Plastic – even if it’s micro-drilled and carefully polished – always runs the risk of feeling cheap; that’s not a criticism you can level at the One S. HTC has readied two versions, each study metal and creak-free, one black with so-called “Ceramic Metal” finish and another with a grey “Graded Anodization” finish.
The former One S finish is the more exciting, though not necessarily as eye catching. Both have an almost soft-touch feel, but the “Ceramic Metal” One S borrows manufacturing processes from satellite production for something that’s five times stronger than regular anodized metal. Called “Micro Arc Oxidation”, the unibody fame is effectively bathed in plasma and then electrocuted, resulting in a momentary temperature hotter than the sun that oxidizes the surface and leaves it incredibly scratch-resistant. Although you can mark it with a fingernail, HTC promises us the scratches are in fact our nails wearing down, not the surface of the phone being marred.
Overall, the One S feels long and narrow. It’s fronted by a 4.3-inch AMOLED running at qHD 960 x 540 resolution, with excellent viewing angles and the sort of rich colors we’re used to from OLED-based displays. As with the other phones, HTC has turned to optical lamination to bond the AMOLED panel to the fascia glass, leaving the picture looking as though it’s swimming on the surface of the phone itself.