The HTC One was the winner of many prestigious awards in 2013 so any successor is going to
have a tough time in living up to the same standards
So perhaps by no surprise then the HTC One (M8), the successor is very similar to the
original HTC One.
There are a few obvious differences, most notably the size and the addition of a second
rear camera.
Try as you might to find fault with the hardware on this device, there isnt a lot you can really
fault here.
If I had to find something to complain about it would be the lack of wireless charging
and a lack of RAM.
The headline specs include:
Android 4.4 2.3GHz quad-core processor
MicroSD memory card slot 2GB RAM
16GB internal memory 5" full HD display
5 megapixel front facing camera
Inevitably comparison has to be made to the original One as existing owners decide whether
it is a worthwhile upgrade.
The M8 has a faster processor and only 16GB of internal memory in comparison to the 32
of the original One.
The M8 does have a microSD memory card slot with support for 128GB microSD cards.
There is a bigger screen with a higher PPI in the M8 but the sacrifice is the size, bigger
and heavier than the original.
Samsung's Galaxy S5 and Sony's Xperia Z2 will be giving the M8 a real run for its money.
The S5 tops the bill for processing power whilst the Z2 packs an extra 1GB of RAM.
The Z2 has the slightly larger display at 5.2" whilst the resolution is consistent over
all three the PPI changes marginally.
The cameras are where there is the biggest difference between the models and much of
this will come down to user preference on the final results.
All are going to give pretty decent results but the M8's Ultrapixel may struggle.
The Z2 and M8 have the best feel to them and are heavier as a result of the more premium
materials but the S5 is more plasticy to the touch but wins for weight and resilience to
damage.
It might be big but this beauty is a class act.
From every angle it looks superb.
The brushed aluminium gives the impression that someone has painstakingly polished it
and you just want to touch it as cheesy as it may sound.
The edges are soft, there are no sharp or squared corners on this phone, although I
am not sure I can really agree with the 'edgeless' statements that have been made by HTC.
Yes the edges are less defined, but there are still edges.
The front panel is dominated by the 5" touchscreen, with perfectly drilled speaker grille holes
centrally located above and below the display.
The 5" screen runs almost to the edges, making the device appear thinner, but my this phone
is tall.
There is quite a bit of 'extra' bezelling to the top and bottom but allowances need
to be made for the speakers!
I have to agree with many others and say that the headphone jack is perhaps in the best
position it can be.
Many are located on the top of the phone, but when using this with a set of headphones
and sliding it in the pocket, the bottom makes sense.
The top of the phone is dressed with a glossy black band under which sits the IR port for
the remote control and to the right side is the power button.
Personally I think this is a poor place for the power button, the right side of the device
has become the norm and for those with smaller hands stretching to the top can be awkward
if not a right pain!
The double tap feature on the display helps alleviate this issue somewhat.
Crafted from aluminium there is no removable back cover on this phone and everything is
sealed inside.
This leaves a smooth, shiny and slippery back surface.
When competing with the best, you need to be packing a punch here and the M8 is no let
down.
HD resolution and a PPI of 441 you will have to be used to studying precious jewels to
find fault.
If you are playing back a few photos or watching the latest blockbuster movie, the viewing
experience will be superb.
HTC have kept things clean and simple on the software side of the M8.
In the apps tray you can customise the layout of the apps from most recently used, to alphabetical
to your own custom layout, even apps in folders if you want.
Whilst all the usual Google Play apps and services are available out of the box there
are also additions such as HTC's TV remote, Zoe, Car, HTC Guide, Kid Mode and Stocks amongst
many others.
There is an FM radio included for those who always ask.
HTC Guide is an interesting addition and acts as a diagnostics tool/FAQ guide to some extent
to avoid unnecessary calls into support lines.
Whilst it is relatively basic in what ti actually offers it serves as a first port of call option
for newer smartphone users for any questions they may have.
Blinkfeed is something I think you will either like or not, I am not won over by it yet.
It is a nice way to integrate lots of your regular news/social feeds getting all or just
highlights from each in a chronological way and is in my opinion a nice quick view option.
You can easily integrate other content from other news outlets in a variety of different
categories from world news through to automotive as well as decide what shows up in your highlights.
Scroll down from the top of the screen and you are presented with the notification bar
complete with toggles for settings such as Bluetooth and WiFi, these can all be customised
to your preference.
Hidden in the settings, although offered on first setup is the transfer service from HTC
which aims to make it simpler to switch from one phone to another from transferring just
contacts through to music and videos too.
It might not be necessary but a nice inclusion.
The awkward location of the power button for me was an issue, may not be so much for others.
However a double tap on the screen will wake the phone up and take you to the lock screen.
Another double tap at the lock screen will turn it off.
This double tap rather frustratingly does not work in any other place on the phone to
turn the screen off, you still need the power button for that.
A swipe from left to right on the display when the screen is off will take you to Blinkfeed.
When considering the connectivity the only real negative is the lack of wireless charging.
You might not need it, you might not want it, but there is no option to have it or add
it if you do.
MHL 3.0 is also not present.
Whilst MHL might not be the technology that every man and their dog has heard about, it
appears to be the approved standard now with the majority adopting it.
Version 3 brings 4K video out so there is an argument there is no need for it on the
One like there is on the Z2, but it does not make the M8 all that futureproof.
Aside from this you can't really complain Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, 4G, DLNA it is all there.
The One has a TV remote built into it too.
If you are like me, you often keep your phone closer than the TV remote so this can be a
benefit, although I have been unable to get myself out of that mindset of using the traditional
remote.
HTC's works perfectly well though.
.
Hands down the best speakers on a smartphone to date, better than the original HTC One.
They are not the loudest but by no means quiet but for an all round performance then this
is the one to go for.
Whatever type of music you throw at it, the device manages to make it sound great.
We have all been there where you are in a slightly noisy environment, trying to watch
a video clip but can't quite hear the sound even with the speakers on full volume.
Imagine this same situation with the HTC One, the difference would be, you would hear every
word.
There is no doubt that HTC set the standard for the speakers on mobile devices and other
manufacturers should take note.
The One has 3 cameras, 2 on the back and one on the front.
Starting with the front, it is 5 megapixels, which has to be one of the largest for a front
facing camera on a phone.
It also has a very wide angle lens so you get a lot in the shot.
In short its top notch if you are really into this whole 'selfie' craze.
There is even a countdown timer so you have time to perfect the pose.
The back of the phone is home to two cameras.
The second camera does have a purpose but it does not create the 3D shots like devices
of the past.
HTC have stuck with the 'Ultrapixel' camera which is essentially a 4 megapixel camera
in comparison to Samsung's 16 and Sony's 20.7 megapixel shooters.
The sensor allows more light in and is in HTC's eyes equivalent.
There is a lot of discussion around whether it really is or not but it does not take bad
shots, just the resolution limits it when it comes to printing and viewing on screens
larger than that of your HTC.
The 2nd camera, rated at 2 megapixels is used to help create and manage effects on the image
after it has been captured.
It allows you to edit pictures and change primarily focus at a later date without needing
to go back to the original scene and re-shoot the picture.
This is excellent as it gives greater functionality out of the box and makes for simpler editing.
The downside it that both the foreground and background really need to be obviously in
focus in the first shot to be able to change the focus at a later date.
If one or the other are naturally out of focus then the duo camera mode will not be compatible
with that shot.
The other issue is the defocus/bokeh effect it gives in some circumstances looks like
an add on effect rather than being the result of clever photography.
I am sure this can be improved with software updates and a bit of practice, but is practicing
to get this effect right?
There are many other settings within the camera that give you control over what you can do
from before you take the shot right through to the stages of editing.
Straighten, rotate, flip or draw on the photo.
Add frames and effects to the image including stickers for a bit of fun.
A couple of the more interesting edit features are, foregrounder, seasons and dimension plus.
Dimension plus gives more depth to the image, a bit like a 3D image where the image appears
to move based on the way you tilt your HTC One.
Cool but not that useful all told.
Seasons offers an animated effect like snow in front of the image.
So you could have snow falling in front of a couple of friends you have taken a picture
of.
Foregrounder offers effects for the picture including sketch, zoom blur, cartoon and colorize.
Foregrounder in my opinion is the most useful but I still do not feel that many will make
much use of it over the long term.
With all of these effects the image has to match certain criteria, so low light shots
will not be applicable.
Overall the image results were generally OK and certainly give most smartphones a run
for their money, but I am not convinced the HTC has enough to actually beat the S5 or
the Z2.
In most shots the subject was darker and colours duller than they were in real life.
Despite the camera sensor being able to capture more light, I didn't actually feel that the
results showed evidence of this.
There is no dedicated camera button so quick access to the camera is by turning the device
from portrait to landscape mode whilst pressing on the volume key.
Video recording in full HD is of course present, but you do not get 4K recording like Sony
and Samsung, it might not be needed but should a flagship not offer it?
Always a contentious issue the battery life on a phone.
Tthe HTC One M8 is something that most should agree on, it is very good for a device of
this type with a screen of this size.
More than a days use should easily be possible for the 'normal' user whilst a lighter user
will likely get 2+ days.
HTC have done very well to get such power out of the One as they do and the power saver
technology easily competes with Sony's Stamina mode with controls over just what the phone
does in this mode.
Hats off to HTC here, top job.
The HTC One M8 is a superb handset, there is a lot to like about it but there are a
few small things that could be of an annoyance over the strong contenders.
Not being able to dunk the phone in water isn't a deal breaker, but it would be a nice
to have.
The physical size and slightly slippery nature of the product is a potential hazard but one
that comes with the ultimate gain of style and that premium look.
The camera didn't win me over as I would have hoped but in a world where the majority of
content is shared online only, it is no doubt enough.
Performance is slick and media playback is the best thing available yet thanks to those
astonishingly good speakers.
Anyone keen on a HTC One M8 will not be disappointed if you look past some of the dare I say gimmicky
features.
If you are due an upgrade, then I think the M8 offers enough over the M7 to make it worthwhile
but retain that familiarity.
All said though Sony and Samsung have very strong offerings which one is right for you
will involve looking slightly deeper than the spec sheet in my opinion.