Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to use premium metal build, ditching plastic after HTC One positive response?

Samsung’s top-end smartphones hit all the right…ahem…notes when it comes to internal hardware and software features. But ask any tech critic worth their salt what’s holding back the Galaxy line and they’ll bring up Samsung’s choice to consistently use plastics over premium metals in the chassis design. The near-unanimous praise given to the classy HTC One design seems to have ruffled Samsung’s feathers however, with the latest rumours surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 suggesting the company will be using a metal chassis in the super-sized phone line for the first time.

According to a SamMobile insider, “Samsung is planning to switch build quality for the next flagship device. He pointed out that the Galaxy Note 3 will not use the design guidelines of the Galaxy S4.”

It’s thought that aluminium would be used in the Galaxy Note 3, it being a lightweight and durable material, as used in the iPhone and HTC One designs. SamMobile continue that the Galaxy S4 had seen aluminium prototypes being made too, and was received well internally, but would have been too difficult to mass produce in time for launch with significant numbers.

Given the popularity of Samsung’s current line despite the perceived design shortcomings, a premium-build Galaxy device could really hinder HTC’s attempts to regain their footing in the Android market. However, given the already prohibitively high cost of the latest Samsung Galaxy S4 handset, we shudder to think what an aluminium-build Galaxy Note 3 could cost.