Let's talk build quality

[MrX8503]

My E71 was a tank

To be more serious, dismissing durability as the realm of rugged devices is a poor starting point for discussion. These are mobile devices, and need to be able to survive moderate mishandling without a case.

I think durability is 1 aspect of the entire picture. What I want to talk about in this thread is "...quality pertaining to precision, detail, and advance manufacturing processes". Why is that? Because its much more exciting to talk about and its what pushes boundaries. Devices listed in this thread are able to survive moderate mishandling.

 

[thedosbox]

I think durability is 1 aspect of the entire picture. What I want to talk about in this thread is "...quality pertaining to precision, detail, and advance manufacturing processes". Why is that? Because its much more exciting to talk about

Manufacturing processes for a mass produced consumer toy? Not really - unless you happen to work for Foxconn, in which case, get back to work.

 

[Tsaar]

To be honest the iPhone 5 just feels great in hand. I'm not talking about the size, but the build and the solidness of it.

I handed the Nexus 5 around the table the other day and no one was impressed by the build. A few were iFans, but I was mainly trying to convince people that the Nexus 5 > Moto X because someone was showing off their new Moto X. People seemed to appreciate the 4.7" form factor and the fact that the Moto X is a nicer size to hold. Mind you this is a table of 5 guys and 2 girls. Not only that they were saying the weight and feel just wasn't there of a premium phone.

I was pretty disappointed but when I went home and sat there with my iPhone 5 in one hand and Nexus 5 in the other, I can see what people mean by build quality.

Whats funny about this, is after I sold my iPhone 4 and upgraded to the iPhone 5 I was disgusted with its build quality. I felt like it was fragile and could scuff if I breathed on it wrong. The iPhone 4(s) is still the single greatest build quality I have ever seen (other than the incredibly tiny screen).

I have a Note 2 now. Love the phone. Build quality is not impressive. Nobody sees anything other than the screen though. :awe:

 

[MrX8503]

Manufacturing processes for a mass produced consumer toy? Not really - unless you happen to work for Foxconn, in which case, get back to work.

Actually, Apple's mass production is an incredible feat.

Whats funny about this, is after I sold my iPhone 4 and upgraded to the iPhone 5 I was disgusted with its build quality. I felt like it was fragile and could scuff if I breathed on it wrong. The iPhone 4(s) is still the single greatest build quality I have ever seen (other than the incredibly tiny screen).

I have a Note 2 now. Love the phone. Build quality is not impressive. Nobody sees anything other than the screen though. :awe:

I did like the iPhone4. It's glass and stainless steel which are harder materials than aluminum.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Because its much more exciting to talk about and its what pushes boundaries.

Build quality in your definition doesn't really excite me. It comes well after SoC, screen, OS, durability, etc. To me its like buying a car for what it looks like and not the fuel efficiency or leg room or more other practical matters. I personally would rather vote with my dollar for function over form.

But then again I never wear watches (and won't until they do more), or any sort of jewelry outside of my rings. I can see with phones especially for some the need for ascetics. If you are wearing suits all day maybe you want a metal phone.

In tablets though I don't see the point of applauding Apple for a Mini screen without a plastic border when the cheaper N7 has better color calibration. Make the screen PERFECT, then focus on how it attaches.

 

[Oyeve]

Actually, Apple's mass production is an incredible feat.

If you believe slapping glue to everything and shoving it in a shell a feat then bless you. I prefer my gadgets, whether a laptop or a cell phone or am mp3 player, to be user serviceable. While I loved the ipod back in the day, trying to repair one was a PITA as all apple did was slap some glue on every component and shove it in. I would prefer a little bulk on my things if it meant i could go in and fix it if I had to instead of taking it to some "genius" to tell me they cant and just replace it with some refurb.

 

[blairharrington]

I have complete opposite opinion of the iPhone 5/5s feel in hand. The sharp thin aluminum metal lines makes it very uncomfortable to hold and it actually feels rough in hand because of it. It feels solid but doesn't feel good at all holding the phone because of the machined edged metal. I put a TPU case on the 5s because the rubber actually feels better in hand.

This.

 

[blairharrington]

Whats funny about this, is after I sold my iPhone 4 and upgraded to the iPhone 5 I was disgusted with its build quality. I felt like it was fragile and could scuff if I breathed on it wrong. The iPhone 4(s) is still the single greatest build quality I have ever seen (other than the incredibly tiny screen).

I have a Note 2 now. Love the phone. Build quality is not impressive. Nobody sees anything other than the screen though. :awe:

Watching my iPhone 5 go to shit after using it 2 weeks without a case when I first got it was terrible. Apple focused on making a beautiful phone versus something that can withstand normal use even without drops.

Samsung deserves the shit they have gotten for their plastic backs. I use a Diztronic TPU case on my S4 and it's fantastic. Deserves all the praise it gets on Amazon. I think the Note III's faux leather is a step up from the plastic back. I do hope the S5 and Note 4 will take the leap forward to a backing that truly doesn't feel gross after it gets some hand oil on it. At the same time I'll probably use a case with any smartphone until we ever get unbreakable screens.

 

[Oyeve]

Watching my iPhone 5 go to shit after using it 2 weeks without a case when I first got it was terrible. Apple focused on making a beautiful phone versus something that can withstand normal use even without drops.

I saw 3 iphone 5S on the subway today. Actually 4 but 3 were in one cluster. Alll gold. I notice all 3 were in clear cases and 2 cases had bare corners. What i noticed was 1. the gold color looks really drab and 2. all 3 looked like the gold paint/coating were wearing off. At first i thought these were fakes but i glanced at the finger scanner ring and it too was gold albeit shiny. Does the gold rub/scrape off like the black iphone 5? IMO the gold looked really ghetto and bleh. I saw the silver one (ordered one for one of my users) and thought it looked nice.

I too think the best iphone design was/is the iphone 4 and 4S. Everything since looks and feels chintzy. IMO.

 

[PingviN]

Lumia 800 and 920 has the best build quality among phones. No gaps except for around the sim slot and the screen just flows into the housing. Smooth curves and no annoying sharp edges to snag on.

 

[lothar]

Motorola build quality > Apple.

 

[blairharrington]

I saw 3 iphone 5S on the subway today. Actually 4 but 3 were in one cluster. Alll gold. I notice all 3 were in clear cases and 2 cases had bare corners. What i noticed was 1. the gold color looks really drab and 2. all 3 looked like the gold paint/coating were wearing off. At first i thought these were fakes but i glanced at the finger scanner ring and it too was gold albeit shiny. Does the gold rub/scrape off like the black iphone 5? IMO the gold looked really ghetto and bleh. I saw the silver one (ordered one for one of my users) and thought it looked nice.

I too think the best iphone design was/is the iphone 4 and 4S. Everything since looks and feels chintzy. IMO.

No clue if the gold scruffs off like the slate did.

I respect the iPhone 4/4S for the impact the silver band was able to withstand. But again it was a flat back device and I was forced to use a case with it because I can't stand flat backed phones. Also the glass was really slippery so in that regard I think the mostly metal backing of the 5/5S is an improvement.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Build quality in your definition doesn't really excite me. It comes well after SoC, screen, OS, durability, etc. To me its like buying a car for what it looks like and not the fuel efficiency or leg room or more other practical matters. I personally would rather vote with my dollar for function over form.

But then again I never wear watches (and won't until they do more), or any sort of jewelry outside of my rings. I can see with phones especially for some the need for ascetics. If you are wearing suits all day maybe you want a metal phone.

In tablets though I don't see the point of applauding Apple for a Mini screen without a plastic border when the cheaper N7 has better color calibration. Make the screen PERFECT, then focus on how it attaches.

I liken this to German cars. People buy it because they handle a certain way, have a certain oomph to it, and feel sturdy. They may have more reliability problems and be more expensive to repair, but people still go for them.

 

[thedosbox]

Actually, Apple's mass production is an incredible feat.

Of poor labor practices?

Granted, they're not the only ones, but beware of holding them up as some shining paragon.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Of poor labor practices?

Granted, they're not the only ones, but beware of holding them up as some shining paragon.

Eh... as a process engineer and manufacturing engineer, I'm quite amazed by their supply chain efficiency and how they can execute so well with a CM. Too many people are just throwing the Apple hate in.

 

[dawheat]

So what makes Nokia phones so durable? I wonder what it adds to their BOM.

 

[vi edit]

So what makes Nokia phones so durable? I wonder what it adds to their BOM.

I think it's a combination of things. That unibody polycarbonate shell has a multi-piece metal cage under it. Polycarbonate itself is pretty damn durable and then you put and metal skeleton under it and that's a fairly structurally sound combination. From there it's just good attention to how everything fits together. Material wise it's not exceptionally expensive. Engineering wise they tend to keep the Lumia models spread out over fairly long life spans/models and you can keep the same basic engineering and design concept and do simple updates to guts to keep it modern.

Their phones are very reasonably priced to buy outright. A lumia 920 was $399 new and built like a tank.

 

[thedosbox]

Eh... as a process engineer and manufacturing engineer, I'm quite amazed by their supply chain efficiency and how they can execute so well with a CM.

Yes, that "efficient" supply chain required massive mobilization of low paid workers, who were then stranded with no jobs and huge debts after the contract went awry. The human cost is often forgotten by those who fetishize consumer goods - and not just apple's.

 

[cheezy321]

Yes, that "efficient" supply chain required massive mobilization of low paid workers, who were then stranded with no jobs and huge debts after the contract went awry. The human cost is often forgotten by those who fetishize consumer goods - and not just apple's.

Get off your high horse. You are part of the problem if you buy *any* consumer good.

I think everyone in the world is well aware of the labor practices overseas. I think everyone is well aware which 99.9% of companies are engaging in those practices. If you want to talk about labor practices, make your own thread and quit hijacking this one.

 

[thedosbox]

Get off your high horse. You are part of the problem if you buy *any* consumer good.

Um, most consumer goods don't find armies of people lining up outside stores to be first to buy them. To satisfy this demand in a short time period, apple needed to accomplish a "manufacturing feat" (not my phrase) that resulted in huge human costs.

 

[cheezy321]

Um, most consumer goods don't find armies of people lining up outside stores to be first to buy them. To satisfy this demand in a short time period, apple needed to accomplish a "manufacturing feat" (not my phrase) that resulted in huge human costs.

OMG EVERYONE!!!! Apple is so much worse because their products are in demand!!! You have to be kidding me. That is your reason?

Why aren't you up in arms about the PS4? Why aren't you protesting right now about the Xbox one?

I, for one, am glad you are bringing this issue to light. I mean nobody has ever chastised apple and only apple for their labor practices. You are truly a white knight for labor problems in 3rd world countries. Thank you for your service.

 

[thedosbox]

OMG EVERYONE!!!! Apple is so much worse because their products are in demand!!! You have to be kidding me. That is your reason?

Go read the original article before responding. Oh, wait, you didnt.

Why aren't you up in arms about the PS4? Why aren't you protesting right now about the Xbox one?

Perhaps because nobody is holding them up as a paragon of manufacturing efficiency?

I, for one, am glad you are bringing this issue to light. I mean nobody has ever chastised apple and only apple for their labor practices. You are truly a white knight for labor problems in 3rd world countries. Thank you for your service.

Heck, you didn't even read the posts where I said that apple weren't alone in this!

 

[cheezy321]

Go read the original article before responding. Oh, wait, you didnt.



Perhaps because nobody is holding them up as a paragon of manufacturing efficiency?



Heck, you didn't even read the posts where I said that apple weren't alone in this!

I read your posts. I read the article. Am I supposed to glean something useful out of it? Apple products are in demand. Duh. Do I need your article for me to prove this?

I guess those millions of articles talking about how they sold so many PS4's don't exist. Nobody on the internet is impressed by that demand. They are not a 'paragon of efficiency'

Looks like you have some work to do on that front.

By saying 'of course they aren't alone in this' does not just give you some immunity to be called on your crap. You are piling the hate on one specific company while just lumping all of the others into a separate but equal group. IMO they are all in the same group and should be treated as such.

 

[thedosbox]

I read your posts. I read the article. Am I supposed to glean something useful out of it?

You clearly haven't.

I guess those millions of articles talking about how they sold so many PS4's don't exist. Nobody on the internet is impressed by that demand. They are not a 'paragon of efficiency'

LOL - all of those are regurgitating a Sony Press release trumpeting their PS4 sales. None boast about how efficient their manufacturing supply chain is.

Looks like you have some work to do on that front.

Indeed you do.

By saying 'of course they aren't alone in this' does not just give you some immunity to be called on your crap. You are piling the hate on one specific company while just lumping all of the others into a separate but equal group. IMO they are all in the same group and should be treated as such.

Go read the posts again.

 

[Imaginer]

HTC 8X is probably one of the best feeling phones I've held. I like the width, weight, curve of the back and the texture on it. Just a great phone. I also really like the Moto X. Feels solid, great palm feel and easy to use.

I like my 8X too. It grips nicely while still allowing for thumb pointing input. I wish it was a bit bigger.