HTC One E8 Review

HTC One M8 is probably the best way to show all design potentials. This aluminum body is unique on the market and theretofore makes this phone so desirable. The great design is one think, and the price consumers should pay for it is completely something different. This high-end smartphone is too expensive for most of users worldwide, so HTC decided to do something about it. The solution is called HTC One E8 and it brings remarkable M8's experience, but without aluminum body shell. HTC One E8 is build of plastic, which has cut its price. The E8 brings some smaller changes too, like standard (not Dual UltraPixel) camera and some things more.

HTC One E8 Design

HTC One E8 is basically the same as HTC One M8, so the minimal differences are hard to notice. If you start form the exterior, you will see identical rounded edges for better grip, HTC logo and very loud and pure BoomSound speakers. The official specs indicate the plastic M8 is thicker than its more beautiful brother, and just for 0.5 mm. Anyway, both phones are almost identical, which was the main point. But, if you ask me, the main difference is when you pick up HTC One E8 and feel it's significantly lighter than the original model. It weights just 145 grams, which isn't overmuch for a 5-inch phone. Ok, it would be too easy to say these two phones are identical. HTC One E8 has smaller circle around front-facing camera and the back side contains single sensor camera in contradiction with dual lens from HTC One M8. Also, the cam packs single LED flash only. The phone is limited to be without IR blaster, so there's nothing of using the phone as TV remote controller. The feel that plastic body creates in hands can't be matched with the one original model with unique aluminum body offers. However, HTC One E8 can be purchased in several colors, according to which you can bypass fingerprints magnet (black and white versions), or choose the most beautiful version, but with some fingerprints and minor dirt (red). The build quality is very high, but not comparable with M8.

HTC One E8 Display

The display is pretty much the same as on HTC One M8. It's Super LCD3 with 5-inch and 100x1920 pixels. It's 441 ppi, which is more that actually you need for very pleasant work. More about screen and other M8's features read in HTC One M8 Review.

HTC One E8 Software

HTC Sense is so beautiful in its simplicity. The BlinkFeed still collects all important news from different sites and social networks. The E8 runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat and Sense 6 UI. The UI offers many setting options and useful features, so there's no question about it.

HTC One E8 Specs and Performances

One thing is certain. The phone doesn't lack power. The overpowered quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 works at 2.5GHz, which is too much over you need. Everything runs smoothly and the apps are opening immediately. Whatever you use this phone for calls, web browsing, navigation of something else, the E8 is fast as a speed of light. The phone packs standard 16GB of internal memory and the user gets 10GB when the system takes its part of memory. It can be extended up to 128GB. The battery life is approximately the same with M8. It's surprising that official data indicate battery can stand more that with M8, but in real life you get the same time on both phones.

HTC One E8 Camera

Instead UltraPixel technology, HTC One E8 has a classic 13MP camera with single LED flash and the 5MP front camera. The camera has a fairly simple and clear interface with logically distributed virtual keys and without too many options. There are panorama mode and classical settings here. The performance of the camera is quite confusing. Logically, by daylight camera should make the best photos. It did so, but they are often much darker than they really are. The colors are at an acceptable level, but with more details than the 4MP photos with the original model. However, it's still less than major competitors and HTC will have to address this issue in the future. When the indoors and night performance are concerned, the situation is identical. There are plenty of details, but the light balance is problematic and still you get darker photos than they should be. The reason for this lies in weaker flash which is not as strong as an aluminum brother.

HTC One E8 Verdict

Is the HTC One E8 really needed? The answer is a definite yes. For those who can't afford One M8, this phone is a great solution. With the exception of the plastic case HTC One E8 is the same phone as original model. However, there are differences, as we noticed. Most of them are limited around the camera. HTC One E8 is about 20% cheaper than the HTC One M8 and I think it is quite appropriate considering what the phone offers.