Looks like the LG G5 isn't actually made out of metal on the outside...

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

For a while now, I thought the LG G5 was a metal phone, made out of the same material that HTC uses for the One M series. It certainly looks like it.

However, after a while, I heard that some people thought it felt odd for a metal phone, as in it didn't have the "cool sensation" of a metal phone and that it felt kinda light for one. The lack of any antenna-lines around the phone was also odd. At first, I thought the lack of any antenna lines was due to LG somehow managing to build a metal phone that's able to receive and send radio signals without the need for plastic antenna lines, a la HTC One M series and the iPhone 6 + 6s.

Nope. Turns out that the outer housing seems to be coated with plastic, finished over with a metallic-looking paint in the chosen phone's color, according to JerryRigEverything's teardown.

(Skip to 1:02)

So, it seems that the outer shell is made out of plastic, while the frame is metal.

I don't know what's the reason for this, so I'll leave this discussion open to the rest of you guys!

 

[mattdamiz85]

I sure hope my gut feeling is wrong. But it seems that the G5 may be ****. Lol.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

I sure hope my gut feeling is wrong. But it seems that the G5 may be ****. Lol.

Posted via the Android Central App

I feel like too many mistakes were made on the phone.

It's still a solid phone with great hardware, but I just can't put my finger on what's been with this phone...

 

[thisisjason]

Wow, is it even legal for them to advertise it as a metal body? I suppose they'd say the metal parts under the plastic count

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Wow, is it even legal for them to advertise it as a metal body? I suppose they'd say the metal parts under the plastic count

I'm not sure how are they going to explain it.

Either way, this isn't a metal phone when it comes to its exterior. Hugely disappointed in that regard.

Now, I don't mind plastic phones, but when a phone is advertised as having a metal body, only to realize that it's actually a thick plastic coating on top of a metal frame, that's when the disappointment sets in.

 

[pwaikon]

One redditor pointed out the following:

"What LG has done was hiding the antenna bands through this process. What you see at the top of the phone is part of an antenna band but the rest is hidden under the extremely thin coat of plastic. The phone is not made of plastic nor is calling it an all metal unibody phone a lie. It is ridiculous to take such a claim so seriously, internal components are not metal, the screen is not metal. The body is indeed all metal. The outside of the phone has such a thin layer of high strength plastic that helps with the grip as well as the phones ability to withstand more abuse and hide the always ugly antenna lines. Good thing is, the G5 is out today. Go play with it in a store and make your assumptions about it. So many comments from people who had previously knocked it's appearance went, held it and changed their opinion."

Makes sense IMO

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

One redditor pointed out the following:

"What LG has done was hiding the antenna bands through this process. What you see at the top of the phone is part of an antenna band but the rest is hidden under the extremely thin coat of plastic. The phone is not made of plastic nor is calling it an all metal unibody phone a lie. It is ridiculous to take such a claim so seriously, internal components are not metal, the screen is not metal. The body is indeed all metal. The outside of the phone has such a thin layer of high strength plastic that helps with the grip as well as the phones ability to withstand more abuse and hide the always ugly antenna lines. Good thing is, the G5 is out today. Go play with it in a store and make your assumptions about it. So many comments from people who had previously knocked it's appearance went, held it and changed their opinion."

Makes sense IMO

Still kinda weird, though.

It doesn't feel like the other metal devices I've used and it's also pretty light.

I know it's not all-metal, since my old M7 has plastic sides, but that design choice is just odd. Someone needs to shave the entire back of the G5 to find out.

 

[anon(5630457)]

A metal phone covered in plastic. I'm glad I spent $700 on an actual premium device (the S7 edge) and not on this phone.

LG failed with this one.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

A metal phone covered in plastic. I'm glad I spent $700 on an actual premium device (the S7 edge) and not on this phone.

LG failed with this one.

Not being a fanboy here, but I feel that the Galaxy S7 feels like $700+ of phone with a nice weight to it and a pretty nice feel that feels like "flagship" material.

I don't mind plastic phones, but I feel that the implementation of the antenna bands on the G5 is odd. I'm not sure how they actually look like, since people who have it mentioned that it didn't feel like other metal phones and it also felt light for one.

Anyhow, the odd build isn't the kicker for me. The backlight bleed and panel quality are.

Honestly, the G5 doesn't seem to be built well-enough to justify its price-tag. I'd love to play with one, but unfortunately, LG's rep in my mind is in fragments after going through 2 failing G4s. Selling the one I have now and replacing it with the Galaxy Note 6 when it comes out.

 

[kramer5150]

Nothing wrong with a plastic shell around a metal chassis, if done RIGHT. Apple did that on the 5C. I beat the living snot out of my 5C and it totally handled it like a champ for 3+ years. I am very rough with my phones. I destroyed an Xperia Z3v after 36 days. I still use the 5C as an iPod / wifi player, and if my V10 ever dies I wouldn't hesitate to revert back to it to carry me over.

LG however did it wrong on the G5.... and they advertised it wrong too.

 

[nokia4life]

One redditor pointed out the following:

"What LG has done was hiding the antenna bands through this process. What you see at the top of the phone is part of an antenna band but the rest is hidden under the extremely thin coat of plastic. The phone is not made of plastic nor is calling it an all metal unibody phone a lie. It is ridiculous to take such a claim so seriously, internal components are not metal, the screen is not metal. The body is indeed all metal. The outside of the phone has such a thin layer of high strength plastic that helps with the grip as well as the phones ability to withstand more abuse and hide the always ugly antenna lines. Good thing is, the G5 is out today. Go play with it in a store and make your assumptions about it. So many comments from people who had previously knocked it's appearance went, held it and changed their opinion."

Makes sense IMO

Okay, when a company says we have a metal body they are not talking about internals lets just get that understood. LG wanted to jump into the premium material build for their phone so that means Aluminum and or Glass being involved or other high end alloy, wood etc... When a manufacture says we have made a metal body phone for you I expect the likes of HTC, Apple, Huawei and others etc.... these phones are advertised as Aluminum and that is what is delivered and even the Nexus 6p is painted the white pearl coating is there but it still to the touch feels like metal we are not talking about advertising for a metal frame with plastic no top covering over 80% of the outside except for chamfered edges. This defending LG is nuts they were shooting for a premium feel, look, overall experience. Not a covered in thick plastic to hide antenna bands, just make a Polycarb phone then or use glass. Folks were excited over a non plastic LG they advertised it this way. But hey what should we have expected the phone pulls apart from the bottom we should have expected that this would be plastic with a very very thin aluminum which is basically the shell and then dipped in plasti-dip paint like you do with Rims, or Car decals. LG takes the Biggest L for this hopefully the next V10 will help them because this is not a good start.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I need to feel this in person. But I kinda feel like if you advertise it as having a metal body and then coat it in plastic you ruin the metal feel.

I want a phone that is advertised as having a metal unibody to feel like that.

 

[RadiantDuck]

I'm returning mine, but mostly due to the light bleed issue. The back feels nice to me, but definitely not metallic. It wouldn't bother me but agree that it is misleading to call it a metal phone.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[beagle82]

I would never be able to live with the air gap on the sides where the modules attach. So disappointed with LG, this was supposed to be my next phone.

 

[thisisjason]

I'm returning mine, but mostly due to the light bleed issue. The back feels nice to me, but definitely not metallic. It wouldn't bother me but agree that it is misleading to call it a metal phone.

Posted via the Android Central App

light bleed was an issue on the V10 as well, especially on the secondary screen area. It might be time for LG to switch to AMOLED

 

[Dubss]

Guys there no where on LG website do they advertise an all metal phone.

All the YouTube videos from Android Authority. That I watched advertised the phone as being all metal.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[kramer5150]

FWIW both Verizon and ATT advertise it as being metal. No where do they mention a plastic skin or plastic body shell.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Guys there no where on LG website do they advertise an all metal phone.

All the YouTube videos from Android Authority. That I watched advertised the phone as being all metal.

Posted via the Android Central App

From their website: http://www.lg.com/us/mobile-phones/g5#G5Modularity

They say metal body twice and say metal frame once. Nowhere does it say it has a plastic coating or plastic covering the metal.

Very clearly they're advertising it as a metal bodied phone. I believe this is disingenuous for them to do. If they were to be completely honest, they should have advertised it as 'a metal body covered in a layer of plastic'. Of course they wouldn't so that, so they've decided to avoid that and are attempting to cheat customers.

Having the metal be covered in a thick coat of plastic is not what the general public would consider to be a metal-bodied phone. If a phone is advertised as metal, the assumption is that they're touching metal.

It's not a good tactic used by LG, it's cheating the customer and I think this sort of dishonesty is bad for them. I'm very surprised that they'd do something like this.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

From their website: http://www.lg.com/us/mobile-phones/g5#G5Modularity

They say metal body twice and say metal frame once. Nowhere does it say it has a plastic coating or plastic covering the metal.

Very clearly they're advertising it as a metal bodied phone. I believe this is disingenuous for them to do. If they were to be completely honest, they should have advertised it as 'a metal body covered in a layer of plastic'. Of course they wouldn't so that, so they've decided to avoid that and are attempting to cheat customers.

Having the metal be covered in a thick coat of plastic is not what the general public would consider to be a metal-bodied phone. If a phone is advertised as metal, the assumption is that they're touching metal.

It's not a good tactic used by LG, it's cheating the customer and I think this sort of dishonesty is bad for them. I'm very surprised that they'd do something like this.

According to LG, the plastic is for the antenna in order to ensure that the phone is still able to send and receive cellular radio waves.

It kinda makes sense, but there's A LOT of plastic behind the metallic paint finish, probably more-so than needed for antenna bands.

(I live by 3 words. fastboot flashing unlock)

 

[gendo667]

I need to feel this in person. But I kinda feel like if you advertise it as having a metal body and then coat it in plastic you ruin the metal feel.

I want a phone that is advertised as having a metal unibody to feel like that.

Agreed. I'm gonna stop by T-Mobile today just to check out the phone. Make up my own mind.