[Galaxy S 4 General] BarryH_GEG:
I don't think people are "flaming HTC" as much as flaming aluminum as a material for a device that's going to get dropped and in general lead a pretty hard life. Glass deserves as much bashing if not more because it's a really bad choice for a mobile device. So that would be bashing LG and Sony.

Here's how I use my phone. When I'm out and about I have a PDAir belt holster that I carry the phone in without a case. I have a Bestskinsever protector on the display and back. If I drop it, the only area exposed is the surround. When I'm in the office or home I have a TPU case that I carry the phone around in. I drop my phone probably twice a month on average mostly when I'm on the go trying to use it while doing other things (EG: walking and texting/talking in an airport). Used that way my six month old N2 is blemish free and my ex-One X was also blemish free after nine months.

If I had a glass phone it would have been cracked within a month (which is why I wouldn't buy a glass phone). Not from direct impact but from the shock absorbed in a fall. If I had a One the Bestskinsever would protect it from scratches so that wouldn't be a concern. But, the unibody design would end up causing deformation upon impact. The way I use my phones it would be inevitable. And even if it didn't deform, aluminum is a malleable material so the skin wouldn't protect it from abrasion or impact damage. So it's not about HTC (or Sony or LG); it's about physics.

Here's the bottom line. Aluminum makes for beautiful designs. But the downside is durability and not just from a scratch test. Metal unibody's make for beautiful feeling devices to hold but the downside is deformation. Plastic is certainly not a luxurious material and Samsung's not exactly been creative with it in the design department but its durable and ideal for a device that leads a rough life. I'd also question whether Samsung could use metal and provide a removable battery and expandable storage. The Chinese One with an SD card slot is made from plastic.

So to people who never drop their phones, expose them to anything that could scratch them, and ridicule everyone else whose phones do get dropped and exposed to scratching, buy whatever makes you happy. But it's not going to change physics and why plastic's a better choice for a mobile device; especially when it appears necessary to provide certain features people look for (removable battery, SD card slot).

---------- Post added at 01:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 PM ----------

The "glass" isn't glass, it appears to be plastic as glass doesn't bend. And I doubt that will be covered under warranty as HTC will claim "user induced damage." Well I guess we'll find out the repair cost of a phone with a "1" score on repairibility that I've been accused of being an ass for even mentioning. ;) Interesting choice when that area is where people say the One gets hot. Over time I'd expect it to yellow or warp (if not crack) from being exposed to heat.

There is one caveat, however. As I was testing the HTC One the back got hot to the touch. Not too hot to hold, but enough to make me worry about its long-term health. I was running benchmarks at the time which put enormous strain on the components, but it's not something you like to feel. (We've read reports elsewhere of this phenomenon, so it is an important consideration.)​

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/mobile-phone/3427036/new-htc-one-review/