The LG G5 plastic case saga started when a teardown video surfaced on the Internet last April 1, probably an attempt to help people out in replacing the screen and the charging port, as the title of the video itself indicates. Eventually, the video creator also discussed a little the build of the phone, that the aluminum plate on the back panel is covered with plastic.
A YouTube video posted by JerryRigEverything shows how to take apart the all-new LG G5 that was recently released, if parts need to be replaced on the phone. Along the way, he also shows through a scratch test that the supposedly premium all-metal smartphone is covered with millimeters of plastic.
On April 4, LG issued a press statement with regard to the allegations of the said video, which is that the G5 is not an all-metal phone because the back panel is covered with plastic. LG tried to explain that the portions being scratched off in the video is not plastic but a coat of primer to protect the antenna, as well as to provide the final feel to the phone. Even the primer is said to contain tiny metal particles.
"Contrary to erroneous reports online that the LG G5 body is composed of plastic, LG would like to state unequivocally that the uni-body casing of the G5 is composed of a special aluminum alloy, LM201 (Feb. 2016 patent pending)," the statement says. "After the die-casting is complete, the insulating antenna slit is applied directly to the aluminum casing followed by a coating of primer which provides additional insulation and enhances the surface profile for the 'microdizing' process, where pigment containing tiny metal particles is applied directly to the primer to provide a smooth and durable finish."
Even Ken Hong, LG's Global Communication Director, commented on JerryRigEverything's video and tried to explain that the gray matter is the primer, needed for the paint to adhere to the aluminum alloy uni-body.
The LG G5 is the latest flagship phone and the first modular phone coming from the South Korean tech giant, and it offers a 5.3-inch display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and an expandable 32GB internal storage. It also sports a 16MP camera and 8MP wide-angle camera on the back and an 8MP front-facing camera.
