Samsung Galaxy S4 To Stick To Plastic Body To Strike Balance Between Manufacturability And ‘Premium Feeling’

New reports are streaming in every other day, discussing the features and specs that are likely to be included in the Galaxy S3’s highly anticipated successor. Following the New York Times report Monday stating that the Galaxy S4 would use “Eye Scrolling” technology to track users’ eyes to scroll pages, a new CNET report said Tuesday that next-generation Galaxy S smartphone would stick to its plastic roots, “despite rivals opting to use metal and other premium-feeling materials.”

“At a time when competitors are using glass, aluminum, and even higher quality plastics such as polycarbonate, Samsung has stuck to its guns with a thin, bendable plastic body… Which is why the Galaxy S4 won't stray too far from that design philosophy,” said the CNET report, citing Y.H. Lee, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile business.

Lee told CNET in an interview that the Galaxy S4 would continue with the plastic materials in order to maintain a balance between manufacturing skill and a "premium feeling" product that consumers demand.

"I think the next product has a nice balance between this," said Lee. "We listen to the market and try to accommodate."

According to the company executive, Samsung doesn’t merely focus on “the aesthetic quality of the device,” while deciding on the materials to use for a new product, but also seriously considers how to make the manufacturing process quick and efficient at the same time.

Lee said that since the next Galaxy S smartphone would be shipped in high volumes, the device’s manufacturability and durability must be taken into consideration. She had argued that the plastic back cover used in Samsung smartphones is lighter and more durable than those of other devices in the market, “because it's bendable and can better absorb physical impact.”

However, as Apple Insider has noted, there could be a question as to why other smartphone makers like Apple have effectively opted for glass and aluminum form factor, apparently ditching the plastic body. The new HTC One also comes in an aluminum frame that gives it a premium look.

Russian analyst Eldar Murtazin also said earlier this week that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 would feature a similar plastic build like its predecessor. While, according to CNET, there have been complaints that the existing Galaxy S3 feels too "plastic-y,” it would be interesting to see how the Galaxy S4, with its plastic body, would perform against its metal counterparts to become the No. 1 “premium” smartphone.

Meanwhile, rumors are rife that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will feature a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display, an Exynos 5 Octa (8-Core) CPU, PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU, a 13-megapixel camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera capable of shooting 720p HD Videos. The device is likely to come with 2GB RAM and storage options of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.

The phone is expected to run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is likely to come with TouchWiz UI and Wireless charging.

MUST READ: Samsung Galaxy S4 American Variant’s Screenshots Reportedly Leaked: Confirms 'Smart Scroll,' Quad-Core Processor And Other Features