Glass back for phones too fragile?

[maizenblue]

Am I the only one who thinks having a phone with a glass back like the s7 is am extremely bad idea? It seems an all glass design is all the rage these days. You see it with the s6 and now s7 and s7 edge, and supposedly apple is returning to an all glass design for their iPhone 8. Reviewers online seem to rave about a phone having a glass back, claiming its a sign the phone is a premium design.

 

It seems like having a glass back for a cell phone is an extremely bad idea for the simple reason if you drop it, your screwed. They're just way too fragile. I thought that was the reason Apple dropped it with the iPhone 6 in the first place. There are reports of the s7 edge breaking just by being handled, nevermind dropping the thing. As a result this means you are pretty much forced to use a case, which then renders the whole selling point of a glass back(it looks sleek) irrelevant.

 

In addition to the constant concern about breaking the thing, theres the fact a glass back becomes a fingerprint and scratch magnet, so while your shiney glass phone looks great when u unbox it, give it some time and itll look like crap.

 

My S5 has a plastic back that reviewers universally trashed, but 2 years later my black and metallic grey back phone still looks brand new despite having dropped it a few times and not using a case for most of its life. I like having the option of not using a case to keep it thin and light, and still not have to worry about it breaking or getting scratched whenever I put it down. Does durability not matter at all? My friends s6 isn't even a year old and it looks like its been through world war 3.

 

Am I the only one who thinks this?

[thatguyyouknow75]

I had an iphone 4s (still one of my favorites) and no issues. My note 5 has a glass back and the screen broke before the back did, I think it comes down to how you handle your phone

[Joegeddon]

I have a Sony XPERIA Z5 Premium and it's fine. It's Gorilla Glass 4. Glass doesn't dent like metal but it can shatter and scratch which is kinda bad but if you get a glass back and a skin for it you've got probably the best back.

[DarkEnergy]

Glass or metal, eh, I have a case on it so it doesn't matter to me. I had a iPhone 4s as well. I had it for over 2 years and only dropped it a couple of times. It's all about how you handle it unless you have butter fingers.

[nickd_games]

I've got a sony xperia z1 which has a glass back and it's lasted two years with no issues, i think as long as you look after you stuff you should be fine.

[maizenblue]

3 minutes ago, thatguyyouknow75 said:

I had an iphone 4s (still one of my favorites) and no issues. My note 5 has a glass back and the screen broke before the back did, I think it comes down to how you handle your phone

Yeah but at least you can put a tempered glass screen protector on the front. That's what I did with my s5 so if I drop it, I'm good to go whichever side it lands on even without a case.

 

I suspect the reason glass backs are so loved by Samsung and now Apple again, is built in obsolescence. Your always one drop away from needing a new phone and even if you drop crack the back, within a couple years the back will be so scratched up you'll want something new. This means more money and sales for them. That and having a glass back means no removeable battery, which also adds in to the built in obsolescence because you cant simply replace the battery when it doesn't hold a charge as well. Durability hurts their sales, and reviewers seem to completely ignore durability.

[Sakkura]

Haven't had any problems with that, just don't be an idiot about throwing around your phone.

 

You can also put a skin, like Dbrand, on the back if you like, preventing scratches. I actually did that on my phone because I prefer that texture compared to glass.

[maizenblue]

I bring this up because a friend just dropped their brand spankin new s7 and the now they have a nice spider web of cracks along the back of their phone.

 

I am a strong believer in murphys law. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and if I'm paying 750 for a phone I don't want to be one drop away from it being a paper weight.

[maizenblue]

I'll also add that when the iPhone 6 came out you had bend-gate, with people freaking out over the fact if you intentionally tried to bend your phone it could possibly bend a little, despite the fact theres almost no way it would bend unless you INTENTIONALLY tried to do it. Whereas dropping your phone is something that is not only possible, but LIKELY.

 

Yet people are fine with Samsung and soon Apple using shatter prone glass backs?

[thatguyyouknow75]

15 minutes ago, maizenblue said:

Yeah but at least you can put a tempered glass screen protector on the front. That's what I did with my s5 so if I drop it, I'm good to go whichever side it lands on even without a case.

 

I suspect the reason glass backs are so loved by Samsung and now Apple again, is built in obsolescence. Your always one drop away from needing a new phone and even if you drop crack the back, within a couple years the back will be so scratched up you'll want something new. This means more money and sales for them. That and having a glass back means no removeable battery, which also adds in to the built in obsolescence because you cant simply replace the battery when it doesn't hold a charge as well. Durability hurts their sales, and reviewers seem to completely ignore durability.

actually the tempered glass didnt do shit for me, the lcd broke from a 9 inch fall (i was at a part and kneeling down for a SICK SELFIE BRO). I roll without it now and use a bumper case because it feels better that way

[maizenblue]

3 hours ago, thatguyyouknow75 said:

actually the tempered glass didnt do shit for me, the lcd broke from a 9 inch fall (i was at a part and kneeling down for a SICK SELFIE BRO). I roll without it now and use a bumper case because it feels better that way

Some manufacturers of screen protectors have guarentees. If it's installed on your phone and both the screen protector and your screen is cracked, they will replace the phone.

 

Best to buy one from your carrier, have them install it and keep the reciept or have them email you a receipt and you should be safe.

 

It's a must have for me and a good one from say zagg will be just responsive and clear as the original.

[BuckGup]

I had a 4s and never broke it. Loved the feel of it. Also if you break the back you probably broke the front and if not it is way easier to replace

[dizmo]

If you're careful with the device, then you'll be fine.

You can also get radio waves to pass through it. So there was a design reason to use it for a long time.

I agree though. Stupid idea. Just something to break, it's finger print prone, and doesn't even feel that great.