Earlier in the week, Samsung announced the Galaxy Alpha, and that phone was noteworthy for being Samsung’s first-ever metal handset. But it might not be the last such phone, as reports from South Korea are claiming that the Galaxy Alpha may usher in an era of metal phones, including next year’s flagship phone, the Galaxy S6, and next month’s Galaxy Note 4.
According to unnamed sources close to Samsung’s supply chain, the Galaxy Note 4 may come with a metal design, something that could be a game-changer considering the Galaxy Note series’ reputation. The Galaxy S6 may also come with a similar metal design, and with that in mind, it looks like Samsung’s primary flagships may be addressing one of the most common customer complaints regarding both lines. Samsung has long been criticized for consistently using plastic as a build material, but a metal Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy S6 certainly won’t have any issues when it comes to build quality and premium feel.
Aside from Samsung, the report adds that other smartphone makers may be switching from plastic to metal, in order to keep up with the likes of Apple and HTC. Apple’s iPhones and HTC’s One series are both well-known for their metal builds, and one of the manufacturers mentioned on the report was Xiaomi, which is expected to release a metal flagship of its own.
With all that in mind, it looks like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha may be more important to its manufacturer than its rather midrange fundamentals would suggest. If the Galaxy Note 4 turns out to be a metal device, and the Galaxy S6 comes with the same build material, both phones may be instrumental as Samsung hopes to rebound from some lackluster financial quarters.