LG was forced to issue a statement asserting “unequivocally” that the unibody casing of its flagship G5 smartphone is metal, following reports which claimed the device included a significant amount of plastic.

The company said that the device features a “special aluminium alloy”, called LM201, developed in partnership with Korea Institute of Industrial Technology. It also features “a coating of primer which provides additional insulation and enhances the surface profile for the ‘microdising’ process, where pigment containing tiny metal particles is applied directly to the primer to provide a smooth and durable finish”.

“While both anodised aluminum and microdised aluminum will scratch if enough pressure is applied, in the case of the G5 the grey primer beneath the pigment layer may be mistaken for plastic when the colouring is scratched off,” it said.

Early reviews of the device noted that the G5 did not have the feel of a metal smartphone, particularly compared with rival devices. Regardless of the construction of the device, this feel is likely to affect customers’ buying decisions, particularly in the flagship segment.