Samsung Galaxy S4 concept render shows metal love, amid release date rumors February 6, 2013Samsung AndroidOff

Feb 06, 2013, 6:25 A.M., WEDNESDAY. Article by: Carlo Raphael Diokno – It’s safe to say that Samsung loves plastic. In fact, its top-end Android and Windows Phone devices all have plastic back plate, a plastic bezel, offers plastic accessories and even the charger’s outer layer is made out of plastic. The Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 both share the same glossy polycarbonate plastic back plate which is a grease magnet — very irritating.

So, while the internet world is busy talking about Samsung Galaxy S4 rumors, one concept render leaks out online, complete with specifications (specs), its build quality with two photos and other fake details. Of course we can call it fake because it didn’t come from Samsung’s camp, but from someone who wants to own a metal-esque Samsung handset with Android Jelly Bean mobile operating system, quad-core CPU and a large 3,100mAh battery that can compete with the Motorola Droid RAZR’s battery life.

More Reading: Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus with Android Jelly Bean now available, but not in USA.

It’s a simple wish, and this year, we’ll find out if Samsung will finally embrace the fact that customers want premium feel on their smartphones. The success of the LG Nexus 4 by Google, for example, is one of the signs that the Android world is evolving from geeky to premium-y.

Made with Corning Gorilla Glass front and back, the LG Nexus 4 is a top-end smartphone and you can feel premium material while holding it. No air inside, no squeaks — just solid glass and hard plastic with a glass almost wrapping up to the side of the device. Can the Samsung Galaxy S4 top the Nexus 4 build quality?

Rumor has it that Samsung’s Galaxy S4 will get the same “May to July” release date similar to the Samsung Galaxy S3, and worth noting are Galaxy Note 3 rumors pointing to October as the release date of the phablet, similar to the Galaxy Note 2 last year.

With the same footprint, it is safe to predict that the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3 will share the same materials so if the Galaxy S4 is made out of metal — then the Galaxy Note 3 will also feature metal. Last year’s Galaxy S3 and Note 2 almost look exactly the same, except for the fact the Note 2 is larger and offers a stylus pen out of the box.

Samsung is currently facing a slew of top-end smartphone wave filled with premium and top-notch design portfolio, from the BlackBerry Z10 to the Nokia Lumia 920 — this year, it is interesting to see the biggest Android phone maker’s take on the latest trend.

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