The 'All New HTC One" (aka the M8)

[Funk]

So with the official release of this getting closer, I thought I'd start a new thread so as not to derail or dilute the One thread.

The first images are out, @evleaks was first to the punch and is a reputable source:



The hardware keys are now on-screen (a first for HTC) and in line with 'pure' Android devices. I think it's a good thing, I've found it more convenient to have the keys migrate to the bottom of the screen in landscape mode on my Nexus 7.

Rumoured to be coming in silver, grey and gold. Here's the rumoured silver:



and the front of the grey:





First shots of what's rumoured to be Sense 6.0:



and apparently a 5.0" display (good in my book, I wouldn't want much larger on a phone).

Spec-wise here's what appears to be an AnTuTu test result for the M8:



Unless Samsung really pull it out of the bag with the S5 (and it's metal chassis'd), the new One will be my next phone when I come off-contract at the end of March.

I'll have mine in grey please!

[randlemarcus]

For those prone to screen breakage, it might be worth seeing if HTC push their "free screen replacement in the first six months" trial beyond the States...

[bazza white]

Its going to be a great phone, had I stayed on contract it's what i would have gone for from my one x. Sim free will be to expensive.

[The Nur]

randlemarcus said:

For those prone to screen breakage, it might be worth seeing if HTC push their "free screen replacement in the first six months" trial beyond the States...

If this One is as good as the old One (), it shouldn't be a problem. My One has been dropped on concrete a few times and I've never broken the screen (touch wood). The chassis has some scars but they file down quite nicely.

[Funk]

I'll be coming from a One X and I've had no issues at all with reliability from a build perspective, including a couple of drops (par for the course these days unfortunately, although a case helps enormously). I'm running 4.4.2 and Sense 5.0 (pinched from the One) which runs beautifully.

After years of 'on-contract' phones, I was frustrated with waiting for OTA updates from T-Mobile for the firmware - a right faff. I'll be getting a new phone on contract and instantly selling it on, adding that money to the money from my One X and getting the 'new One' I think. My tariff on T-M is an old Friends and Family one so it's really rather good VFM so it makes sense to get a 'free' phone out of it and I wouldn't be letting the tariff go anyway so happy to renew.

Really quite excited to see the final specs and official pictures from HTC on the 25th (given their marketing ramp-up, it seems that MWC will be the platform for launch - I only hope they don't have a huge gap between that and the in-shop dates).

[beko1987]

I broke the screen on my One at 3 months old All fixed now!

I agree that if the S5 isn't a great phone then this will be my fav, however if half the rumors about the S5 are true then it could be a second runner, which would be bad for HTC as they really need this to work from what I've read.

Saying that, there's nothing wrong with my One, I ca nsee no reason to need to upgrade. As soon as sense 6.0 is released I'll update my ROM, same with any new versions of android. My contract isnt up for another year and a bit, so I'll probably miss this one out. I know a colleague will get it though so can have a play!

[RizzoTheRat]

5" is bigger than the current One isn't it?

The big question to my mind is will they do a mini with the same specs or massively derate it like the current mini, in which case it looks like my next phone will be a Z1 Compact.

[The Nur]

The current One is 4.7" I think, may be 4.8"

[Funk]

The Nur said:

The current One is 4.7" I think, may be 4.8"

Yep, 4.7 currently, same as the One X.

[Altrezia]

Looks nice in that black photo. I think the HTC one was the best 'current gen' android phone, except the poor camera. Hopefully that be fixed with this update too.

That said, I've currently got an Xperia Z1 compact and I'm not sure I could go back to a 'big' phone..

[The Nur]

Agreed, I like the black one also.

[gr1340]

Camera 2.1mp/4.0mp?

[bodhi]

Seems to be similar specs to the Z1 with a much worse camera (if it's the same camera as the One)? I'd say that was a worry for HTC with the S5 and Z2 waiting in the wings....

[VEA]

Just checking in as I am still umming and arring over my next phone.

[mcflurry]

gr1340 said:

Camera 2.1mp/4.0mp?

More mega pixels isn't always better.
AFAIK they've gone for a better sensor and sensitivity instead.

IMHO 16megapixels in a phone's a bit like putting 1000 bhp in a commuting Focus. Great headlines, but without the drag strip, brakes and chassis, a bit pointless

[robsa]

I have the HTC one at the moment, and will be watching this with interest. Loads of people moan about the camera, but it's actually really good. It has built in ois , an f2.0 lens and takes pictures very quickly and in very low light. The galaxy takes better pictures in daylight if you have plenty of time to take a shot, but in every other situation the HTC is much better. Then there's the zoes and previews etc. I will be interested to see what they will be doing with the new one.

The S5 looks like it is keeping the same resolution screen after all, and won't have a 64 bit processor apparently...

Edited by robsa on Thursday 20th February 16:50

[bodhi]

mcflurry said:

More mega pixels isn't always better.
AFAIK they've gone for a better sensor and sensitivity instead.

IMHO 16megapixels in a phone's a bit like putting 1000 bhp in a commuting Focus. Great headlines, but without the drag strip, brakes and chassis, a bit pointless

Thousands of Lumia 1020 and Xperia Z1 owners would disagree with you there. I haven't seen many reviews that find this "Ultrapixel" camera anything but garbage frankly, and I don't see the one on this being any different.

[Funk]

There are also many who don't really care about the camera truth be told. It's certainly not high on my list of priorities and wouldn't be enough for me to dismiss the phone (or choose one on the basis of the camera being 'better' either).

Besides, people have these amazing cameras and then use apps to make the picture look really stty. It's bizarre.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 20th February 22:14

[Husaberk]

bodhi said:

Thousands of Lumia 1020 and Xperia Z1 owners would disagree with you there. I haven't seen many reviews that find this "Ultrapixel" camera anything but garbage frankly, and I don't see the one on this being any different.

Unless you've just arrived from a parallel dimension I seriously doubt you've read a review that labelled it's camera as "garbage". Most reviews I read before buying were fairly positive ie good but not great and a quick google sweep suggests not much has changed.

[VEA]

Husaberk said:

Unless you've just arrived from a parallel dimension I seriously doubt you've read a review that labelled it's camera as "garbage". Most reviews I read before buying were fairly positive ie good but not great and a quick google sweep suggests not much has changed.

I think he might be talking about the new phone, the one that isn't out yet, hasn't been reviewed yet, and full specs haven't been released for yet...