HTC One M8 review

To create a completely original smart phone you need a lot of inspiration and creativity. Since this isn't easy to do, the producers usually go for minor modifications instead of trying to make completely new phone. That's the story about the new HTC One. HTC One M8 had to improve the original model, which officially was the best designed last year. And it really has done it. HTC One M8 continues a path of success. This phone is packed with power and modern technology, so it can compete with new Samsung Galaxy S5. The Samsung's star is shining so bright, but the new One is still the best looking out there.

HTC One M8 Design

HTC One M8 - name doesn't impress you, butdesign surely does. The base is overtaken from last year'smodel. Since 90% of the phone is made of metal, it’s right away clear that this is no ordinary phone. Perfectly polished aluminium looks great and is uniquely different. Simple, HTC One M8 is quite different from all other phones. Perhaps HTC One M8 is the most beautiful smartphone of all time. Want our opinion? We agree. HTC One M8 belongs to the top 5 phones at this time. Of course, that kind of perfection has its price. If you finally decide to spend some extra money, you can expect HTC One M8 is really a great device, with lovely 5-inch screen. If you have used HTC One, you should know that this phone is even bigger, so you should count on using both hands. So, the phone is not very practical, but it's still a pleasure to work on it because of feeling is just fantastic – the real pleasure of aluminium case. Compared with last year's model, the edges are rounded, and therefore it's easier to grab it with hands. It feels really great, like its predecessor. With this, the pleasure is complete. The thickness of 9.35 mm and a weight of 160g make HTC One M8 perfectly balanced. We think that HTC managed to make a nice balance between the big screen and metal casing, which typically carries a higher weight. HTC has decided to offer two-tone metallic colours: metallic grey and silver, which resembles its predecessor. Whichever colour you choose, there's no dilemma that the well brushed surfaces give a great feeling in the hand. Something that helps HTC One M8 to stand out from the crowd are stereo speakers, which, by the way, are great. When the placement of keys and ports are concerned, the audio input is at the bottom. The pleasant refreshment is the fact that there is the microSD port. Hence, the memory is almost unlimited. At the top of the phone is positioned IC port which allows you to control other devices (TV, for example). Speaking of buttons, they are of better quality than on its predecessor and much more responsive to touch. To be honest, the keys feel a little plastic, which spoils the general impression, but every phone has a flaw, and HTC One M8 is no exception. Also, the power button is right next to the volume button, so it can happen that you mix them when you're not looking. The result - accidentally turning off the phone when trying to turn up the volume. The new model brings little changes at the bottom of the screen, where usually is place for capacitive buttons. In fact, HTC One M8 is lacking of them, since they'removed to the bottom of the screen, which is probably due to the lack of space because of speakers. The conclusion: HTC One M8 is one of the most beautiful phones ever made!

HTC One M8 Features

HTC Sense 6 and Blinkfeed are improved, both in terms of functionality, as well as in the visual sense. New tools are available, also as the personalization, which is recommendable, because each user has different interest. When you pick up your sources of information in one place, you'll see Blinkfeed is very useful feature. There is also a new 4.4 KitKat Android with many visual improvements. Notification bar is a bit complicated, and there are innovations like double tap to wake the phone, like the LG G2. If you plan to use your phone as an MP3 player, HTC One M8 certainly has something to offer you. Firstly, there are great speakers, generous memory, which can still be expanded, but I think it’s not necessary in this case. Internal memory (16GB) is enough for the music of your choice, while the microSD expansion may be useful as a support for movies.

HTC One M8 Performance

If you are looking for brutal power, then HTC One M8 is right phone for you. No matter Samsung Galaxy S5 is perhaps a bit faster, Taiwanese phone is a fantastic device. Some benchmarks tests show that it’s actually faster than the iPhone 5S. The main reason for this is Snapdragon 801 processor at 2.3 GHz. When Boomsound speakers are concerned, everything is as it should be. The sound is better than the previous One, and it has stronger and purer sound. The sound is so good that in combination with the crystal clear screen you will catch yourself watching a film or clip from YouTube for hours without an eye blink.

HTC One M8 Battery life

The phone is equipped with a 2.600mAh battery. In practice this means that with an average use your phone can get a whole day of use. However, if you decide to use the phone as a gaming console, it's possible that you will reach for the charger before the end of the day. However, if the phone is not used in such a "hard" way, you can count on up to two days without charging. The reason for this comes from a new processor that is faster than the previous one, and consumes less power.

HTC One M8 Camera

It's still based on the Ultrapixel camera technology, as well as the 4MP sensor. Interestingly, HTC One M8 has two cameras, making it a unique device. This phone is preferred to make great photos with the help of improved hardware instead of software, as other manufacturers do. The key to this technology is that the sensor "captures" more light that brings a far better image quality. The user can adjust the focus, and determine the intensity of it. Also, there is a very good selection of tools for processing images. Don't be fooled by the small number of megapixels, because this is a great phone-camera. The speed at which the camera works is fantastic and the autofocus works flawlessly. Of course, don't expect that every image is 100% clean, because it isn't possible. Therefore try out the shooting modes that are available and try to get closer to optimum performance as you can. The results will not let you down.

HTC One M8 Competitors and Conclusion

If you are wondering whether the HTC One M8 is your only choice among premium phones, the answer is of course not. There are a lot of competitors out there, and more of them will come. Its main rivals are certainly Galaxy S4 and new Galaxy S5. While S4 shows worse results because its last year's origin, Galaxy S5 still brings stunning performance. iPhone 5S is perhaps the only phone that can compete with HTC One M8 in the visual sense, and it has similar performance. When the LG G2 is concerned, its greatest quality is great and powerful screen by which it can be equaled with HTC One M8, but not by plastic case which can’t match with pure aluminium. When it comes to comparison with last year's model, the new HTC One M8 has 90% of the metal case, a bigger screen, and improved camera and speakers. HTC One M8 is the story inspired by last year beautiful queen. Wanting to merge top performance and the best design, HTC dream came true. HTC One M8 is built on success. The phone has a few things that are improved. Camera, BoumSound speakers, an extended battery life are just some of them. Of course, this phone is not without flaws. The camera has some moments when it gives worse results than expected, and HTC’s software is sometimes too complicated. Generally, HTC One M8 is a great smartphone that can rock your world. Photos: htc.com