HTC One (M8) "TECHNOLOGY"

Sarah Tew/CNET Designwise, this certainly sets the bar high for any subsequent smartphone, let alone an HTC One follow-up. HTC unveiled a "Dot View Case" for the new One during its press conference. Not only was it sturdy and comfortable to grip, but thanks to a smoothly curved back and matte finish, its polished edges elevated the handset to an unprecedented level of luxury. For this latest rethink of Sense, version 6, the company says it has cleaned up the look of the Android skin to give it a freshened appearance.



The cover of this flip case contains a grid of holes, allowing a clock, weather forecast, and notifications of messages and calls on the screen below it to be displayed through the holes in a style resembling a dot matrix display. It's designed to pull in articles from a vetted pool of media outlets and websites, and then serve everything up fresh via one vertically scrolling panel. How-To options for the HTC One M8 Transform the HTC One M8 into a fitness tracker How to use the HTC One M8's camera 15 tips and tricks for the HTC One M8 The HTC One M8 must compete head-to-head against its archrival's freshest mobile machine, the Samsung Galaxy S5, and compete it does.

Where around 120g was the fashion a couple of years ago, now we're seeing heavier phones as designers try to meet a new paradigm (plus all that new technology needs to go somewhere, after all).

Another leak by @evleaks revealed an updated version of HTC Sense, retaining the BlinkFeed home screen, and depicting on-screen software buttons. As was common during the early years of Android, HTC manufactured a large number of exclusive devices customized for several major U.S. The device uses on-screen software buttons consisting of "Back", "Home", and "Recent apps" keys, instead of the pair of physical capacitive buttons used by the previous model. When the original HTC One hit the mobile scene last year, I was stunned by its sophisticated all-metal unibody chassis. For this latest rethink of Sense, version 6, the company says it has cleaned up the look of the Android skin to give it a freshened appearance.

However, Engadget praised HTC's focus on "selfies" with its 5-megapixel front-facing camera, and The Verge quipped that even its "ultimate selfie machine" took better photos than the rear-facing camera in many situations. The first, by a Russian website on Twitter, revealed the rear of the M8 and confirming early reports about its design and dual-camera layout, with a dual-tone flash. BlinkFeed pulls in news and social media info. The device will be launched in other areas across 230 carriers in over 100 countries through the end of April.

Even so, the bezel is not polished to the same eye-catching sheen as the first One was. The new device, officially called HTC One (M8) or the new HTC One, was unveiled during a press conference on March 24, 2014, that was held simultaneously in London and New York City. This new HTC One has even more metal. I'm in the latter camp, as my finger naturally sits on the left of the phone and I found it very easy to unlock the first One. This includes Gmail, Google plus social networking, the Chrome browser, and Drive file storage. Like its predecessor, the M8 brings a refined and beautiful software and speedy performance, all wrapped in a lithe and eye-catching aluminum skin.



Now not only do I have to shuffle along to find the power button, but whenever I do so I accidentally engage the volume key, meaning I always keep turning the ringtone up and down.

Frankly I'd never seen a handset look that good, and I've handled a lot of mobile phones. The One M8 is undeniably the most impressive handset the company has ever minted.

The lock screen offers more options. The main camera remained relatively unchanged, using an "UltraPixel" image sensor composed of pixels that are 2.0 µm in size.

Designwise, this certainly sets the bar high for any subsequent smartphone, let alone an HTC One follow-up. It’s made to be looked at, to be ogled and admired, but it’s also made to be used." However, some reviewers felt that its more rounded and polished chassis made the device feel more slippery to hold, and the curved edges made it harder to grip; some reviewers also criticized the increased height of the device. Be sure to check out our deep dive into the HTC One M8's upgraded audio prowess. Don't just take my word for it.

HTC's Sense UI just got a lot more colorful. If the original One was characterised by first-time users saying 'Wow, that feels lovely' the next iteration takes that message further. The phone also taps into the company's vast universe of media content via Google's Play digital storefront.

When I did this with my pair of Ray-Bans, the phone's screen in portrait orientation was dim to the point of being unreadable. Settings have a special highlight hue as well, say violet. As you'd expect from a smartphone churning such modern mobile software, the M8 has access to all of Google's bells and whistles. The result is a slippery, more friendly canvas for grease than its predecessor's matte back. While it can't produce the same deep blacks and vibrant colors conjured by the OLED displays you'll find in Samsung Galaxy handsets such as the Note 3 and GS4, the M8's IPS LCD has a lot going for it. Arguments that it makes it easier to slip in and out of the pocket don't hold water, and it makes the phone hard to hold in portrait when listening to music. That means that books, movie rentals and purchases, games, and the more than 1 million apps hawked by third-party developers are just a finger tap away.

In March 2014, a major leak occurred with the release of a 12-minute-long hands-on video by a YouTube user, detailing the device's HTC Sense 6.0 software and its inclusion of a microSD card slot. It's also worth mentioning that Samsung's similar My Magazine feature lacks this ability. As a result, HTC planned to "leverage the momentum" and critical success of the One to produce an updated version for 2014, expanding upon concepts introduced by the previous model.

A fourth theme takes the conservative approach, consisting mostly of black and white paired with a grayscale wallpaper. The HTC Share functionality has been replaced by a dedicated Zoe app, which allows users to collaborate on highlight reels.

The One M8 is undeniably the most impressive handset the company has ever minted.

Anand also praised the camera app and UI, as well as the effects processing such as the zoom and blur features, stating that the device was "an extremely versatile shooter," but noted deficiencies, such as the inadequate image quality and lack of image stabilization. Aesthetically speaking, the HTC One M8 runs rings around the GS5 with its elegant and intuitive Sense interface. It runs on a powerful quad-core processor and Android KitKat, the stereo speakers deliver excellent sound, and the depth-sensing camera brings a ton of useful features. The handset runs Google's Android 4.4.2 operating system, the latest iteration from the tech giant. Similarly to the previous model, the device's camera received mixed reviews. Ars Technica specifically considered them to be "poorly executed gimmicks".

The flagship version will be this metallic grey, although a silver version that evokes the previous model and a champagne / rose gold option will be both available too. The result is a slippery, more friendly canvas for grease than its predecessor's matte back. With a full HD resolution (1,920x1,080 pixels), photos, video, and text were also crisp on the phone's screen even if it has a marginally lower pixel density than the original One (which had the same number of pixels on a smaller 4.7-inch screen). For instance the M8's bezel (where the screen and phone edge meet) is alluringly reflective and convincingly conveys that you're holding a luxury handset. Also branded by HTC as BoomSound, these front-firing grilles belt out a ton of sound, at least for a mobile phone. The M8 also feels superbly solid, strong, and well-constructed.

The Good The HTC One M8's sumptuous aluminum body makes a beautiful background for this top-flight smartphone's brilliant 5-inch display. However, this brushed metal effect is stunning, and helps distance the One (M8) from its predecessor. As you'd expect from a smartphone churning such modern mobile software, the M8 has access to all of Google's bells and whistles. And unlike the first One, HTC says the One M8's chassis is truly built entirely from metal. It's heavier than the Galaxy S5, too (5.1 ounces/145 grams) even though the M8 lacks extra hardware such as a heart-rate monitor and fingerprint scanner. The device comes with either 16 or 32 GB of internal storage, and also includes a MicroSD slot for up to 128 GB of additional storage. Also branded by HTC as BoomSound, these front-firing grilles belt out a ton of sound, at least for a mobile phone. The One M8 remains thin even with beefed-up specs. Tipping the scales at 5.4 ounces (154.2 grams), the M8 understandably stands a little taller yet is just slightly heavier than the older One (5.04 ounces/142.9 grams). This includes Gmail, Google plus social networking, the Chrome browser, and Drive file storage. When I did this with my pair of Ray-Bans, the phone's screen in portrait orientation was dim to the point of being unreadable. That might be annoying for the more hardcore photographer, but most people will rarely, if ever, hot swap cards, so it just offers a cheap and easy way to increase the 16GB / 32GB onboard storage by up to 128GB. The overall design of the second generation One closely resembles the first generation, 2013 model, with a unibody aluminum frame and dual front-facing speakers, and a brushed metal backing. The operating system's camera interface was also streamlined, with a new menu for switching between photo, video, Zoe, and Pan 360 modes, and a revised settings interface. With a full HD resolution (1,920x1,080 pixels), photos, video, and text were also crisp on the phone's screen even if it has a marginally lower pixel density than the original One (which had the same number of pixels on a smaller 4.7-inch screen). It's to be expected, since HTC says it enhanced the M8's BoomSound audio system by cranking up the volume by 25 percent and improved its frequency range. It's the driving force behind the Google Wear operating system for smartwatches, clothing, and other wearable tech gear.Sense reenvisioned With every new flagship phone HTC retools its custom Sense interface and the launch of the One M8 is no different. All this adds up to a display that does justice to any visual content you choose to enjoy on the M8. It's designed to pull in articles from a vetted pool of media outlets and websites, and then serve everything up fresh via one vertically scrolling panel. Although it was once a leading manufacturer of smartphones in terms of market share, HTC has recently struggled in the wake of other vendors such as Samsung and Apple, due particularly to their wider marketing reach.





I can confirm, though, that the new HTC One M8 is one heck of a handsome device -- the sexiest smartphone I've seen all year, in fact (including the Galaxy S5 and the Sony Xperia Z2). Located on the bottom of the device are a micro USB 2.0 port supporting Qualcomm's QuickCharge 2.0 technology, a headphone jack, and the SIM card tray. The Bottom Line Elegant style, raw power, and sophisticated features make the HTC One M8 an excellent smartphone choice for anyone but the most exacting photographer.

The BoomSound stereo speakers from the were also improved, with deeper enclosures, a larger amplifier, and an updated DSP for improved sound quality.

The hardware of the second-generation model was upgraded in comparison to its predecessor, using a 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 with 2 GB of RAM, and a 5.0-inch, 1080p Super LCD 3 touchscreen display with a pixel density of 441 ppi, protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 3 with a scratch-resistance coating.

The company also planned to release a "much broader spectrum of products" in 2014, by placing an increased focus on the mid-range smartphone market with devices such as the Desire 816.

The improved use of metal in the chassis really works, and the shape is updated without losing any of the heritage of last year's popular model.

That means that books, movie rentals and purchases, games, and the more than 1 million apps hawked by third-party developers are just a finger tap away.



Frankly I'd never seen a handset look that good, and I've handled a lot of mobile phones. The HTC One M8 must compete head-to-head against its arch-rival's freshest mobile machine, the Samsung Galaxy S5, and compete it does.

Located at the top of the device are the power button and IR blaster; the power button was moved to the right side, while the IR blaster is no longer integrated with it, and is instead being housed behind a plastic band. A surprising feature HTC unveiled with the previous One last year was BlinkFeed, a magazine-like news aggregator in the vein of Flipboard. By contrast the company explained the original One's body was 70 percent aluminum, the rest being plastic. It wasn't a commercial success in the same vein as the iPhone 5S or the Samsung Galaxy S4, but it was critically superior. David Pierce of The Verge described the design as " wonderfully rare mix between the beauty of the old One and the unabashed utility of a phone like the Galaxy S4. A new system called "Motion Launch" was added that allows users to turn on the display by double-tapping it while picking up the device, and allows unlocking directly to BlinkFeed, the home screen, or voice dialing mode using various motion activated-gestures; pressing the volume button while holding the phone horizontally will launch the camera app. BlinkFeed is set as the leftmost home screen, though unlike the first iteration of the feature (later fixed in Sense 5.5), users can disable it if they find no use for the function. Some words of warning though; if you choose to view the One M8's screen in the great outdoors, I suggest you do so without polarized sunglasses. The addition of a microSD slot is inspired, and while I can't say I'll ever get on board with the headphone jack being on the bottom, it's something that you can live with. I admit these are minor issues and nitpicking on my part since the M8 brings important design improvements to the HTC One franchise. The second-generation One received mostly positive reviews from critics. An "extreme power saving mode" was also added, which caps CPU usage and disables non-essential applications, services, and sensors to conserve battery life when running low; the mode only allows access to the phone, messaging, e-mail, calendar, and calculator apps, and disables multitasking. Dubbed the "sixth Sense", it builds upon the design of Sense 5 with a more minimal design, color themes, and optimizations for larger screens and Android 4.4's transparency features. I've argued with a few people about this, as it seems that some people prefer this orientation where others find it incredibly hard to hit.

The device ships with a customized version of Android 4.4.2 "KitKat", utilizing version 6.0 of the HTC Sense software suite. And in other ways the M8 is just as beautiful as its predecessor. Additionally the M8 sports a pair of powerful stereo speakers that flank the display. The phone was released on the same day shortly after the press conference, and Verizon Wireless began offering the new One at its retail outlets while a number of major carriers in Canada and the United States began offering the device for purchase online with broad retail availability in North America set for April 10. The Bad The One M8’s battery is not user-removable, making it harder to replace once the battery inevitably wears out. Additionally, BlinkFeed is no longer mapped to phone's home button as it was on the original One device. HTC needs to sort out its efforts in the mid-to-low smartphone arena, but that's a topic for a different day. Essentially the overall layout of Sense 6 remains the same. Brian Bennett/CNET One subtle tweak HTC made to Sense are colors coded to major phone features and their palette of hues coordinated with themes you select from the M8's settings menu. While HTC's latest creation is more conservatively styled than the previous One, it has a look that's just as premium. The brand needed a reboot, and the HTC One was just that. What's more, though the M8 may lack every bell and whistle that Samsung packs into its phones, it matches the GS5 on almost every feature that really matters, from processing speed to user interface. Layered on top of that is HTC's most recent revamp of its Sense UI, version 6 (see next section). Notably the phone's screen is now larger -- 5 inches across (as opposed to the HTC One's 4.7-inch screen). Layered on top of that is HTC's most recent revamp of its Sense UI, version 6 (see next section). The One (M8) improves on that massively, making everything easier to find in the pocket or bag and tap. The second generation One received mostly positive reviews, with particular praise devoted to the design improvements within its hardware and software, and its upgraded internals in comparison to the previous One. I admit these are minor issues and nitpicking on my part since the M8 brings important design improvements to the HTC One franchise. What's more, though the M8 may lack every bell and whistle that Samsung packs into its phones, it matches the GS5 on almost every feature that really matters, from processing speed to user interface. Despite the phone's larger display, the device remains roughly the same size, thickness, and weight. For instance the M8's bezel (where the screen and phone edge meet) is alluringly reflective and convincingly conveys that you're holding a luxury handset. It uses a gorgeous all-aluminum body that flaunts a similar curved backing. It's to be expected, since HTC says it enhanced the M8's BoomSound audio system by cranking up the volume by 25 percent and improved its frequency range. Tipping the scales at 5.4 ounces (154.2 grams), the M8 understandably stands a little taller yet is just slightly heavier than the older One (5.04 ounces/142.9 grams). Indeed this gray M8's slicker texture doesn't wick away moisture quite as effectively. Flipping the One M8 into landscape position wasn't a problem and the display was just as bright as usual under these conditions.Software and interface Premium design isn't the only ace in the One M8's hand. Premium design isn't the only ace in the One M8's hand. Don't just take my word for it. The fallout is that both the silver and gold versions of the M8 lack the gray model's slippery feel. It provides insightful reminders, suggestions, and directions automatically based on your past search history, time, and location data. Having something that feels premium is incredibly important when you're spending so much on a phone per month, and while the iPhone is beautiful in its metal casing, it's too light to feel like you're getting something really premium. This is probably the most significant change, along with the fact the back and sides are now more curved, as it brings a really impressive feel in the hand. The difference here between the One (M8) and the iPhone 5S - the two phones that lead the way in the design stakes - is weight and screen size. And unlike the first One, HTC says the One M8's chassis is truly built entirely from metal. It's no coincidence that smartphones are packing on the grams a little bit these days. One area I'm really happy about is the button travel, as the original One has very flat keys that were hard to find and press. The main camera is accompanied by a second, 2-megapixel depth of field sensor located directly above the main camera as a part of the device's "Duo Camera" system. Only the camera and its ever-so-slightly muddy shots give me pause. There's a subconscious reaction when you pick up something for the first time, a natural expectation of how it might feel in the hand, and the HTC One (M8), with its 9.35mm thickness and 160g weight, marries those two very well. Even better, the M8 is definitely louder and produces sound with way more presence than last year's model. The HTC One M8 must compete head-to-head against its arch-rival's freshest mobile machine, the Samsung Galaxy S5, and compete it does. All this adds up to a display that does justice to any visual content you choose to enjoy on the M8. Sarah Tew/CNET To be clear, the One M8 comes in two additional colors (silver and gold) that don't sport the brushed-metal pattern (which HTC calls "hairline").

It's heavier than the Galaxy S5, too (5.1 ounces/145 grams) even though the M8 lacks extra hardware such as a heart-rate monitor and fingerprint scanner.Display From the moment I picked up the HTC One M8, I knew its big 5-inch screen was high-quality. Specifically these are admirably wide viewing angles, a pleasing amount of brightness, plus rich colors.



The brand took great pains to point out that the One (M8) is a phone that builds on the heritage of last year's One, but improves in just about every arena.

While it was critically acclaimed, the launch of the One (despite being been deemed the best in the company's history by the president of its North American division) was hindered by supply chain issues, and was ultimately deemed to be commercially unsuccessful.



The fallout is that both the silver and gold versions of the M8 lack the gray model's slippery feel. Bundled with my HTC One M8 unit were three color themes: one was greenish-blue, the second warmer orange and reds, and the third skewed to electric purples and violets (my favorite). Likewise, the leftmost screen is occupied by the BlinkFeed news aggregator; thankfully HTC gives you the option to turn the service off if you don't want it. You have numerous home screens to customize to your heart's content (though now five instead of the six that were in Sense 5.5) with app shortcuts and widgets. KitKat brings a cleaner, less cluttered layout, tighter integration with Google search, plus faster performance (especially on devices with lower specs). Brian Bennett/CNET The biggest change to BlinkFeed is that you now have the option to search for and add custom topics to the service. Indeed this gray M8's slicker texture doesn't wick away moisture quite as effectively. Some words of warning though; if you choose to view the One M8's screen in the great outdoors, I suggest you do so without polarized sunglasses. Frankly it's a welcome enhancement that helps BlinkFeed approach Flipboard's level of customization. For example if you want to keep apprised of the latest developments in nuclear fusion, or perhaps news around aviation, BlinkFeed will do its best to return related results.



What's more, though the M8 may lack every bell and whistle that Samsung packs into its phones, it matches the GS5 on almost every feature that really matters, from processing speed to user interface. The handset runs Google's Android 4.4.2 operating system, the latest iteration from the tech giant. The M8 also feels superbly solid, strong, and well-constructed. With every new flagship phone HTC retools its custom Sense interface and the launch of the One M8 is no different.

The sensor analyzes the distance and position of elements within a photo, and generates a depth map, which is embedded within each photo. While it received praise for its low-light capabilities, faster autofocus, along with the updates to HTC's camera software, the camera was criticized for not showing any notable improvements in image quality over the previous model, producing soft-looking images that only looked acceptable at small sizes due to aggressive noise-reduction and inadequate software processing. Unlike the 2013 One, the 2014 One uses nano-SIM cards to save internal space, and with the possibility of dual SIM models in mind. The biggest change to BlinkFeed is that you now have the option to search for and add custom topics to the service. Additionally the M8 sports a pair of powerful stereo speakers that flank the display.

It runs on a powerful quad-core processor and Android KitKat, the stereo speakers deliver excellent sound, and the depth-sensing camera brings a ton of useful features. For instance the phone dialer and messaging functions may have a blue header while the gallery app is marked with a purple strip across the top of the screen. In 2013, HTC chose to release a single flagship device, the HTC One, across multiple carriers, and handled much of its marketing and promotion. carriers, who took on the role of marketing them. You'll find the futuristic Google Now personal notification system onboard, too, either in widget form or launched by swiping upward from the bottom of the screen.

The slot isn't that easy to access on the fly, as like the nanoSIM port it needs a small tool to pop open the drawer. KitKat brings a cleaner, less cluttered layout, tighter integration with Google search, plus faster performance (especially on devices with lower specs). It uses a gorgeous all-aluminum body that flaunts a similar curved backing. Aesthetically speaking, the HTC One M8 runs rings around the GS5 with its elegant and intuitive Sense interface.

HTC continued to lose market share, and in October 2013, had its first ever quarterly loss—which it attributed to poor marketing. Brian Bennett/CNET You'll find the futuristic Google Now personal notification system onboard, too, either in widget form or launched by swiping upward from the bottom of the screen. Unlike the previous model, the camera does not support optical image stabilization, as developers deemed it to be "incompatible" with the new depth sensor system.

Bundled with my HTC One M8 unit were three color themes: one was greenish-blue, the second warmer orange and reds, and the third skewed to electric purples and violets (my favorite). It's also worth mentioning that Samsung's similar My Magazine feature lacks this ability. It provides insightful reminders, suggestions, and directions automatically based on your past search history, time, and location data. It's the driving force behind the Google Wear operating system for smartwatches, clothing, and other wearable tech gear. In January 2014, Bloomberg News reported that the M8 would carry a similar design to the previous model, but with a larger screen of at least 5 inches in size, and that the phone would feature two camera sensors to provide better focus, depth of field and image quality. In the United States, the gold model will be carried exclusively by the retailer Best Buy. The industrial design of the new One was considered to be more "premium" looking than the previous model, and more comfortable to hold due to its more curved shape.

However, some reviewers criticized certain aspects of the new One, such as its large bezels, the lack of significant improvements to the main camera's image quality, and the inconsistent quality of the effects enabled by the depth sensor. It also incorporates a sensor hub for discrete motion tracking. A Google Play edition with stock Android was also released which has been update to Android 4.4.3 "KitKat". Additionally, BlinkFeed is no longer mapped to phone's home button as it was on the original One device. The power button is still on the top of the phone, which I can live with, but it's been moved from the left to the right side. And in other ways the M8 is just as beautiful as its predecessor. The phone also taps into the company's vast universe of media content via Google's Play digital storefront. It is available in grey, silver, and amber gold color options. Sarah Tew/CNET Despite the phone's larger display, the device remains roughly the same size, thickness, and weight. Not only was it sturdy and comfortable to grip, but thanks to a smoothly curved back and matte finish, its polished edges elevated the handset to an unprecedented level of luxury. The HTC One M8 must compete head-to-head against its archrival's freshest mobile machine, the Samsung Galaxy S5, and compete it does.

Unlike the previous model, however, its frame incorporates smaller amounts of polycarbonate, electing for a fully metal construction with a more curved shape (rather than a plastic bezel). The HTC One M8 is one lovely phone. What's more, though the M8 may lack every bell and whistle that Samsung packs into its phones, it matches the GS5 on almost every feature that really matters, from processing speed to user interface. The UltraPixel sensor was updated to provide better color accuracy in lit photographs, and the device now includes a dual-tone flash. The previous design had been panned by critics for being irregular, and causing a black bar to occur on-screen if an app required the deprecated "Menu" key in violation of Android human interface guidelines.



The TV app was updated to include live sports statistics and "Fan Talk", which allows users to track and join conversations relating to TV programs on Twitter. Only the camera and its ever-so-slightly muddy shots give me pause.

It was replaced by "smart stabilization" features enabled by the depth sensor. The HTC One (M8) is a phone that's supposed to offer the best of the smartphone market, one that will survive the onslaught of the iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S5, while preserving HTC's heritage and bringing the bottom line closer to something more healthy. The metal chassis is still there, and the aluminium casing now makes up 90% of the frame, up from about 70% previously. This is the same criticism I had with the first One, and it got sorted after a couple of months, but I'd expect a phone of this calibre to have every part of the device locked into place - a rattle ruins things a little bit. Anand Lal Shimpi of AnandTech praised the look and feel of the device, Sense 6.0, and the better power efficiency with the Snapdragon 801. The Good The HTC One M8's sumptuous aluminum body makes a beautiful background for this top-flight smartphone's brilliant 5-inch display. BlinkFeed was updated with a revised design, which no longer displays a weather clock, and will now allow third-party developers to add content sources through an SDK; Fitbit (whose app, also pre-loaded on the device, can integrate with its sensor hub as a pedometer) and Foursquare were announced as the launch partners for the SDK. In February 2014, a number of leaks occurred. Ars Technica also criticized HTC for not using its shift towards software buttons to reduce the size of the device's bezel, noting that they did not remove the black strip below the screen where the previous, physical buttons were. The Duo Camera functionality received similarly mixed reaction; while critics felt that the effects could be considered fun and useful by end-users, the effects themselves (particularly the refocus effect) were panned for not having any positive effect on overall image quality, and for having inconsistent quality themselves.

The headphone jack has been moved to the bottom of the phone, which will anger some users. However, the keys still feel a little plastic and have a little bit of wiggle when rocked back and forth. I can confirm, though, that the new HTC One M8 is one heck of a handsome device -- the sexiest smartphone I've seen all year, in fact (including the Galaxy S5 and the Sony Xperia Z2). Flipping the One M8 into landscape position wasn't a problem and the display was just as bright as usual under these conditions. While HTC's latest creation is more conservatively styled than the previous One, it has a look that's just as premium. Think of the HTC One M8 as the big-budget sequel to an Oscar-winning indie film. The Bad The One M8’s battery is not user-removable, making it harder to replace once the battery inevitably wears out. Even better, the M8 is definitely louder and produces sound with way more presence than last year's model. The phone's sealed chassis is not water-resistant, and the One M8's photos look less sharp than competitors'. Notably the phone's screen is now larger -- 5 inches across (as opposed to the HTC One's 4.7-inch screen). This year, HTC needs a rip-roaring box-office hit with its flagship phone.

While the it is the same thickness as the previous model, it is slightly heavier due to the differences in its construction.

Aesthetically speaking, the HTC One M8 runs rings around the GS5 with its elegant and intuitive Sense interface. Only the camera and its ever-so-slightly muddy shots give me pause.Design When the original HTC One hit the mobile scene last year, I was stunned by its sophisticated all-metal unibody chassis. Frankly it's a welcome enhancement that helps BlinkFeed approach Flipboard's level of customization. BlinkFeed is set as the leftmost home screen, though unlike the first iteration of the feature (later fixed in Sense 5.5), users can disable it if they find no use for the function. For example if you want to keep apprised of the latest developments in nuclear fusion, or perhaps news around aviation, BlinkFeed will do its best to return related results. Ultimately, he stated that the new HTC One "is an upgrade in so many areas, but lacked a substantial step forward in primary camera quality.". Like its predecessor, the M8 brings a refined and beautiful software and speedy performance, all wrapped in a lithe and eye-catching aluminum skin. By contrast the company explained the original One's body was 70 percent aluminum, the rest being plastic. The phone's sealed chassis is not water-resistant, and the One M8's photos look less sharp than competitors'. I also found the back surface of my M8 review device, though lovingly minted in a classy brushed-metal motif, smoother than the old HTC One, which had a roughness almost like a ceramic bowl. Last year's HTC One won rave reviews and obsessed fans, but not enough customers to keep HTC growing. Only the camera and its ever-so-slightly muddy shots give me pause. To be clear, the One M8 comes in two additional colors (silver and gold) that don't sport the brushed-metal pattern (which HTC calls "hairline"). I still think this is an unintuitive place to add the port, as I've become used to having it at the top. I also found the back surface of my M8 review device, though lovingly minted in a classy brushed-metal motif, smoother than the old HTC One, which had a roughness almost like a ceramic bowl. Be sure to check out our deep dive into the HTC One M8's upgraded audio prowess. Even so, the bezel is not polished to the same eye-catching sheen as the first One was. A fourth theme takes the conservative approach, consisting mostly of black and white paired with a grayscale wallpaper.BlinkFeed sees further A surprising feature HTC unveiled with the previous One last year was BlinkFeed, a magazine-like news aggregator in the vein of Flipboard. Aesthetically speaking, the HTC One M8 runs rings around the GS5 with its elegant and intuitive Sense interface.