You may be able to grab Samsung's next flagship smartphone, most likely the Galaxy S5, in a metal casing.
Samsung launched the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3 this year and both the smartphones feature a plastic body. Similarly, previous flagships like other handsets such as the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 also sport a plastic body. However, Samsung is now expected to upgrade the plastic material used for its flagship devices with a metal chassis as found on the Apple flagship smartphones and the HTC One.
According to a research conducted by Barclays Capital Securities Taiwan Ltd, Catcher, which also supplies metal casings for HTC's smartphones, will likely supply metal casings for Samsung smartphones as well.
"Our checks suggest Catcher has been qualified as one of the major sources on the total metal casing smartphone volumes at 10 [million to] 30 million next year from Samsung. The final order allocation is to be confirmed in early first quarter 2014, subject to price bids by approved vendors," noted analysts at Barclays.
This is not the first time that reports have emerged that the next Samsung flagship smartphone will feature a metal case. A previous ETNews report (translated) published in late August also claimed that the 2014 flagship handsets from the Korean company, including the Galaxy S5, will boast an aluminum body. The ETNews report also suggested that the next-generation Galaxy S5 will see a complete overhaul in its design.
Samsung Galaxy S4 arch rivals such as the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5 and the HTC One, have an aluminum body. If Samsung launches the next-generation Galaxy S5 with an aluminum body it can give stiffer competition to its rivals. On the other hand, to keep costs low and appeal to a wider customer base, Apple launched the iPhone 5C, which doesn't have a metal chassis. Samsung may still launch entry- to-mid-level handsets in a plastic case to keep the cost low.
Samsung flagships for this year tout top-end features and both the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 are amongst the most popular smartphones around. A metal body may give a premium feel to the Samsung handsets and attract even more customers.
