HTC is throwing a couple of tongue-in-cheek punches, mocking its leading rival Samsung for the ‘bad design’ of the Galaxy S5.
With the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5 going head-to-head on retailers’ shelves, HTC has tweeted a teasing message and image, suggesting that the S5 features an inferior design to the brushed metal M8.
Although this is a viewpoint shared by many industry critics and consumers alike, it is surprising to see the Taiwanese manufacturer comment on the cheaper, plastic construction of its Korean rival’s flagship offering.
Tweeting the picture of the HTC One M8 lining up alongside a trio of S5 coloured plasters – a likeness to the phone’s dimpled rear – HTC has also implied that the S5 has a ‘bad design’.
Samsung received widespread criticism for the S5’s plastic build following the phone’s official unveiling at MWC back in February.
Defending the phone’s plastic build after launch, Samsung Senior Product Designer Dong Hum Kim said: “Our major aims were usability, friendliness and a more humanistic design.
He added: “We wanted something with a pleasing feel … and better grip. If we used metal, [we felt] the designs felt heavy and cold.
“With plastic, the texture is warmer. We believe users will find [the device] both warmer and friendlier. This material was also the best at visually expressing volume, better at symbolizing our design concepts.”
Despite defending the plastic S5, Samsung fired its head of smartphone design shortly after the phone was released.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
