Ranking the phone manufacturers by quality

[desura]

I would say it goes like this:

1. Apple.
2. Nokia.
3. Motorola
4. HTC
5. LG
6. Sony
7. Samsung
8. Pantech

saavy?

 

[Ksyder]

I would say "lol"

This ought to be good.

To provide a real answer.

Apple, great build quality, good software.
Nokia, not sure about that, but people here have good things to say.
Motorola- great build quality generally, but mediocre software IMO
HTC- good build quality, good software
LG- good build quality, decent software
Sony- don't have any phones by them so don't know
Samsung, good build quality, arguably great software, if overhyped, personally think it is much better than LG or Moto and near apple
Pantech- never bought one, seems low end stuff

And with that I just wasted a couple minutes time.

Ultimately its subjective, as quality varies across phone models from the same manufacturer just as much as from different manufacturers, as well as how old of a device are we talking. Especially when we consider android versions in particular, and screen quality, etc.

So I don't think you can just say one manufacturer is better than the others across the board.

 

[podspi]

Define quality? There is aesthetics, design, and build quality, software, etc.

I've seen products designed well, but manufactured poorly. Samsung (imho) is a company that designs its products poorly (in terms of reliability, durability, and aesthetics) but their manufacturing of those designs is top notch.

Having owned a taking apart a bunch of Moto's I can confirm the design and build quality on the D1 and Bionic were top notch, though I was dissapointed with the Droid 4.

Overall, you'd have to move Samsung and Sony up. I have no experience with LG's newer phones, but their older phones were terrible, and I've taken apart a few Breakouts and they seemed well designed, not sure why'd you place them last...

 

[Eug]

Dunno about the S4, but the SIII and below always seemed to have creaky builds. That says nothing about durability, but it doesn't inspire confidence either.

IMHO Apple phones have always looked the best, and iPhone 4 and up builds have seemed top tier. I wasn't so impressed with the iPhone and iPhone 3G/S build quality though. Lots of cracking plastic for the 3G/S.

BTW, I just dropped my Motorola RAZR HD onto cement, onto the bottom right corner of the phone. The metal rim on the right side bent, but the screen and shell stayed intact, although there is a hairline defect now in the kevlar back at that bottom right corner. I didn't disassemble it, but it seems the metal rim on the sides (but not the corners) is actually just cosmetic, and is stuck down with adhesive, onto a plastic core. Since it was bent metal, it wouldn't stick down anymore, so I just bent it back and added some Krazy Glue, and now it is almost back in place.

I don't know if this really says anything about the build quality, but I can say that even after my mini-disaster phone drop, it still doesn't creak like the Galaxy S III phones do. BTW, Motorola claims this phone is water resistant too.

 

[Crono]

I can only go by current generation, but:

1. Apple and Nokia (tied)
2. Sony and HTC (tied)
3. Motorola
4. LG
5. Samsung


It would seem I'm high on Apple and Nokia and down on LG and Samsung, but actually there isn't that much separating any on my list, and I kind of mentally averaged out the various models I've used from the different manufacturers. A lot is model dependent: Apple only makes premium phones, while the others make a spectrum. I factored in price into my consideration of quality: I expect more of the expensive phones and less of the inexpensive ones.

I haven't seen massive flaws in the devices I've used or played around with as of late, which might say something about manufacturing quality in general and the components that go into these phones. Or maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[desura]

I can only go by current generation, but:

1. Apple and Nokia (tied)
2. Sony and HTC (tied)
3. Motorola
4. ZTE (only have the ZTE Open to go by here)
5. LG
6. Samsung

It would seem I'm high on Apple and Nokia and down on LG and Samsung, but actually there isn't that much separating any on my list. I haven't seen massive flaws in the devices I've used or played around with as of late, which might say something about manufacturing quality in general and the components that go into these phones. Or maybe I'm just lucky.

Good to see that we think alike.

Nokia has some really creative features in their phones. Like, having a high sensitivity touch screen so you can actually use the phone WHILE WEARING GLOVES IN WINTER is amazing.

 

[Crono]

Good to see that we think alike.

Nokia has some really creative features in their phones. Like, having a high sensitivity touch screen so you can actually use the phone WHILE WEARING GLOVES IN WINTER is amazing.

Yeah, I love the stuff that Nokia has been doing since their WP rebirth. Especially in the camera area. Sony is responding now with very high quality cameras in their phones with a lot of features. They are one of the few companies (Samsung being another) that has the dedicated digital camera chops to really be competitive using their own hardware.

Nokia is putting a lot of new, useful features and apps in a bunch of areas, though, not just cameras. I feel that they are becoming what Apple used to be. I hate to say Apple isn't innovating anymore, since it has become just an easy and common thing to parrot, but it's true for the most part, except for their camera features. That can change if they release the smartwatch they are working on and its as good as I suspect it will be. The last time I was this interested in a new product category and release from Apple was the iPad, and that turned out to be golden (not literally like the new iPhone 5S).

LG seems to be improving build quality, but they can't seem to move away from glossy plastic. Their internals are pretty damn competitive now, though. I'd gladly take the G2 over the S4 or Note 3, but that's probably personal preference.

Samsung doesn't seem to be trying anymore with design, I think they just jam in the top specs they can with the optimum profit margin attached, and call it a day. They can do it, too, because they have the software customizations as a "value add" (quotation marks because value is dependent on your own opinions) and their vertical integration means they don't have to worry about supply or pricing issues too much. They still make really good phones like the Galaxy Note line, but it seems to be mostly iterative improvements dependent on newer hardware. Which is why they just keep upping the numbers on their existing products, Galaxy S _ and Note _. Which is fine, but they are falling into the same pattern or cadence as Apple. But Samsung does make the widest spectrum of devices, so there's bound to be a product everyone likes.

Everything in the middle can be good or just good enough depending on phone model and price. HTC would be on top with the One - which is absolutely my favorite mobile device, period - if not for the early production problems with the One. Mine doesn't have any issues, though.

 

[zerogear]

On pure hardware, I would say Sony/Nokia/Apple ranks tops 3, then Samsung and/or HTC -- as for LG and them, not sure about recently, but sure were craptastic during 2010/2011

 

[kyrax12]

What's wrong with Samsung, OP?

 

[grkM3]

We had 3 droids by moto on our family plans and both had screens that literally went bunk around the same time.both got white spots and would look weird like water got in it when pressed down firm.

My moto droid also creaked and got loosed up after only a few month of use so I'll never buy moto again.

Lg is pure junk.went through 3 nexus phones with numerous build issues going from speakers not working and phone connection issues.

Funny how Samsung is last place as my nexus and gs3 both work fine like the day they were bought after almost 2 years of use.

My gs4 looks 100% brand new while my brothers iPhone 5 looks like complete ass with dents and chips all over it and he had a case out it the whole time.

 

[grkM3]

We had 3 droids by moto on our family plans and both had screens that literally went bunk around the same time.both got white spots and would look weird like water got in it when pressed down firm.

My moto droid also creaked and got loosed up after only a few month of use so I'll never buy moto again.

Lg is pure junk.went through 3 nexus phones with numerous build issues going from speakers not working and phone connection issues.

Funny how Samsung is last place as my nexus and gs3 both work fine like the day they were bought after almost 2 years of use.

My gs4 looks 100% brand new while my brothers iPhone 5 looks like complete ass with dents and chips all over it and he had a case out it the whole time.

 

[trmiv]

Good to see that we think alike.

Nokia has some really creative features in their phones. Like, having a high sensitivity touch screen so you can actually use the phone WHILE WEARING GLOVES IN WINTER is amazing.

The Galaxy S4 has this feature as well.

 

[MrX8503]

My gs4 looks 100% brand new while my brothers iPhone 5 looks like complete ass with dents and chips all over it and he had a case out it the whole time.

I'm sure he had a case on it the whole time. I use a case half the time and my 5 looks brand new.

 

[grkM3]

I'm sure he had a case on it the whole time. I use a case half the time and my 5 looks brand new.

His case was the actual reason for scratching up the phone

 

[dawheat]

I'm sure he had a case on it the whole time. I use a case half the time and my 5 looks brand new.

The black IP5s don't age gracefully - the white ones do much better IMO.

Only good thing about Samsung's plastic back is you can spend $10 every year and get a brand new battery cover. If you're willing to unscrew about 12 small screws, you can also replace the chrome sides (part of the back cover) for $15, and generally they include the OEM battery cover as well. Assuming you didn't scratch the hell out of your screen, you can make it look pretty much brand new for $15.

 

[IamDavid]

I can only go by current generation, but:

1. Apple and Nokia (tied)
2. Sony and HTC (tied)
3. Motorola
4. LG
5. Samsung


It would seem I'm high on Apple and Nokia and down on LG and Samsung, but actually there isn't that much separating any on my list, and I kind of mentally averaged out the various models I've used from the different manufacturers. A lot is model dependent: Apple only makes premium phones, while the others make a spectrum. I factored in price into my consideration of quality: I expect more of the expensive phones and less of the inexpensive ones.
I haven't seen massive flaws in the devices I've used or played around with as of late, which might say something about manufacturing quality in general and the components that go into these phones. Or maybe I'm just lucky.

My list would be identical. Can't wait to get my hands on the new IPhones Vs. upcoming Nokia 1080p phones. Nokia 1020 will be hard to match for Build quality/software integration/ beautiful design and reliability.
Samsung is quickly becoming the new Walmart IMO. I was a proud supporter for years. RIP...

 

[lothar]

1.) Nokia.
2.) Motorola.
3.) Sony.
4.) Apple.
5.) HTC.
6.) LG.
7.) Samsung.

Yes, in that exact order.
Apple's build quality is quite overstated in my opinion.
One thing everyone here can all agree on though...Samsung is either at the bottom or near it. Samsung's only saving grace is if you were to compare them to Huawei or ZTE and other crap Chinese manufacturers.

 

[BladeVenom]

Samsung has passed Apple in customer satisfaction.

1. Samsung
2. Apple
3. Motorola
4. Blackberry
http://www.theacsi.org/media-resources/press-release-smartphone-brands-2013

 

[lothar]

Samsung has passed Apple in customer satisfaction.

1. Samsung
2. Apple
3. Motorola
4. Blackberry
http://www.theacsi.org/media-resources/press-release-smartphone-brands-2013

What exactly does customer satisfaction have to do with build quality?

 

[desura]

1.) Nokia.
2.) Motorola.
3.) Sony.
4.) Apple.
5.) HTC.
6.) LG.
7.) Samsung.

Yes, in that exact order.
Apple's build quality is quite overstated in my opinion.
One thing everyone here can all agree on though...Samsung is either at the bottom or near it. Samsung's only saving grace is if you were to compare them to Huawei or ZTE and other crap Chinese manufacturers.

Eh, quality is not only about build quality, but also about software. IMO, iOS is still the best mobile OS which is why Apple takes top. Nokia's phones w/windows 8 are also superb...haven't tried Sony products at all, and I think the software on the new Motorola is intriguing...

 

[Skurge]

Im surprised apple and Nokia are so high up. With Failing home buttons and speakers for the iphones and varoiuos issues on Lumia phones.

If we were talking about industrial design. Yeah sure, your lists makes sense. Build quality includes reliability too. I'n my opinion, the samsung phones are more reliable than either the lumia or iphone line.

 

[joshhedge]

1) Apple
2) HTC
3) Motorola
4) Nokia
5) Sony
6) LG
7) Samsung.

Nokia have had terrible build quality and general phone issues with the number of people I know owning Lumias.

 

[Crono]

Im surprised apple and Nokia are so high up. With Failing home buttons and speakers for the iphones and varoiuos issues on Lumia phones.

If we were talking about industrial design. Yeah sure, your lists makes sense. Build quality includes reliability too. I'n my opinion, the samsung phones are more reliable than either the lumia or iphone line.

Nokia gets a bump up in quality because of industrial design, but reliability of Apple is ahead of the pack. Take the graph below (but take it with a grain of salt):

It's just one site's report, and it's more than 6 months old at this point, but there is something to be said about Apple reliability versus the others. Which isn't to say that the iPhones don't fail or that there aren't examples of poor manufacturing in individual cases, but on average they are better.

For a breakdown of the kinds of quality issues users report most often, see the full report:
http://blog.fixya.com/pr/feb2013/smartphone-manufacturer-report.html

You can see that

Looking at the current range of products from Apple, Samsung, and Nokia, things may have changed a little, but for the most part the strengths/issues are relatively the same.

 

[MrX8503]

If you look at that report, the iPhone's issues are less severe than the others as well.

 

[ITHURTSWHENIP]

I havent tried the latest Nokias but the Lumia 800 had downright shameful quality, they bought in a bunch of them for my work and most of them had various issues. The quality between them and my old beaten down N95 was like night and day