaysGuest 08/31/12 6:10 PM
  
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  Yes, both the chassis and the physical buttons are made of aluminum.
  
  I love that Samsung is moving away from their “cheap” looking high-end phones and moving towards something more attractive.
  
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28 crunchybutternut 08/31/12 10:34 AM

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Build quality has been one of the things I have missed from HTC since I switched to the SGS2. Although, even with the plastic construction, this phone has been pretty durable, surviving a couple of decent falls onto concrete.

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49 theviper21 08/31/12 10:38 AM

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Love the look of it, just wish it was an Android! I can’t see Windows phone 8 really making any big impact on Droid/iOS sales, but I’m always a fan of new offerings.

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36 MyMilan 08/31/12 10:38 AM

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It’s a beautiful looking phone that’s for sure. Wish the GS3 looked that sexy.

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97 Nate B. 08/31/12 10:38 AM

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It looks nice but without a unique design like a slight curve like the Nexus, it doesn’t look to appealing in my opinion. It’s one thing to have awesome ass material, but it the actual design of the phone, the organics, shape needs to be unique. Iconic.

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10 sknoslo 08/31/12 10:39 AM

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I know Apple doesn’t give a shit about Windows Phone, but man, Samsung really doesn’t learn does it? That looks even more like an iPhone than any Android device they’ve ever made.

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- 57 Inquizitor 08/31/12 10:52 AM
  
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  Oh come on, people, are you seriously going to downvote this comment because it’s negative. You may not like it, but it’s the truth. The front of that phone looks shockingly like the iPhone, complete with the one hardware button, the all-black glossy front, the uniform rounded corners and the metal rim. I wasn’t happy Apple won the case, but this is pretty damn shameless. I love my Galaxy Nexus because it’s a UNIQUE phone, with an original hardware design that I prefer to the iPhone. I realize it’s not their fault, they were working on it long before the verdict. But still, man….
  
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  - 75 clocinnorcal 08/31/12 11:31 AM
    
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    I think there is an iphreak down voting everyone since the Sammy Vs Apple thing last week.
    
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  - 10 sknoslo 08/31/12 12:32 PM
    
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    As I posted it, I was kind of expecting to get down-voted into oblivion, I’m actually surprised it’s been hovering around even. It doesn’t take a genius to see that Samsung was trying to piggyback off of Apples success with the first iteration of the Galaxy S (and even some variants of the GSII, including the T-Mobile SII which I own). I don’t know why Android fans are so sensitive about this. Yeah Apple is a douchey company and they aren’t really innovators in anything except advertisement, lying, and patenting, but that doesn’t change the fact that Samsung blatantly tried to the mimic the iPhone in both hardware and UI.
    
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  - NotReleventGuest 08/31/12 4:37 PM
    
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    Even the nexus has the glossy black front and uniform round corners.
    
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    - ughGuest 09/04/12 5:43 PM
      
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      You are blind. The Nexus looks nothing at all like any of Apple’s iDevices. It is unique in almost every way.
      
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  - twigGuest 09/15/12 10:42 PM
    
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    The iPhone doesn’t have a patent on button placement nor a all-black glossy front. Those are common things… perhaps its just about having a clean face. In which Samsung’s name is right there – perfectly visible. The rounded corners is ludicrous. Do you want a sharp cornered device that can potentially harm you? I certainty don’t!
    
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jason hGuest 08/31/12 10:50 AM

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Naw the durability/functionality of plastic surpasses the fashion statement of metal for me. I don’t want a phone like an iphone that breaks when dropping.

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1 Richard Yarrell 08/31/12 10:55 AM

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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
They can keep it’s Window phone. I am enjoying my Galaxy S3 too much.

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- snowbdr89Guest 09/01/12 12:20 AM
  
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  You throw out your opinion as if it matters.
  
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  - 95 Bpear96 09/01/12 1:37 AM
    
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    Yup snowbdr , squiddy and Richard are definitely the same person..
    
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    - kyeGuest 09/01/12 10:36 AM
      
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      schizophrenic weirdo
      
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      - 95 Bpear96 09/01/12 12:12 PM
        
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        Agreed, i mean go to his profile and look at his other comments almost all of them are followed up by a comment from squiddy or snowbdr, or sometimes both!
        
        Check this one http://androidandme.com/2012/08/news/apple-samsung-ceos-to-have-final-talk-before-trial-handed-over-to-jury/#comment-358195 all three of them are there. Richard Yarrell I think you truly need some help..
      - 95 Bpear96 09/01/12 12:14 PM
        
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        Wouldnt add the word weirdo though.. he may seriously have a legit problem. And there are many people out there that suffer from schizophrenia, and its a very serious and horrifying condition, there are in no means a wierdo. Richard seems to have more of a multiple personality disorder :P
    - snowbdr89Guest 09/01/12 10:36 AM
      
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      Uhh im white ya tbagger
      
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      - AmandaGuest 09/04/12 2:56 PM
        
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        @Bpear96: Schizophrenia & multiple personality disorder is the same thing!
        @snowbdr89: You are very rude! Who are you to say anything about others throwing out their opinions when you do as well? Who said only you can put your words out there? Who are you to judge anyone? Anyone can say whatever the HELL they want to! If you don’t like it, get off your fuckin computer & watch TV!
  - 95 Bpear96 09/05/12 8:24 PM
    
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    Amanda no they are not http://m.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-schizophrenia-and-multiple-personality-disorder.htm
    
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RobertGuest 08/31/12 11:15 AM

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Looks great, but I’d be lying if I said I want enjoying the lightness of my galaxy S3 compared to some of my other phones (droid, Rezound). I was skeptical before I received it, but I really like the way my GS3 looks.

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Ryan F CannonGuest 08/31/12 11:19 AM

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Looks exactly like an iphone. Think this will cost Samsung another billion?

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- NahahaGuest 09/01/12 9:21 AM
  
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  Say, if it is so much like an iphone, why don’t you buy a better “iphone.” :D
  
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NeerajGuest 08/31/12 11:22 AM

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More detailed specifications of the mobile can be found here

http://www.digitalsensus.com/2012/08/Samsung-ATIV-S.html

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NagatejaGuest 08/31/12 11:46 AM

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People wanting windows phones and not going with Lumia series is a Suicide..Perfect Suicide

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- 70 orangestrat 08/31/12 5:23 PM
  
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  They’re all the same, what’s the difference?
  
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  - 95 Bpear96 09/01/12 1:34 AM
    
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    Not really Nokia has tons of exclusive features, and Nokia has gotten pretty cozy with Microsoft lately
    
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ScottGuest 08/31/12 11:50 AM

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In the video he says “metallic” and it looks shiny in the light. I think it looks like a great design, wouldn’t have minded aluminum on my Galaxy Nexus but Samsung’s plastic isn’t bad at all.

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John PatrickGuest 08/31/12 12:03 PM

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An aluminum device sounds good at first but there are lots of drawbacks. As someone who’s owned aluminum phones and PDAs I can tell you that they scratch, sometimes very noticably depending on the finish and they dent.
Because of the light-gauge materials used to keep device weights low, the cases often dent as opposed to many plastics that just sort of deform under stress and snap back.
IMHO the best case or housing is unpainted plastic or polycarbonate that is the same color material ;all the way through’ so that if scuffed or scratched you could sand/polish the marks to eliminate them..

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SaifGuest 08/31/12 3:21 PM

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They should make the Nexus with Aluminum body

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97 kazahani 08/31/12 4:54 PM

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That phone just made me go 8===D~~~~

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70 orangestrat 08/31/12 5:23 PM

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It looks great. Its a shame nobody is going to buy any of them

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ggGuest 08/31/12 5:49 PM

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I don’t care what it’s made of as long as it s battery is 4000+mah. I only heard i phone users and phone reviewers get vocal about aesthetics. Most Droid users i know just want a battery that will let them enjoy their phones all day. Don’t understand why it’s do hard to fit good batteries. Surely the sales are there. The RAZR Maxx was verizons top seller, despite Samsung supposedly superior hardware.

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98 Nathan D. 08/31/12 6:13 PM

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Why are you giving windows phones the aluminum body headsets? A lot of people want that kind of well built craft in one of their Samsung phones.

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Ordinary black criminalGuest 08/31/12 9:30 PM

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Is this the new iPhone? Looks like the megaseller iPhone. Apple will sue tham rice eaters again lol

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- AmandaGuest 09/04/12 3:01 PM
  
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  Why do you have to be racist?
  
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BoGuest 08/31/12 10:19 PM

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unfortunately Apple has a patent on building phones out of non-plastic. So anything not built of plastic, they already own.

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95 Bpear96 09/01/12 1:31 AM

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Matte polycarbonate like on the HTC one x looks nice and feels nice to me. And is pretty durable. The s3 is just to glossy, which only looks nice if perfectly clean

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- 95 Bpear96 09/01/12 1:31 AM
  
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  Too*
  
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41 Esoth 09/01/12 4:33 AM

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Aluminium would make their Galaxy range feel more premium, that’s for sure. The design is a step back, in my books. This looks almost exactly the same as the original Galaxy S.

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NitrogenGuest 09/01/12 8:30 AM

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semsang y u do dis? My first thoughts when I saw this phone, hopefully Samsung will make one for Androidians too :)

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sts_finGuest 09/01/12 10:49 AM

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The ATIV’s backpanel is not Aluminium its the same Hyperglazed material as the Titanium Note 2. I got to get a closer look at it at IFA’s Media Lounge :)

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95 Bpear96 09/01/12 12:18 PM

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You can buy aluminium backings for the Galaxy S III and some other phones. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Metal-Battery-Door-Back-Cover-Samsung-Galaxy-S3-S-III-i9300-Silver-/221059446711?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item33782b77b7 I had one on my S2 it looks nice, signal wasnt effected much, GPS did seem to take a little longer to lock on though. But like others are saying it wasnt long until it got dented..

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Eli GaffkeGuest 09/01/12 11:41 PM

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I loved all my old phones that were aluminum. They stayed cooler better, felt stronger. What I liked that I saw, was the dedicated hard camera on the side. Loved that on my droid X.

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96 DroidPower 09/02/12 9:09 PM

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interesting that they are doing this with a windows phone first, wonder if this’ll be incorporated into the next GS…

and, what happened to the rumors about ceramic backing? Hopefully we’ll see some of those soon too.

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8 njcoutinho 09/03/12 1:59 AM

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Beautiful ! I like a phone that feels solid in your hands like the iPhone . The Samsung phone feel very light like its not there at all . Well that’s not to say that they are made of cheap plastic , The S3 is solid like a rock

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BgorGuest 09/04/12 3:30 AM

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Its a good way to hv aluminum casing for change.
I definitely support this modification.casing the c

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0 jewa 09/04/12 4:26 AM

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I really love this. Kudos.

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John AgwazimGuest 09/04/12 4:28 AM

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This is great. I really love this. Thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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12 Balaram Vineeth Venugopal .P 09/04/12 12:01 PM

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Looks better than the s3.

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AmandaGuest 09/04/12 3:09 PM

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It’s a very nice looking phone, but it’s probably plastic that looks like aluminum. I’ve had a couple aluminum phones & they were strong, durable, & lasted a long time. I always feel a little more comfortable when I can feel my phone in my pocket.

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YamadaGuest 09/26/12 2:02 PM

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I love you Samsung!!! when it comes to technology you can always rely on the Asians.

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danGuest 09/29/12 9:58 PM

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How about Kevlar and carbon fibre like the razr!!!

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danGuest 09/29/12 11:08 PM

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Galaxy Victory 4g let l300 clone

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