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REVIEWS 35 DEVICE REVIEW
HTC milks every last drop of performance from its chip set, although the handset does get a little warm under heavy processing duress. The One (M8) boasts 40 per cent
improved battery life over its older sibling.
HTC claims it’s capable of 20 hours of 3G talk time and 496 hours of 3G standby (although the handset is 4G-enabled).
After a thorough day of testing, it was still left with a 50 per cent charge. There’s also an “extreme power saving
mode” that deactivates just about every feature when the power level dips to a percentile of your choice: 5 per cent, 10 per cent or 20 per cent. Then the One (M8) can last another 15 hours with conservative use.
Storage Storage space was a major problem for the original One, as its unibody build didn’t allow for expandable memory; once you bought the 32GB or 64GB handset, that was your lot. Fortunately, the One (M8) has a microSD card expansion slot capable of up to 128GB extra storage. There’s a chance you might need
it, too, as the handset comes with an unusual amount of system software. This software is integral to the operation of the device and is irremovable, meaning that should you purchase the 16GB model, you only get 10GB of usable space; if you purchase the 32GB model, you can only use 24GB. That’s an awful lot of space consumed, and higher than average.
This clutter could be something to
do with Sense 6.0, HTC’s operating system overlay running on the handset. While the One (M8) runs the latest Android, 4.4 KitKat software, Sense is what distinguishes it from competitors that also run on Android. A lot of subtle nips and tucks help streamline the operating system, but by far the biggest addition is BlinkFeed.
Apps & features BlinkFeed permanently inhabits the space one swipe to the left of your Android homescreen, and is designed to be a one-stop news hub tailored to the user. It works a lot like your typical Facebook newsfeed, only instead of being full of banal status updates
One (M8) camera uses UltraPixel technology that uses pixels twice as big as those on other top smartphones
from people you don’t care about, it’s packed with the latest news from your favourite outlets. You can choose highlights from
categories such as sport, politics and tech, or go about selecting individual sources such as The Guardian, Gawker and Gizmodo, as well as integrating your social media accounts. The result is a constantly updating flow of news that is always relevant and interesting to you. News is seamlessly collaged with
tweets from people you follow and content from your favourite websites. Once you get used to having news a flick of the thumb away, you won’t want to go back to consuming information any other way.
The One (M8) also has a variety of
gesture controls to make unlocking your phone more intuitive than ever. It might sound silly, but think how impractical the current method of unlocking your phone is. No matter what your handset, chances are you have to press at least one button before swiping the phone once or twice, as well as entering some sort of password. With Sense on the One (M8), you
now have a variety of ways to unlock your phone. Perhaps most useful is the “knock to wake” feature: double-tap the display to bring up the lock screen – perfect if you just want to check the
time or your messages. To unlock your screen quickly, swipe in any one of four directions. Each direction takes you to a different screen: the homescreen, widget panel, BlinkFeed or voice-dialling screen. Meanwhile, holding up your locked phone in landscape and pressing the volume button opens the camera.
Camera Ah yes, the camera. You’ll find two lenses, a large one placed below a smaller one. Except the smaller isn’t a second lens – it’s a sensor. This sensor grants the One (M8) depth perception, meaning photographs no longer need to be focused. The phone simply captures an image and you can apply focusing and blurring afterwards. This also opens up a whole new world of possibilities for post-effects, as the phone can now intelligently distinguish depth of field. The lens itself is only 4MP, although perhaps not in the sense that you’re used to. HTC’s cameras are actually all UltraPixel. They use pixels twice the usual size, which capture three times as much light and are three times as sensitive. It’s a tough comparison to comprehend if you’re not a fully literate tech geek, but it performs at a
HTC One of a kind? How the M8 compares with its rivals
similar level to the iPhone 5S, Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2 cameras (see camera comparison below). Unlike the Xperia Z2, the One (M8)
doesn’t support 4K video capture as it requires at least eight native megapixels. You’ll have to settle for 1,080p-resolution HD instead. It’s more than enough for now, although as technology rapidly progresses, it might soon become insufficient. At 5MP, the One (M8) has the best front-facing camera out there, so if selfies are your thing, you’re all set.
While the One (M8) offers decent
video, audio is where it truly excels. The One was possibly the loudest phone on the market, thanks to its dual front-facing BoomSound speakers. The One (M8) has the same set-up, but takes it even further.
BoomSound has been enhanced for greater clarity, and the difference is astonishing. At maximum volume, the sound from the speakers is almost deafening, and the two speakers at either end of the display produce a stereo effect like listening through headphones. There’s plenty of bass without losing middle and top end, and there’s no distortion or crackling, even at the highest volume.
Conclusion Make no mistake, the top-of-the-line technology of the One (M8) doesn’t come cheap, but at £530, it’s no more expensive than any other of this year’s flagship devices.
Those of you with the money to spare
Samsung Galaxy S5
Processor Storage OS
RAM
Screen size Resolution
Dimensions Weight
Quad-core 2.5GHz 16/32GB
Android 4.4.2 2GB
5.1 inches 1,080 x 1,920 pixels
Camera 16MP (rear), 2MP (front) Price
£569
142 x 72.5 x 8.1mm 177g
Apple iPhone 5s
64-bit quad-core A7 16/32/64GB iOS 7 1GB
4 inches 630 x 1,136 pixels Sony Xperia Z2
Quad-core 2.3GHz 16/32GB
Android 4.4 3GB
5.2 inches 1,080 x 1,920 pixels £599 LG G Flex
Quad-core 2.2GHz 32GB
Android 4.2.2 2GB
6 inches 720 x 1,280 pixels
8MP (rear), 1.2MP (front) 20.7MP (rear), 2.2MP (front) 13MP (rear), 2.1MP (front) £549
£575
123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm 112g
146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2mm 163g
160.5 x 81.6 x 7.9mm 177g
HTC One M8
Quad-core 2.3GHz 16/32GB
Android 4.4.2 2GB
5 inches 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
16MP (rear), 2MP (front) £530
146.36 x 70.6 x 9.35mm 160g
needn’t worry though, as it’s worth every penny. HTC has done well to push its phone out before the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2 as – at least until their imminent release – the One (M8) is the best smartphone money can buy. Arriving early established HTC’s initial dominance within the Android smartphone marketplace, and this punctuality could see it reclaiming the crown once more. Samsung, Sony and Apple should
beware – by the time they release their new handsets, there might not be anyone left to sell them to.
Verdict
The HTC One (M8) is, in all probability, the best smartphone ever made. It both looks and performs better than almost everything else out there. Features such as Blinkfeed and knock-to-wake are a joy to use. If Apple, Sony and Samsung weren’t paying attention before, they certainly will be now. Callum Tennent, What Mobile
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