The Moto X has an interesting glass front. The glass actually covers the entire face and "wraps" around the sides of the phone to the equator of the entire phone. This was commonly referred to as the "zero-gap" or "magic-glass" technology when I was first reading about the phone.
The bezel that we have appears to be painted onto the glass itself. Especially for people like me with the white face, the painted bezel effect really shows off a rather unsightly vertical gap between the painted bezel and the surface of the digitizer, which rests about .5 mm under the glass itself.
I wonder what the glass looks like under the painted bezel. If it was scraped off, do you think it would just be smooth glass enveloping the front of the phone? If so, I wonder why Motorola felt the need to paint the bezel on. That painted bezel looks really cheap to me.
I read rumors that it was wrap around glass but I really don't believe that to be the case - when tapping on it with a metal object, the "wrap around" area sounds distinctly plastic and on the top, you can actually see a distinct area where the plastic is taller than the glass that meets it.
It would be a lot more expensive to create a wrap-around glass piece than it would be to simply do some good plastic forming create tight bezels. I don't think it's glass at all - it's just plastic that's assembled with the glass to some tight tolerances.
Look here:
https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/KidY6tB4P22vESDH.huge
Looks/sounds/feels like plastic to me.
binary visions said:
I read rumors that it was wrap around glass but I really don't believe that to be the case - when tapping on it with a metal object, the "wrap around" area sounds distinctly plastic and on the top, you can actually see a distinct area where the plastic is taller than the glass that meets it.
It would be a lot more expensive to create a wrap-around glass piece than it would be to simply do some good plastic forming create tight bezels. I don't think it's glass at all - it's just plastic that's assembled with the glass to some tight tolerances.
Look here:
https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/KidY6tB4P22vESDH.huge
Looks/sounds/feels like plastic to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree. While the teardown picture shows what appears to be plastic, there appears to be an additional layer of something covering the outer rim. Check the bottom right (and even bottom left) corner(s) shown in the picture. In the alternative, the "wrapped" portion of the glass simply doesn't go as far as the equator.
I'm virtually certain there is some "wrapping" going on, largely due to the fact that I'm dealing with a white face. I will stake my life on the fact that there is no horizontal meeting between the glass and the bezel (on the flat portion of the face). I can actually see under the painted bezel and see no leading edge of plastic. The glass just goes until I can't see any further. I agree with you that it sounds like plastic when tapped with metal (I just tested it myself), but that can be easily explained by the mere fact that it is painted with some plastic-like substance.
Finally, I think your statement that the bezel is raised only supports the idea that the bezel is painted atop the surface of the glass. If it weren't, you could theoretically have it be level with the glass, though not necessarily. I really wish someone's teardown would show a close picture of the glass.
its not painted glass or wrap around glass. its a plastic bezel. i know becasue i can lift mine up with my fingernail
I have a white front too. At first I was too a bit angry about that shadow where glass touches the plastic/color, but I learned to live with it I don't really think it is just color. Maybe it's some really thin plastic bezel on top of the glass, but certainly not color. Try to look at some crashtests of Moto X. If you look at damaged bezel, you can see it's not just color but something more solid
eyc said:
I agree with you that it sounds like plastic when tapped with metal (I just tested it myself), but that can be easily explained by the mere fact that it is painted with some plastic-like substance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it wouldn't. Painting a glass surface with plastic doesn't make it resonate like plastic. Especially not at the thin layers we're talking about.
Finally, I think your statement that the bezel is raised only supports the idea that the bezel is painted atop the surface of the glass.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To raise that tiny little piece of bevel on the top and bottom of the phone, and do all of this wrapping, would be very expensive since it would be pretty sophisticated forming, and from an engineering standpoint, it's a bad idea.
I'd lay money on it being plastic. Easy test, though - go ahead and scrape off your paint and we'll see. I'm not going to do it on mine, though, since it's plastic and will look like hell after that
murso74 said:
its not painted glass or wrap around glass. its a plastic bezel. i know becasue i can lift mine up with my fingernail
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, then. I stand corrected. What do you see when you lift it up? Does the glass extend a tad past the plastic bezel? I guess the plastic bezel is just really thin and tapers off into paper-thinness at the very edge where you see the glass.
eyc said:
Well, then. I stand corrected. What do you see when you lift it up? Does the glass extend a tad past the plastic bezel? I guess the plastic bezel is just really thin and tapers off into paper-thinness at the very edge where you see the glass.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly I can't really tell... Seems like plastic. I can slip my thumb nail between the side glasss and the plastic bezel, but I don't really want to pull to hard. I've been meaning to call moto about a replacement
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
This was one of their marketing things at launch it's zero gap where they "fused" the plastic bezel to the glass for that zero gap feel. The problem is that the bezel doesn't come all the way to the edge of the display so it does create an odd line. This is far more obvious on white than black on black it can only really been seen in direct sunlight.
"Motorola’s unique materials story continues on the front with a fused glass-plastic layer. The front glass and touch panel are fused into the plastic lip which rings the top side of the Moto X. They’re not separate parts, but literally fused together into one. Motorola is very proud of this feature since it results in one unbroken surface instead of the usual pressure-fit plastic ring affair with a raised section or gap."
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7235/moto-x-review
It's plastic. I'm actually quite surprised it's being debated.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Related
I know its vain... but I scratched on the bezel of my 8525 the first day I bought it and staring at it is really starting to annoy me. Its the bezel part that starts above the call buttons and goes up the right side and then along the top.
Does anyone know if it is made from real brushed aluminum or is it plastic made to look like brushed aluminum? If its real, I'm going to dremel the scratch away... if its plastic and I try doing that... it will only make it much worse.
Thanks for any help on this.
EDIT: Does anyone have a dead 8525 or even just the front part they want to get rid of for cheap? I figure I could replace the bezel as well. Thanks again.
I'm not sure how does the fake plastic goes, but aluminum is a electric conductor, you can try and see if it gets electric passed through it? Still, fake plastic may be a conductor as well (i.e. uses aluminum powder to make it shiny). Anyway, if it was to be aluminum, it should be cold to the touch.
BTW, when you said "dremel the scratch away", how do you do that? I had a big one on my Wizard too, it is definitely aluminum here. Also, I have an old SStell watch that I would like to get the scratch off
Sure feels like METAL. One thing to fix smaller scratches on metal, try eraser for ink, it's slightly abrasive.
hanmin said:
I'm not sure how does the fake plastic goes, but aluminum is a electric conductor, you can try and see if it gets electric passed through it? Still, fake plastic may be a conductor as well (i.e. uses aluminum powder to make it shiny). Anyway, if it was to be aluminum, it should be cold to the touch.
BTW, when you said "dremel the scratch away", how do you do that? I had a big one on my Wizard too, it is definitely aluminum here. Also, I have an old SStell watch that I would like to get the scratch off
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am fairly skillful with a dremel. I was thinking I would us a fine grained dremel brush and brush along the grain. Basically, it would be recessing that part of the bezel down to the depth of the scratch (it is uneven new and the scratch is located at a slightly elevated position which would be perfect for this). This would only work for slight scratches.
I know this
It dents like aluminum. I dropped mine last winter, and it put some scratches and dents int it... well the dents curve into the hole, which plastic would just shear and have a grooved edge, it wouldn't bend. So My vote is metal.
jompao said:
Sure feels like METAL. One thing to fix smaller scratches on metal, try eraser for ink, it's slightly abrasive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hunting for an erasable ink pen right now. Thanks.
tsunami982 said:
I hunting for an erasable ink pen right now. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People use it to take care of small scratches on fine watches, so I'm guessing it will work here to. Obviously you need to use it direction of the "brushed" direction of the metal.
You can stumble on interesting stuf on the net.
I 've read people were removing branding from phones with a sugar cube. Abrasive enough to remove screen printed branding but not enough to scratch the plastic. Not to say that trick will work on Hermes.
I have been thinking for a while that i want to paint the front plastics from brown to black and was wondering the best way. If anyone has done or knows something about painting pstic with out fingers getting paint when done
ummmm...there was a guy on here that mentioned about polishing the bezel section and such on here because it was dropped. Turned out pretty good in the end, I would contact the OP on that thread about that.
As far as my experience goes, I had an Acura RSX that I painted the plastic headlights (the shiny inside part) black and various colors for other people and they turned out good. The key thing is to remove the old stuff off first before doing so. you are basically then starting with a fresh canvas. wear latex or nitrile gloves as well. use paint cleaner to really get all the oils and stuff off. a LIGHT coat of primer, and then light passes of paint make all the difference in the world.
Or is the rounding material before glass metal? Im starting to feel its metal instead of plastic?
You know what, it is metal, that's right. I remember that guy anodized his bezel.
SoonHD2 said:
Or is the rounding material before glass metal? Im starting to feel its metal instead of plastic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely metal. You can feel it especially while charging.
Maybe plastic dip. Google it.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
The subject says it all. I don't worry too much about protecting the front glass - it's gorilla glass 2, and thus won't scratch, and no amount of thin plastic is going to protect it from shattering if it takes a good impact. The really vulnerable part of this phone is the back polycarbinate. I've already met 2 nexus 4 owners who have cracked the back panel.
Ideally, the right case would provide hard-shell protection for the back, but leave the sides barely covered, so that one of the nicest features of the phone, the side bezels on the front glass, are left un-blocked. It should fasten at the top and the corners, stopping where the screen begins.
Does such a case exist yet? I haven't been able to find it, so who is going to design this and make a fortune?
Bleys43 said:
The subject says it all. I don't worry too much about protecting the front glass - it's gorilla glass 2, and thus won't scratch, and no amount of thin plastic is going to protect it from shattering if it takes a good impact. The really vulnerable part of this phone is the back polycarbinate. I've already met 2 nexus 4 owners who have cracked the back panel.
Ideally, the right case would provide hard-shell protection for the back, but leave the sides barely covered, so that one of the nicest features of the phone, the side bezels on the front glass, are left un-blocked. It should fasten at the top and the corners, stopping where the screen begins.
Does such a case exist yet? I haven't been able to find it, so who is going to design this and make a fortune?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gorilla Glass DOES scratch.
http://tpu-cases.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=46_76&products_id=306
FatalityBoyZahy said:
Gorilla Glass DOES scratch.
http://tpu-cases.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=46_76&products_id=306
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, it does scratch, but it is scratch-resistant.
The link you linked is actually the exact oposite of what I am talking about. It fastens at the sides, and leaves the top and bottom free. What I am talking about is a case which fastens at the top and bottom, and leaves the sides free.
Poetic Palette. I just got one to replace my Slimbook and TPU cases. I like it and it's fairly minimalist. I doubt anyone can get thinner or more unobtrusive than the Palette or Rearth or whatever.
But as you were asking, the Palette doesn't obscure the front bezel. I have no problem swiping in from the edge.
The rearth ringke is what you're looking for. There are some reviews with pictures on this forum.
Bleys43 said:
Ok, it does scratch, but it is scratch-resistant.
The link you linked is actually the exact oposite of what I am talking about. It fastens at the sides, and leaves the top and bottom free. What I am talking about is a case which fastens at the top and bottom, and leaves the sides free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there's no case like that for the N4, i havent seen a case that only attaches from the top and bottom and leaves the sides exposed for any phone. The closest thing you might find is a case that attaches to only the 4 corners but i wouldnt bet on it. Unfortunately not too many companies are planning on making cases for the Nexus 4.
Not sure why you are so worried about the back BUT just get a skin, I haven't seen a case where the attachment points aren't the sides (if not all the way around.)
I just got my note 4 from t-mobile shipped yesterday oct 13. The pictures shows it all. Not only do i have a gap that is only at the top and right side of the phone (which i can live with), the top right hand corner shows that the inner bezel scratched possible from applying that screen. I can live with the gap but not those scratches as the white phone bezel make it more noticeable. Sucks to get the runt of the new note 4s...
i wouldn't call that a "huge" gap, you can probably just slip a piece of paper in, but not anything thicker, same info posted by androidauthority and unbox therapy. how did you scratch it with a SP anyway? glass SP?
It just seems like the paint that used on the metal came off in those spots. As for the gap, it's no bigger than any other note 4, but I do agree that dust and other particles will get stuck in there over time.
same small gap on my phone but then it disappeared after i put on a case. Even without the case it doesn't really bother me that much because i didn't even notice it
You can scratch it if your removing bubbles
I don't think you have a gap issue at all. I'd be a ticked about the scratches though.
Those aren't scratches. Those are the antennas
joe11784 said:
Those aren't scratches. Those are the antennas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
trust me those are scratches from the paint peeling off the metal. Probably for poor installation.
This phone also had very loose volume rocker buttons.
Also the gap is way bigger than any of the 4 phones that shipped. ( had a total of 6 so...)
Ended up returning this one and one with a dead pixel/dust ball under the screen.
Got my two replacements from t-mobile. all is good.
Oh my bad. I was looking at the last picture you uploaded where it shows the cut out at the top left of the phone
Hi
Did Not know they used No ? Glas.
Due to 2.5 temepred glass does Not fit that perfect so i wanted to ask If someone has info about the quality of the used glass against scratches e.g.?
Thx
P10 lite has just normal glass. No scratch resistance what-so-ever. So be very careful with it. Also note that the glass on both the front and back can really easily scratch if using a flip cover. Even though the touch flip covers from Huawei are beautiful, they will scratch the screen if any microscopic little piece of dirt comes between the cover and the screen (and it absolutely will).
dysje said:
P10 lite has just normal glass. No scratch resistance what-so-ever. So be very careful with it. Also note that the glass on both the front and back can really easily scratch if using a flip cover. Even though the touch flip covers from Huawei are beautiful, they will scratch the screen if any microscopic little piece of dirt comes between the cover and the screen (and it absolutely will).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source?
Trixanity said:
Source?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personal experience with three of the devices. Two using the flip cover from Huawei, one blue and one black (color of the cover). Both have markings from the edges of the flip cover and have multiple small scratches on the screen. It's quite bad. And they've been handled with care.
dysje said:
Personal experience with three of the devices. Two using the flip cover from Huawei, one blue and one black (color of the cover). Both have markings from the edges of the flip cover and have multiple small scratches on the screen. It's quite bad. And they've been handled with care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard of multiple devices getting scratches from covers and any type of glass can be scratched. It's obviously cheap glass used on this phone but I doubt it's just 'normal' glass. Perhaps they went for better shatter resistance instead. Huawei isn't saying where they get the glass but I'm assuming it's of Chinese make.
Some of my older phones that had Gorilla glass have been more scratched up than this but that's of course not really saying much. Mine is without screen protection and has no noticeable scratches so I suspect it's the cover you used that did the damage. Wouldn't be the first time.