Review of the smartphone HTC One (M8): the most metallic. HTC One (M8) review

HTC is an amazing company. Just five years ago, it was an example of a successful smartphone manufacturer, and today it barely manages to count losses. Exactly one year ago, the One phone appeared on the market, designed, if not to save, then at least to help the Taiwanese in competition with Samsung and Apple.

The model received a lot of flattering reviews and, not without reason, became the most awarded smartphone. All the more strange is the fact that, despite the affection of buyers and journalists, the Taiwanese flagship could not improve the financial situation of its manufacturer. Corporation losses reached $62 million, and the market share fell to a meager 2%.

One's phenomenon is that an all-around great phone didn't sell well enough. The reason for this was mainly the high price and microscopic marketing costs compared to competitors. The company had no choice but to release an even cooler smartphone. Let's see if it worked out.

Design

Today, it is especially clear how many players in the smartphone market have found a recognizable design for their products. You can confuse Galaxy of different generations and models, but in general, Samsung's plastic rounded devices are identified at a glance. Also noteworthy are flagship phones from Sony, Nokia, Apple, and now HTC.

The Taiwanese adopted the tactics of the "apple" corporation: the design of One (M8), apart from minor improvements, remained the same. And it is right. Last year's version of the flagship itself was very attractive, but the new model has become even more beautiful. Without exaggeration and exaggeration, the updated One can safely be called the prettiest Android smartphone.

During the presentation of the device, the head of the Taiwanese corporation compared it with an expensive watch. The One (M8) really looks like a premium product. This time there are no compromises in the form of plastic strips: now the bottom end and sidewalls are neat roundings of a single piece of aluminum.

There is very little plastic left - there are only two thin strips on the back panel. There is also a black plastic panel on the top end. Nothing can be done - all this is necessary for the normal operation of wireless modules.

It is curious that, unlike last year's flagship, the new One does not use metal, but plastic inserts above and below the screen. It is difficult to say why the manufacturer took such a step. It is possible that this is due to the complaints of some users about peeling pads. Perhaps the plastic is more securely attached to the base.

In all respects, the novelty has become more accurate than its predecessor. The slim metal volume button is perfect in every way, from placement to crisp feel. The appearance of the audio jack, which has moved to the lower edge, no longer suffers from chipping, and the nanoSIM and microSD trays look so organic that they do not disturb the perception of the body's solidity.

Fixed a control system that was not to everyone's liking in the 2013 One. There are no touch buttons in the new device at all, virtual keys are used instead. They are implemented perfectly, but we will dwell on them in more detail when considering the functionality of the smartphone.

Due to the increased diagonal of the display, the novelty has become noticeably larger than last year's model - almost a centimeter longer, a couple of millimeters wider and a little bit thicker (9.4 mm versus 9.3). Weight increased from 143 to 160 g.

The novelty can take good pictures, but not the first or even the third time. You need to shoot several identical shots, so that later you can choose something of more or less quality from them. Fortunately, the shooting speed is instantaneous. The main thing is that later you have enough free time to select photos.

One (M8) cameras are more than enough for Instagram and other network services. However, in general, the photo capabilities of the device do not compete with the cameras of other flagships.

This is especially disappointing, given the software and hardware functionality of the PV module. So, the smartphone can change the focus in ready-made shots. This feature is realized thanks to an additional camera that acts as a scene depth sensor. The sensor determines the distance to the objects captured by the lens, after which the system only needs to change the focus depending on the object specified by the user.

Post Focus Examples

The post-focus function works much better than in the Galaxy S5. In the case of One (M8), you do not have to maintain a distance of half a meter, select a separate shooting mode and wait a few seconds to process a photo. The device from HTC does everything instantly. The main thing here is not to obscure the scene depth sensor, which, when the smartphone is placed horizontally, is right under the finger.

The final result largely depends on the shooting conditions. If there are many objects in the frame at different distances from the camera, you should not expect that the device will be able to perfectly set the focus in all cases. Blurring is present in the frame in spots, there can be no talk of correct focus here. In the “correct” composition, using the post-focus function, you can take spectacular pictures.

Shooting in low light conditions

Photo with animated sakura petals overlay

Other effects are also applied to finished photos, many of which also use data received by the depth sensor. You can, for example, retouch the background, insert animated sakura leaves, dandelions, maple leaves or snow. You can also copy the image of a person on one frame and paste it into another, move prepared objects (hats, hats, mustaches, horns, glasses, etc.) to the picture. The 3D function turned out to be very funny, imitating a three-dimensional effect when the photo is tilted.

Photo with overlay of prepared objects

Shot with retouched background

Most of these functions are pampering, but for entertainment with friends it will do.

Functionality

Smartphone One (M8) is running the latest version of Android 4.4.2 to date with a proprietary interface Sense 6.0. The shell is good. It does not have a pile of unnecessary services and applications, but it works very quickly and is designed in a slightly concise, but very attractive style. Unlike some Korean devices, good taste is shown here both in the exterior and in the interior.

The BlinkFeed news feed is now less intrusive than the previous One. The number of desktops has increased from 5 to 6, and the news content aggregator no longer occupies the default home screen. Moreover, the functionality of BlinkFeed has also changed for the better: the number of news sources, including Russian-language ones, has increased, the design of the feed has improved, and the capabilities of the service have been improved. Now BlinkFeed is even quite possible to use.

The set of built-in applications is small and not of particular interest. There was a children's mode, the ability to control the TV through the infrared port, there was a program for working with Fitbit fitness bracelets.

One of the most interesting and useful innovations of the One (M8) firmware is the Motion Launch gesture control system. The developers did not copy the functions of other manufacturers that work through a stump deck (like eye tracking), but created an intuitive control service using gestures. A smartphone user can turn it on by double tapping on the display.

Swipe left, right, down, and up to open the widget panel, launch BlinkFeed, activate voice dialing or unlock the device. If in horizontal position phone, press the volume button, the camera will start. We have seen similar functionality in other flagship smartphones. In the One (M8) model, it is implemented no better and no worse - it is convenient to work, although rare accidental triggering is not ruled out.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.

Width Width information refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	70.6 mm (millimeters) 7.06 cm (centimeters) 0.23 ft 2.78in
Height Height information refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	146.36 mm (millimeters) 14.64 cm (centimeters) 0.48 ft 5.76in
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	9.35 mm (millimeters) 0.94 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft 0.37in
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	160 g (grams) 0.35 lbs 5.64oz
Volume Approximate volume of the device, calculated from dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	96.61 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 5.87 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which it is offered for sale this device.	Silver Grey Golden Red
Housing materials The materials used to make the body of the device.	Aluminium alloy Plastic

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often referred to as a 2G mobile network. It is enhanced by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.	GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz
CDMA CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) is a channel access method used in communications in mobile networks. Compared to other 2G and 2.5G standards such as GSM and TDMA, it provides higher data transfer rates and the ability to connect more consumers at the same time.	CDMA 800 MHz CDMA 1900 MHz
CDMA2000 CDMA2000 is a group of 3G mobile network standards based on CDMA. Their benefits include a stronger signal, fewer network outages and interruptions, analog signal support, wide spectrum coverage, and more.	1xEV-DO Rel. 0 1xEV-DO Rev. A 1xRTT
UMTS UMTS is short for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is to provide more speed and spectral efficiency with W-CDMA technology.	UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz
LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent development of technologies is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 700 MHz Class 17 LTE 800 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1700/2100 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz

Mobile technologies and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out through technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

The operating system is the system software that manages and coordinates the operation of the hardware components in the device.

SoC (System on a Chip)

System on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device in one chip.

SoC (System on a Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AB v3
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers measures half the distance between the elements in the processor.	28 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications.	Krait 400
Processor bit depth The bit depth (bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands by which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Level 0 Cache (L0) Some processors have an L0 (level 0) cache that is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such a memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption.	4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes)
First level cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently accessed data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and much faster than system memory, and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for them in the L2 cache. With some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes)
Second level cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but in return it has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or RAM.	2048 KB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing many instructions to be executed in parallel.	4
Processor clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	2300 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. In mobile devices, it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	Qualcomm Adreno 330
Number of cores GPU Like the CPU, the GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical calculations of different applications.	4
GPU clock speed Speed ​​is the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	578 MHz (megahertz)
The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted.	2 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR3
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means higher data rates.	dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its speed, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data.	933 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has a built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed amount.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.	Super LCD 3
Diagonal For mobile devices, the screen size is expressed in terms of its diagonal length, measured in inches.	5 in 127 mm (millimeters) 12.7 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate Screen Width	2.45in 62.26 mm (millimeters) 6.23 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate Screen Height	4.36in 110.69 mm (millimeters) 11.07 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.778:1 16:9
Permission Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail.	1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail.	441ppi (pixels per inch) 173ppm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for the color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen space on the front of the device.	66.91% (percentage)
Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen.	capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistance
	Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Oleophobic (lipophobic) coating

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.

rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.

Sensor type	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Sensor size Information about the size of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with a larger sensor and lower pixel density offer better image quality despite lower resolution.	5.44 x 3.07 mm (millimeters) 0.25in
Pixel size Pixels are usually measured in microns. Larger pixels are capable of capturing more light and therefore provide better low-light shooting and a wider dynamic range than smaller pixels. On the other hand, smaller pixels allow higher resolution while maintaining the same sensor size.	2.024 µm (micrometers) 0.002024 mm (millimeters)
crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the size of a full-frame sensor (36 x 24mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35mm film) and the size of the device's photosensor. The number shown is the diagonal ratio of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor specific device.	6.93
Svetlosila	f/2
Focal length Focal length indicates the distance in millimeters from the sensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length (35mm) is the focal length of a mobile device camera that is equal to the focal length of a 35mm full-frame sensor that would achieve the same angle of view. It is calculated by multiplying the actual focal length of the mobile device's camera by the crop factor of its sensor. The crop factor can be defined as the ratio between the 35mm diagonals of a full-frame sensor and a mobile device sensor.	4.04 mm (millimeters) 27.98 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape.	Double LED
Image resolution	2688 x 1520 pixels 4.09 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
	30 fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.	autofocus Digital Image Stabilization geo tags panoramic shooting HDR shooting Touch focus Face recognition Adjusting the white balance ISO setting
	720p@120fps duo camera

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a PTZ camera, a cutout or hole in the display, a camera under the display.

Sensor type Information about the type of camera sensor. Some of the most widely used sensor types in mobile device cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, etc.	CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Svetlosila Luminosity (also known as f-stop, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the size of a lens aperture that determines the amount of light that enters the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Usually, the number f is indicated, which corresponds to the maximum possible aperture of the aperture.	f/2.8
Image resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, giving an approximate number of pixels in millions.	2688 x 1520 pixels 4.09 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about top speed recording (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.	30 fps (frames per second)

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about navigation and location technologies supported by the device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between different types of devices over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to communicate.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio/video interface that replaces older analog audio/video standards.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the key features and standards supported by the device's browser.

HTML HTML5 CSS 3

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support various audio file formats and codecs that store and encode/decode digital audio data, respectively.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support various video file formats and codecs, which store and encode/decode digital video data, respectively.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.

Capacity The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliamp-hours.	2600 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more specifically, by the chemicals used. Exist different types batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries most commonly used in mobile devices.	Li-polymer (Li-polymer)
Talk time 2G Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 2G network.	14 h (hours) 840 min (minutes) 0.6 days
2G standby time The 2G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	271 h (hours) 16260 min (minutes) 11.3 days
3G talk time Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 3G network.	20 h (hours) 1200 min (minutes) 0.8 days
3G standby time The 3G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	496 h (hours) 29760 min (minutes) 20.7 days
Characteristics Information about some additional features of the device's battery.	Fixed

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

SAR levels refer to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

SAR level for head (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum allowable SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC in accordance with IEC standards following the 1998 ICNIRP guidelines.	0.419 W/kg (watt per kilogram)
Body SAR (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum allowed SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC following the 1998 ICNIRP guidelines and IEC standards.	0.22 W/kg (watt per kilogram)
Head SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are controlled by the CTIA and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	0.54 W/kg (watt per kilogram)
Body SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest acceptable SAR value in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA controls whether mobile devices comply with this standard.	1.16 W/kg (watt per kilogram)

Photos of HTC One in the interior

Positioning

If we evaluate such things as the design and materials used in the case in a smartphone as subjectively as possible, relying solely on personal feelings, then with the release HTC One For the new generation, I would divide the Android device market into two categories - HTC One (M8) and "other smartphones". Fortunately or unfortunately, this cannot be done, so in the review I will try to reveal both the positive and negative sides of using an aluminum unibody case in the company's new flagship and the work of engineers in favor of design. We will also talk about the hardware component of the new HTC One, the camera, display, sound and branded case. And about the updated HTC Sense and all the features of the interface there will be a separate material.

But you should start with the name of the smartphone. Yes, for some, even for many, the company's move to keep the name HTC One seems incomprehensible, illogical and simply wrong. Personally I am in this issue on the side of HTC, and I will try to explain why. Like any other more or less well-known manufacturer, even despite a very compact lineup, HTC once faced the problem of naming their devices. Simply put, there were a lot of smartphones, ideas of what to call them, and concepts too, but in the end, all this began to turn the lineup into a mess, the same that has been observed in the line of phones and Nokia smartphones, Samsung, LG and other manufacturers. There are almost no exceptions here, except that Apple more or less successfully preserves the simplicity of the names, and this only applies to smartphones, in the tablet segment the company managed to once step on the same rake, calling the next tablet “The New iPad” instead of the usual addition of a number.

In 2012-2013, HTC finally almost solved the problem of names - HTC One X became not just a new flagship of the manufacturer, but a new line of top-end devices with a more or less understandable and simple name. Then the prefix X was simplified, and we got a simple and understandable series of smartphones “One”: the classic flagship One, the compact version of One mini and the “shovel-shaped” One Max. Perhaps, from the point of view of the convenience of finding accessories for the previous model, finding other information, communicating with people when discussing the HTC model, choosing to keep the HTC One name seems strange, but from the point of view of name recognition, this is the right step. The efforts spent on promoting HTC One are now converted into recognition of the new flagship with the same name, especially since the company has been advertising the One series for the past six months, and not a specific smartphone. Personally, I also like this choice because of my love for simple names - HTC One sounds short and clear, it's not HTC One XL, HTC One minimax or something else, it's just the new HTC One. However, I cannot but agree with those who believe that the simple addition of a number would not spoil the new HTC One either.

By the way, the previous generation HTC One has become a successful model for the company in general, and although one device cannot throw the manufacturer to the pedestal where Samsung "sits", good sales of the flagship showed that the company does not intend to give up and will make every effort to get out of difficult situation. The new HTC One clearly shows how serious the intentions of the Taiwanese company are - it is a very balanced, well-cut and high-quality device. But enough generalities, let's get down to the details.

Contents of delivery

The device comes in a flat box, which is already familiar to some of the company's new models, and the previous HTC One was exactly the same. Inside, in addition to a smartphone and a couple of paper instructions, there is a charging box, a wired stereo headset, a USB-microUSB cable and a gray silicone case.

A headset with a remote control, where the key is located to answer or cancel a call, the format is plugs, there are interchangeable tips. In appearance, these are the simplest inexpensive headphones, I can’t say more.

A silicone case is useful in terms of protecting the case, but impractical - it quickly becomes covered with dust particles and generally gets very dirty. In addition, the smartphone does not look as cool and impressive in it as without it. However, I am sure that there are those to whom this accessory is useful.

Design

The main thing to know about the design of the new HTC One is that it is completely different from the previous generation model. Yes, HTC One (M7) and HTC One (M8) look almost the same in comparison photos, but they are not. To appreciate the difference in design, it is in design, and not in dimensions, metal texture, and so on, you need to pick up a smartphone. Such is the paradox.

The main difference in design between the new and old HTC One lies in the integrity of the case - if in the M7 the case was aluminum, but looked like it was assembled from several parts, then in the M8 it seems more monolithic. This effect was achieved due to the base, in the M7 it was completely aluminum, but with plastic inserts not only at the antenna output points, but also along the edges of the body, in the M8 there are only thin strips of plastic at the antenna locations, and that's it. The very shape of the case in the new HTC One has become smoother and rounder, due to which the device, despite its size, fits relatively well in the hand.

Comparison of HTC One (M8) with the company's steel thermos, I think, is nowhere to go, it just so happens that at a certain viewing angle and lighting "from the back" the device really resembles this simple and useful item.

HTC One is available in three colors (in Russia so far there are two colors): light silver, gray (pictured in the review) and golden. When we will have a version in gold, is still unknown. I must say that the classic dark and light gray versions turned out to be very successful in terms of color - the smartphone does not look boring and dull, while the case looks expensive and noble, and it is the well-chosen color that plays an important role in this.

If I sum up the design only, that is, the most subjective part of the review, then I like it very, very much. And the point is not only and not so much in the materials, because we are now considering the appearance of the smartphone, but in the shape of the body, in how it looks on the table, in the hand, how it feels to a large extent precisely because of the design.

Housing materials

The main body material is aluminium. The basis of the smartphone is made of it, electronics, display and other elements are placed in it, above and below the screen there are inserts made of plastic under aluminum. Also, an insert is made of plastic on the upper end, where the power button and the IrDA window are located.

The problem with the placement of antennas in the device is solved in the same way as in the previous smartphone. They are located outside the case in small plastic grooves on the “back” of the device.

As for possible scratches, they can hardly be avoided. Yes, the body is made of metal, yes, it looks very well-built and assembled, but you need to understand that small scratches on the aluminum surface will still remain. Exactly the same situation is observed with iPhone owners: if you want to feel metal in your hand, and not a silicone case (which comes with HTC One, by the way), you will have to pay for it with wear and tear on the case.

The positive aspect of using aluminum is the complete absence of visible marks and prints on the case. More precisely, they are there, but they are completely invisible, no matter how you turn your smartphone and try to look out for them. The smallest scratches are also almost imperceptible, so in terms of appearance, the HTC One is good - looking like new, this smartphone will last a long time if you do not throw it on the pavement.

Assembly

The use of a unibody body with no removable parts (except for nanoSIM and memory card trays) makes the new HTC One very good in terms of build quality. There are no wobbly and creaking parts, no backlash of some individual elements, we have a metal bar in front of us that inspires confidence. The downside of this design is maintainability, but that's a completely different story.

Dimensions

For the first time, I will defend a smartphone with huge, spade-shaped dimensions, while my position specifically on the size of the HTC device now has nothing to do with the fact that I am an ardent fan and supporter of HTC. Yes, the new One is huge, this one is one of the largest smartphones with a screen diagonal of 5 "", that is, one might think and say that the company's engineers, unlike the engineers of Samsung or LG, for example, failed to arrange the electronics in the case in such a way that so that this body is not huge. If you put HTC One next to you, samsung galaxy S5 and LG G2, it turns out that the new One is larger than the "Koreans", albeit slightly. In practice, things are a little different.

According to one of the most important parameters that affect the comfort of gripping and holding a smartphone in your hand, width, the HTC One is even slightly better than the LG G2 and SGS5. The body width of the new One is 70.6mm, the LG G2 is 70.9mm and the Samsung Galaxy S5 is 72.5mm. The thickness of the case, which in One is greater than that of competitors, in reality does not play a special role for the comfort of grip, whether the device has a case with a thickness of 8 mm or 10 mm, you will hardly notice it. Yes, there are models with a body in a piece of paper, almost 5 mm, but is it so convenient - the big question. In addition, the HTC One is slightly larger than the competitors, the thickness of the case is leveled by its smoothness and the absence of sharp corners.

Let's compare the dimensions of different smartphones with 5"" screens, and also take a few smaller devices to illustrate the difference in size between conventional devices and "shovels":

• Apple iPhone 5S– 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm, 112 grams
• – 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm, 160 grams
• LG G2 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm, 143 grams
• Meizu MX3– 139 x 71.9 x 9.1 mm, 143 grams
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm, 168 grams
• Samsung Galaxy S5– 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145 grams
• Sony Xperia Z2– 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm, 163 grams

As you can see, HTC One is comparable in size to competitors, LG G2 and SGS5 are slightly more compact, and closest to the new HTC in size is Sony Xperia Z2. The Japanese smartphone is slightly thinner, but wider than the One (M8).

HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7)

HTC One (M8) and Lenovo Vibe X

HTC One (M8) and Nokia Lumia 920

HTC One (M8) and Meizu MX3

HTC One (M8) and Samsung Galaxy S5

HTC One (M8) and Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The only parameter that, in my opinion, makes it difficult to call HTC One as a whole convenient for its huge size is the height of the case. Here I have nothing to say in defense of the new One: holding the device with one hand, I can not reach the upper elements of the screen without intercepting the smartphone.

In conclusion, in terms of dimensions, I’ll say that for now, we, users, just have to get used to the increase in the size of smartphones. Sooner or later this diagonal race will end, but so far the situation is such that almost every manufacturer is slowly but surely trying to increase the screen size for their top products, and HTC is no exception.

Controls

Last year's HTC One differed from HTC One X in the control system, the number of keys and their purpose, the new HTC One also differs from last year in terms of control. Let's see what has changed.

In HTC One (M7) there were two touch keys under the screen, to the left and right of the logo, in HTC One (M8) the platform with logos is empty, and the keys are moved up, now these are three on-screen buttons: "Back", "Home" and " Latest Applications. Two actions only on the Home button, in addition to the main task of returning to the main screen, holding it can be called Google service now.

When you touch any of these keys, the device vibrates slightly.

There are not so many moments that raise questions in the new smartphone, the empty space around the HTC logo along with the 4 MP camera is one of them. The company says that the transfer of buttons to the screen is part of the new style, and also that the place under the display (where two keys were just in last year's HTC One) is occupied by circuitry, in particular, a speaker and an amplifier for it.

The power button remained on the top end. Yes, HTC partially listened to users who noted its inconvenient and illogical location on the top left, and placed it on the top right. It became, as it was, no way. If in last year's HTC One the power key was inconvenient due to the position on the top left, now it is just as inconvenient, because the improved location (top right is still better for right-handers) only compensates for the increased height of the body. Also on the top there is an infrared port for using HTC One as a remote control control your TV, set-top box or home theater system.

However, the inconvenient location of the power button in the new One, the company was still able to compensate in a sense. HTC One (M8) implements technology motion launch. According to HTC, in the new One, information from all sensors is transmitted to a special coprocessor and any application receives this information immediately, without polling each sensor. Firstly, it allows you to save a little more battery power, and secondly, to implement all the things that HTC One (M8) has. The main feature of Motion Launch is different ways to unlock the screen without the power key. If the LG G2 had an option with a double tap on the display surface, then HTC went further. Double tap on the display will take you to the lock screen, "swipe" with your finger from left to right - to the BlinkFeed screen, from right to left - to the main screen, from top to bottom - to voice control, from bottom to top - you will be taken to the screen on which the device was locked (game , application menu, some running program and so on). All these actions are best recognized by the phone when you hold it in your hand in portrait mode, although if you rotate it to portrait mode, they will also work, although not as clearly (everything except for double tap, it works fine). Another convenient feature is to turn on the camera from a locked state - just rotate the device to landscape mode and press any volume key.

The volume key is located on the right edge, I can't say anything special about it - quite a convenient button with the usual location. Near it is a tray for a microSD memory card. To install or remove a memory card, you need to use a needle (or a complete piece, analogous to an “iceclip” for the Apple iPhone).

On the top left edge is a tray for a nanoSIM SIM card. As you can see in the photo, the tray is wide, about twice as wide as the SIM card placed in it, it is logical to assume that HTC decided to immediately make a tray for two SIM cards, with a backlog for the Dual SIM version of the device.

At the bottom of the case are microUSB-connector and 3.5 mini-jack for headphones or headset. I want to dwell on this point in more detail. The fact is that for many years HTC put a 3.5 mini-jack on top of the case in their smartphones (HTC Sensation, HTC One X, HTC One first generation). This, of course, is better than the connector located on the side edge, but still not very convenient. If you listen to music on your smartphone and carry it in the pocket of trousers, jeans or even a jacket, then you have to put it in your pocket with the top end (with a 3.5 mm jack) up. Therefore, taking out the device, you must then intercept it, because you have to pull out the device by holding on to the upper part of the case. In the new HTC One, the connector is on the bottom, and rightly so. When you take this device out of your pocket, you hold it the way you will hold it when you use it, that is, you do not need to intercept the smartphone after you have taken it out of your pocket. It seems like a trifle, but such trifles add up to the overall convenience of daily use of the device.

On the front side, there are speakers at the top and bottom, there are also light and proximity sensors on top, a light indicator inscribed in the speaker grille and a 5 MP wide-angle eye. front camera.

Screen

The new HTC One has a Super LCD3 display, and most of the features are the same as last year's model, which is a good thing in my opinion. Screen diagonal - 5 "", resolution - 1920x1080 pixels (FullHD), dot density - 441 ppi.

Screen with maximum viewing angles: no matter what angle you reject it, diagonally, edges or ends, the picture is not distorted. There is a good margin of brightness, the display remains readable in the sun. The color reproduction is close to natural, the colors are moderately saturated and juicy, but not overly contrasting and not acidic.

The automatic brightness control on the new HTC One works correctly in most situations. For the week that I have already been using the device, I have not had a desire to turn off auto-adjustment and set the brightness manually, and on some smartphones (many) I do just that.

One of the new features of the display compared to last year's One is support for stylus touches, the ability to use the display while wearing gloves, and a good response to pressure with wet fingers.

Compare display in HTC One with Samsung screen Galaxy S5, it seems to me, it makes no sense. Both screens are good, but in different ways. In HTC One, the display is more calm and traditional, while in Samsung Galaxy S5 it is bright, juicy, contrasting, with very high brightness, but at the same time poor readability in the sun. To me htc screen I like One more, but this is only the opinion of a person who is used to a calm color scheme.

Below you can take a look at a comparison of the screens of the old and new generation HTC One, also taken as an example. Meizu smartphone MX3 as one of the standards among five-inch devices in terms of display.

From left to right Meizu MX3, HTC One (M8), HTC One (M7)

Camera

Like the previous One, the new generation device is equipped with a 4 MP camera, and this is the most important thing to know about the camera in HTC One (M8). In fact, there are two cameras here - the main one, which the company calls the HTC UltraPixel, with the following characteristics: back-lit matrix, pixel size 2.0 micrometers, sensor size 1/3 "", f / 2.0 aperture, 28 mm lenses - and an additional to collect information about the depth of the scene, it is necessary to be able to change the focus point on the frame after you have taken the photo. Together, the cameras are called HTC Duo Camera and offer the user, according to the company, many new features and functions for working with photography.

In practice, HTC's words about the capabilities of the camera in terms of functionality are true, there really are many different modes and ways to edit pictures. I'll tell you about them in order.

The camera has a menu to select different scenarios, and the main one is called “Camera”. This is a standard shot in automatic mode or any of the selected ones.

Automatic shooting mode (Auto). In Auto mode, you can adjust the ISO value, exposure (EV), white balance, and choose from 15 superimposed effects. The camera settings also set the aspect ratio of the frame: wide (16:9), normal (4:3) or square (1:1), grid for easy shooting, geotagging, self-timer, contrast values, image sharpness saturation and retouch strength for pictures. All settings can be saved in a separate profile with your own name and included if necessary. There can be several profiles.

Frames taken in the "Auto" mode lend themselves to most changes, I will not describe all the editing methods in words, I think you just need to look at the screenshots yourself, everything is clearly shown there.

Of the interesting modes, I will note one of the most important - UFocus, based precisely on the information about the depth of the scene collected by the additional camera. In an already taken picture, you can move the focus point from the main subject to some other, in the background, for example. In addition, you can simply blur the background of the scene, leaving the original object in focus. Ufocus-related modes are applying effects to the background (Foreground), creating animation (Seasons), and turning an image into a three-dimensional image (Dimension Plus).

UFocus is best suited for shooting portraits and further blurring the background, in my opinion, and in general, if you take a shot with a pronounced object in the foreground and a more or less solid background, background blurring occurs correctly and accurately in such scenes. Choice option new point focusing after shooting, in my opinion, almost non-working. Of course, you can shift the focus to some object in the distance, but in most situations it will still remain a little “out of focus”, and the object on which the initial focus was made will turn out to be too unnaturally blurred.

So, again, in my opinion, Ufocus and the whole HTC Duo Camera system is best suited for portrait shooting with a beautiful background blur, and as such, this mode works well.

Below are photos taken in Auto mode:

Here is an example of a photo with effects applied from the UFocus series, the first shot is the original, then three frames with effects:

The smartphone shoots text well, however, in my opinion, it is better to do this in the “Auto” mode than in the special “Text” mode. In the second case, the photos are unnecessarily grainy, although this is not required. However, judge for yourself, above - two snapshots of text in the "Auto" mode, below - in the "Text" mode:

Separate modes "macro", "night" work, in general, not bad, you can sometimes get good shots in them, especially in "macro".

There's also an HDR mode, panorama shooting, and a Photosphere mode where you can take photos of everything you see around you while standing in one spot. View it on PC with standard programs will not work, only on the smartphone itself.

Manual shooting mode (M). One of the features of the camera in the new HTC One, in addition to the presence of an additional module for capturing information about the depth of the scene, is the manual shooting mode. Yes, many devices today have manual setting exposure, ISO values, brightness and other things, but there are still very few devices where you can manually select the shutter speed and adjust the focus.

In manual mode, you can change the following parameters - white balance, exposure, ISO, shutter speed, focus. White balance adjustable from 2300K to 7500K, ISO values ​​in the range of 100-1600, shutter speed in the range of 1/8000-4 seconds.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is the ability to manually adjust the focus. This is not focusing on an object by tapping on the screen, but the choice of a fixed distance at which focusing will occur. That is why now on the new HTC One you can take close-up pictures of any objects, and not just those that the device can focus on in Macro mode.

The following are examples of shots taken with manual focus:

Notice how easy it is now to get close-up shots of subjects, such as hair or fishing line, for example. On the previous generation HTC One, it is almost impossible to get such shots (some of them), on the new One it is a matter of a couple of seconds and correctly set focus.

Naturally, for most users, the manual shooting mode will be useless, but in some situations it allows you to get pictures of very high quality compared to those that the same device will take in the "Auto" mode. Here is a clear example of such a situation - shooting a close-up of a figurine in low light (in a dark, unlit room).

Auto mode, shutter speed 1/11, ISO 3200

Mode "M", shutter speed 1, ISO 320 (light sensitivity set to automatic)

Auto mode, shutter speed 1, ISO 200 (light sensitivity set manually)

It is clear that to get such a picture at such a slow shutter speed, you need strong hands and nerves of steel (or a tripod, some kind of support), but in general, I think you understand how much the potential of even such an unremarkable final shot in the Auto mode increases. » cameras, like in HTC One.

The front camera in HTC One (M8) allows you to take ordinary pictures, as well as pictures in two windows, when the main frame is given under the image from the front or main camera, and a small window in the corner is for the image from the additional one.

Dual LED Flash The HTC One can work in several modes and also serve as a flashlight.

Video recording. Video in the standard mode is recorded at a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, the recording speed is 30 frames per second (variable), the bit rate is 20 Mbps, the sound is recorded in stereo mode, the recording quality is 192 Kbps. During recording, you can manually change the focus point, there is also a tracking autofocus, the work of optical stabilization, albeit a little, is noticeable if you write a video at the maximum zoom level. Separately, I want to note the very high, in my opinion, the quality of sound recording in video. There is no sound porridge, individual sounds are perfectly distinguishable, while wind noise (it was during recording) is minimal.

In addition to the standard mode, there is a slow motion mode, recording at 60 frames per second and HDR. Below you will find examples of video recording in each of these modes.

• Slow motion video sample (MP4, 99 MB) >>>
• Sample video in 60 fps recording mode (MP4, 35 MB) >>>

Camera Comparison (Roman Belykh)

I’ll make a reservation right away that the comparison will be small, since we will soon prepare detailed material, where we put the lens to the lens of the main smartphones that can boast of their camera modules.

It seems to me that on this moment people are interested in the difference in quality of photos taken on the HTC One (M7) and the new HTC One (M8). Below are shots with 100% crop. In fact, there is practically nothing to tell, since the camera module has remained the same. The M8 fixed the white balance (it became, in my opinion, a little more correct), worked on the smoothing and sharpening algorithms (there was noticeably less noise), slightly added saturation. Maybe HTC used a different lens in the M8 (or maybe that's how the software works), since the perspective of the wide-angle lens is less distorted in building shots. Focusing speed has increased, focusing is now more accurate even in difficult lighting conditions. Blurring of part of the image is also eliminated.

Next, we compared photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One (M8) and Nokia Lumia 1020. Again, we will have detailed testing cameras of these devices. And now literally in a nutshell about the pictures.

Naturally, if we consider photos in terms of resolution, then the unequivocal outsider is HTC One (M8). But if you do not take this parameter into account, then the smartphone shoots well: accurate white balance, natural colors (against the background of SGS5 and Nokia 1020), clear contrast, wide angle and high shooting speed.

In general, comparing HTC One (M8) with the Galaxy S5 and 1020 from Nokia, I think, is not entirely correct, since the latter two devices have a much higher resolution, and it is simply impossible to bring frames one to one (or enlarge the photo to 16/38 MP, or reducing 16/38 MP to 5 MP is wrong). Only 100% crop. You will learn about the results of the comparison of SGS5, Nokia Lumia 1020 and other smartphones later, from our comparative photo test.

Sound

I hope the reader will forgive me (for obvious reasons) the shortest possible description of the sound in the headphones. There are a few key things to be said here. Firstly, there is nothing more from Beats Audio in HTC, all sound enhancement and processing algorithms are their own. Secondly, the sound has become a little louder than in the previous generation HTC One. Thirdly, with BoomSound turned on by default, the new HTC One sounds worse than without it. And it is precisely without it that the smartphone sounds great, to my ears.

As for the BoomSound mode, it is automatically enabled when you listen to music through the speakers (it cannot be turned off in this case), and this is where it comes in handy - the sound is clear, loud, without wheezing and other things.

The quality of the voice recording in the new HTC One remains at the level of the previous model, that is, it is just as high. The device writes the voice with high quality and cleanly, without extraneous noise, even if they are present near the sound source. At the same time, the voice is clearly distinguishable on the voice recorder, even if the interlocutor during the recording was at a distance of 2-3 meters from the smartphone.

Offline work

The smartphone uses a non-removable Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh, this is 300 mAh. The company also claims that the operating time of the new HTC One, in general, has seriously increased due to many new solutions both in hardware (using a non-overclocked version of the processor, a coprocessor for collecting data from all sensors) and in software (new saving mode, in particular).

Tested a year ago, HTC One (M7) lasted 8 hours while playing a 720p video in a circle, HTC One (M8) showed a time of 10 hours in this test. If we talk about daily use, then my M8 sample lasts up to 20-22 hours on average, that is, the whole day. The load is as follows: 40-60 minutes of calls, 10-20 text messages, Gmail in push-mail mode, 3-4 hours of listening to music and about 1-2 hours of active use of mobile Internet (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, browser). In general, in terms of operating time, the new HTC One better model the past generation. Of course, I don't see an increase of 30-40 percent here, but a couple of hours on top is also not bad, because last year's model was far from an outsider among top devices.

The smartphone has a normal power-saving mode, enabling which you can save battery power by lowering the screen brightness level, turning off transmission, vibration.

New in HTC One 9M8) is a critical power saving mode. In this mode, the processor operates at a reduced frequency, most sensors and sensors are turned off, when the screen is off, no data is transmitted, vibration is turned off and the screen brightness level is reduced. But the most important thing is that in this mode a limited set of applications is available to you, namely phone, mail (so far only configured through a proprietary client), messages, calendar and calculator. You cannot run other programs or add new ones to the list of those allowed to work in this mode.

platform, memory

The smartphone is built on the latest platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AB) with a quad-core processor with a frequency of 2.3 GHz, graphics subsystem (GPU) - Adreno 330. In the version of HTC One for Asia, the processor is overclocked to 2.5 GHz. The device has 2 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory for storing user data. And although the amount of internal memory may seem insufficient, there is a slot for a memory card (support for cards up to 128 GB is guaranteed), so it makes no sense to talk about a lack of memory.

The most important thing you need to know about the speed of this device is that the device is very fast: nothing lags, there are no delays, there is no slow animation, there is no “thoughtfulness” of the interface. The smoothness of the new HTC One can be compared with that of the Apple iPhone 5/5S, which is about the same level here.

Below are screenshots of testing the new HTC One in Antutu Benchmark X.

All "heavy" games demanding on the hardware component of the smartphone run smoothly on HTC One, without any problems, there are also no difficulties with video playback, if we are talking about speed. The only thing I had a problem with was the lack of sound on some test videos that run in the standard player. It is solved by installing MX Player or Dice Player.

Interfaces

The smartphone works in GSM (850/900/1800/1900), HSDPA (850/1900/2100) and LTE (800/900/1800/2600) networks, LTE networks are also supported for Russia. Turn on and off wireless interfaces you can through the settings or by adding one of several widgets to the main screen, as well as using the notification curtain, which has a convenient menu with the ability to display exactly those switches that you need on the main screen.

For synchronization with a PC and data transfer, the included microUSB cable is used. The specifications of the smartphone indicate the USB 2.0 interface version, however, when HTC One is connected to a computer (Windows 7), the system displays a notification that this device can work faster if connected via USB 3.0. However, the difference in the transfer time of a 1 GB file to a smartphone via USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports is only about 5 seconds in my case: 40 seconds via a USB 2.0 port on a computer and 35 seconds via USB 3.0.

The smartphone has USB support On-The-Go (USB OTG) – USB flash drives and other storage devices can be connected to the device via an adapter, for example, a camera to transfer pictures from it to the device’s memory. The system in HTC One allows you to read and copy information from flash drives formatted in FAT / FAT32 file systems, but the NTFS flash drive on my device was defined as empty.

Here it is necessary to note a strange moment, which HTC, apparently, is not going to fix. In a flash drive with data connected to a smartphone, using standard programs preinstalled on HTC One, you can view pictures, videos and music. It is impossible to read other data from it, because the device does not have a file manager, it must be installed from Google Play separately.

Bluetooth. built-in bluetooth module 4.0 with A2DP support.

Wi-Fi (802.11а/ac/b/g/n). HTC One uses a dual-band Wi-Fi module. You can leave it to work in automatic mode, or you can manually specify the operating frequency band for Wi-Fi - only 5 GHz or only 2.4 GHz. The module works flawlessly. In the advanced settings, you can set the maximum performance mode (uncheck "Optimize Wi-Fi"), as well as enable or disable automatic connection to the last saved active network. During the operation of the module, the device does not heat up.

wifi router . HTC One has the ability to "share" 2G/3G/4G Internet connection via Wi-Fi. In the wireless networks menu, select the option " General access To mobile internet” and then “Wi-Fi router”. Here, at the first start, you need to select a network name and password (WPA2). You can also set the maximum number of connections to your smartphone (1-8) or separately prohibit or allow each new connection. When the utility is enabled, you can connect to the Internet, "distributed" via Wi-Fi by a smartphone, from any device, be it a laptop, another smartphone or tablet, and so on.

DLNA, HDMI. The smartphone supports DLNA technology, so if you have a DLNA-compatible media server and other devices at home, you can use HTC One with them. For example, output sound or video from the device directly to the TV. The HTC One device also has HDMI support, the connector is combined with microUSB (MHL), so in order to use HDMI, you will first need to buy a special cable.

NFC. As in previous flagships, the second generation HTC One has NFC support, but there are still not too many use cases for this module. Specifically at HTC this module used for quick connection of a smartphone with wireless Bluetooth accessories (speaker, HTC mini+ remote control). And, of course, do not forget that with the help of NFC and the Yandex.Metro program (or analogues), you can check on your smartphone the number of remaining trips in the metro pass.

Navigation

HTC One has GPS/Glonass support, it takes a minimum amount of time to search for satellites, from 5 to 15 seconds. The device is pre-installed Google programs Maps and Google Navigation. Google Navigation is used as the main program for navigation.

For convenient operation with a smartphone, when it is in the car in the mount, there is a special mode “In the car”. When you turn it on, you see large icons on the desktop, there are also special enlarged versions of the main applications: address book, music, settings, dialing. If desired, shortcuts to other programs can be added to this menu. In this mode, you can use a special assistant, a utility that performs voice commands like "Call + contact name", "Play + track name" and some others. It is worth paying attention to this program if you are going to use HTC One while driving, it really works and recognizes commands well if you pronounce them more or less loudly and clearly.

Case HTC Dot View

An ingenious idea born on the wave of popularity of the pixel theme or just like that, I don’t know. In addition to the HTC One (M8) there is a dedicated Dot View case. It looks like an ordinary plastic book case with a silicone lid perforated with non-through holes. There are five colors to choose from: dark gray, dark blue, mint, bright orange, cherry. On renderings and in reality, cases may look different, but I think they will soon be available in stores and everyone will be able to evaluate them live. The cost of the cover in Russia will be preliminary 1,790 rubles. Here's what HTC One (M8) looks like packed into this case.

Now the coolest thing! The case not only protects the body of the smartphone, but also displays various notifications. The notifications themselves are drawn on the screen in pixel font, and we see them already through the perforated lid. It looks amazing, and, importantly, from a practical point of view, everything is also quite convenient. Double tap on the cover of the case - and you see the time and weather. Swipe your finger from top to bottom during a call - hang up, from bottom to top - answer the call. It also displays a timer or alarm notification, a new text message or missed call icon, and the talk time if you have already answered the call.

Indoors or in the evening, the information from the cover is read perfectly, and the accessory itself “in action” looks very impressive and cool. This is such an unexpected wow effect from such a simple idea that at first I didn’t even expect it every time I showed my smartphone to friends and acquaintances. Not a single person remained indifferent, and everyone perceived the cover with delight and positive surprise. Yes, on a bright sunny day outdoors, HTC Dot View is unlikely to be very convenient, but in other situations, the text is read well from it, even at home or in the office on a sunny day, see the photo below.

This case is a clear confirmation that even now, in 2014, when it seems that all the ideas around smartphones and portable electronics in general have already been exhausted, you can make something very cool, spectacular and unusual, but at the same time simple and elegant. The HTC Dot View case, it seems to me, will be very popular, and for sure many owners of the new HTC One will want to buy a case not because of its protective properties, but because of the wow-effect and indescribable coolness of the accessory, forgive me such words.

By the way, HTC has not yet announced any plans for the future of Dot View, but it is likely that the company will want to increase the popularity of the accessory, and the opening of the SDK for developers will be a logical step for this. In this case, in addition to standard notifications, Dot View will “learn” to show notifications for various third-party applications, it may well be some kind of twitter client, music and video players, mail clients and so on.

Conclusion

I had no complaints about the quality of signal reception during the week of using the new HTC One. The device catches the network well, the sound in the conversational dynamics is clear, without wheezing and extraneous noise, with a small, but still a margin of volume. The vibrating alert is relatively strong, it is felt, despite the dimensions and weight of the device, in most situations. The loudspeaker volume is above average, we can't say that it is "ultra-loud" here, approximately at the level of competitors, but what distinguishes HTC One from other devices is the high sound quality in the ringing speakers, and not the loudness.

The smartphone went on sale literally the next day after the official announcement, on March 26 the new HTC One could already be bought in the company's company store in Moscow, the cost of a model with 16 GB of internal memory is 32,990 rubles. Yes, against the backdrop of the Samsung Galaxy S5 16 GB for 29,990 rubles, the new HTC One seems expensive, but if you look, the company for the first time in a long time offers something truly new on the market not in the plane of dry characteristics, but in the plane of sensations and perception .

It took HTC five years to do this. Five years to return to what they were loved by a narrow circle of real fans of the brand, technologists, for which their devices were sometimes chosen by users completely unfamiliar with the concept of "communicator". I'm talking about HTC HD2, released in 2009 and the last one until now HTC device with charisma and energy. Then there was a slow decline, the peak of which, in my opinion, fell on the Sensation line - with a lot of children's sores and problems. Then the company slowly began to re-feel for the direction in which it is strongest, and last year with the release of the first generation One, it seemed that HTC was about to rediscover itself.

Smartphone HTC One (M8) is the final step. The new device is a combination of all the best that HTC can do - a recognizable, cool, unlike competitors design, expensive case materials, a convenient, understandable and simple interface that allows you to get comfortable with the new device without any extra effort. During the week of using HTC One (M8), I did not notice glitches, lags or software problems, problems with the telephone part, excessive heating of the case and other things that are sometimes typical for past smartphones of the company. I will not vouch for all batches of new items and say that the device is 100% stable and bug-free, but with my particular sample, the situation is as follows - it works perfectly.

For the first time in a long time, I used the device with such enthusiasm and enthusiasm, as if I came to work at the site just a couple of weeks ago and they immediately gave me the coolest and most expensive toy that I had dreamed of before for a test. Yes, the new HTC One has its drawbacks, in particular, a camera with a low resolution of pictures (it's no joke, at home on a monitor with a resolution of 2560x1440 I practically can't enlarge the image in photos, because their resolution is 2688x1520, that is, a little more), a non-removable battery and large dimensions. But even if you look at the new M8 only in terms of specifications and changes compared to the M7, you can see the work that the company has done: the new HTC One is better in terms of operating time, it has a slot for a memory card, the inconvenient location of the power button is leveled by the gesture system, and the 3.5 mm mini-jack has taken a logical place on the bottom end. All this is a lot of work, in fact, and it shows that the company, in addition to trying to create a beautiful and spectacular smartphone, solved current problems, and successfully.

Therefore, if you ask me whether it is worth changing last year's HTC One generation for a new one, the answer is unequivocal: yes. The new One is a completely different level, and not only against the background of the previous model from HTC, but simply against the backdrop of all Android smartphones. This is a device that shows what a real modern smartphone should be like - not a nameless piece of plastic with good performance, but an object that will not only perform all the necessary tasks, but also delight you daily from an aesthetic and practical point of view. All this is the new HTC One.

Characteristics

• Class: flagship of the company
• Form factor: monoblock
• Housing materials: aluminum unibody housing
• Operating system: Android 4.4, HTC Sense 6
• Network: GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, LTE (nanoSIM)
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
• Processor: Quad-core 2.3GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage Memory: 16/32 GB, microSD card slot (supports 128 GB and above)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP, aptX), microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charge/sync, 3.5mm headset, HDMI (via microUSB), DLNA, NFC , infrared
• Screen: 5'', capacitive, 1920x1080 pixels (FulldHD), automatic backlight level adjustment
• Camera: dual camera HTC Duo: 4 MP main camera (maximum image resolution 2688 x 1520) with UltraPixel technology (using "ultra pixels" 2 micrometers in size), 1/3"", f/2.0, 28 mm sensor, optical stabilization. Additional camera for capturing scene depth data. Video recording in 1080p (1920x1080 pixels), dual color LED flash (works like a flashlight)
• Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, wide-angle (no autofocus), 1080p video recording
• Navigation: GPS/Glonass (A-GPS support)
• Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, barometer
• Battery: non-removable, Li-Pol, 2600 mAh
• Dimensions: 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4mm
• Weight: 160 grams

Related links

Taiwanese HTC just released its 2014 flagship just two weeks ago. New model acquired the M8 index and became the successor to the relatively successful old One. Definitely, new smartphone is the Asian manufacturer's last hope for a place in the sun among the world's biggest brands. Knowing this, engineers and designers did their best, but there is still something to complain about.

The updated smartphone has updated and improved all the previous functions, and at the same time has acquired new interesting features. Here is an improved camera, even two at once, gesture and knock control, infrared and much more - in general, everything that is now in trend.

I propose to start the review with the first improvement - with the design.

Of course, the previous generation HTC One had an excellent and recognizable design, not to mention the body materials. In M8, the manufacturer went further. The edges are rounded, the metal has become more interesting, but the concept of appearance is identical to its predecessor.

At the choice of the consumer, the company presented its creation in gray, silver and gold colors. Consistency and a special style - all this has been preserved from the previous version of the device.

The case remained entirely metal with rare plastic inserts. A barely noticeable rim has appeared around the screen, which, in theory, should protect the display from scratches if the smartphone is lying face down.

The aluminum surface received a new running-in with horizontal stripes. Similar technology is used in the manufacture of Parker handles or barrels kitchen appliances Bork. The smartphone has taken on a new look. The metal texture plays beautifully in the rays of light and looks amazing. However, the device turned out to be very slippery and it is sometimes difficult to hold it in your hands.

Apparently, the manufacturer took care to protect the smartphone and therefore the kit includes a special silicone case with thick walls and special plugs for the connectors. Thus, when using this accessory, the smartphone receives at least some protection against drops and moisture. However, using the device in this case is even more difficult, since it instantly collects all the dust and dirt around, and it is impossible to get the phone out of your pocket without turning it outside.

Anyway, I would like to express special gratitude to the manufacturer, since the included case is always a nice bonus for the buyer. This has not been observed for large market players for a long time - everything is aimed at reducing costs and maximizing profits.

In addition, the smartphone comes with Charger, a headset, a cable for synchronization and charging, a metal device for removing a SIM card.

Since the back cover is no longer removable, the HTC One has separate trays for nano-sim and a memory card.

You can get them out of the device case using a special mediator from the kit or a regular paper clip. The latter enters the hole with difficulty, but can still help out at the time of changing the SIM card.

Best the enemy of the good. Given this, the company decided to leave the idea with two speakers. Next to the upper speaker are a periodically flashing event indicator, proximity and light sensors. Even more to the right in its place is a camera of as much as 5 megapixels. It's funny that the front camera has a higher resolution than the base (4 MP). This is a game of numbers, but we will return to the essence later.

It is gratifying that the 3.5 mm jack is located at the bottom, as is the micro-USB port. This arrangement of ports is always convenient in everyday use. Now, if the audio input were a little further away from the charging connector, it would be better, since users can use a wide variety of cables and plugs.

Touch buttons were transferred to the display. There are doubts about this approach, but apparently it is now in trend. On empty place there was a wide black frame with a flaunting HTC inscription. Apparently, the architecture of the iron could not be optimized in such a way as to remove this space and reduce the height of the smartphone.

On the upper streamlined edge there is a plastic insert that hides the infrared port and the Power button. It is slippery and sometimes difficult to reach, but you can live with it.

The rocker key for adjusting the volume is located approximately in the middle of the side face, which leads to frequent accidental pressing. This is especially true when using the device in a branded case.

For the most part, the assembly does not cause complaints, but not everything is as smooth as we would like. Trays for cards are a little buried in the case, due to which the feeling of solidity is lost. In addition, the transition is noticeably noticeable at the junction of glass and speakers. All this does not honor the assembly of the device. It is impossible to compare HTC One (M8) and reference iPhone 5S by this parameter. The latter is built much better. Of course, there is no backlash or squeaks, but the fit of the body parts still raises questions.

Despite the rather impressive dimensions, using a smartphone is very convenient. Shows the roundness of the edges.

	Length	Width	Thickness	Weight
HTC One (M8)	146,4	70,6	9,4	160
Apple iPhone 5S	123,8	58,6	7,6	112
LG G2	138,5	70,9	8,9	160
Samsung Galaxy S5	142	72,5	8,1	145
Sony Xperia Z2	146,8	73,3	8,2	163

Yes, the new One is not thin, but the streamlined shape of the device gives the device a feeling of airiness. The weight of 160 grams does not weigh down the pocket much, but is quite consistent with the entire form factor and hence the perception of the device as a whole.

Display

The screen is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 3 with an oleophobic coating. Below it is a screen with a diagonal of 5 inches and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, made using Super LCD3 technology, but simply an IPS matrix. The density of dots per inch is 441 ppi. FullHD, good contrast, excellent color rendition - everything here is at a high level: no “bleeding out” of colors, excessive saturation, and other things.

Of course, when tilted, the excellent level of brightness is reduced, but the colors are not distorted at all.

In general, the industry has developed a certain level of minimum requirements for displays, which almost all devices meet with a small fraction of the difference in contrast and color reproduction. Boring. Of course, this does not apply to the creations of Korean manufacturers. It has its own path and its own rules.

For clarity, we give a comparison of the screens of HTC One and iPhone 5.

Of course, the display recognizes up to 10 touches at the same time. This function must be activated separately from the menu.

The smartphone is pre-installed special applications for drawing. Of course, there is no question of any recognition of pressing force, but the correctness and speed of touch processing is impressive. For example, in Sony Z Ultra, this is implemented worse.

HTC One has the following specifications:

• Android 4.4 operating system, HTC Sense 6 shell
• Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (quad core) 2.3 GHz
• Video accelerator Adreno 330
• RAM 2 GB
• Memory for data 16 or 32 GB (actually available about 9.5 GB)
• microSD card slot (up to 128 GB)
• Display 5 inches, Super LCD 3, 1920x1080, 440 ppi,
• Battery 2600 mAh
• Cameras: main 4 MP (2688×1520 pixels), front 5 MP (2560×1440 pixels), video recording 1920×1080, 30 fps
• GSM, EDGE, WCDMA, LTE networks
• Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), Infrared, NFC, DLNA, GPS
• Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, barometer
• Connectors: microUSB (2.0, USB host), 3.5 mm, nanoSIM SIM card

Smartphone resources are sufficient for most tasks. The interface does not slow down at all, scrolling through working screens, menu lists and activating applications is very fast and smooth, without any slowdowns. The same goes for playing FullHD video and resource-intensive games - there are no delays anywhere.

In the AnTuTu rankings, the newest One is an underdog. However, the loss is not so great and it is impossible to feel the difference in normal usage scenarios. In addition, a lot often depends on software optimization and new firmware always adds performance points to devices.

Two parameters of the smartphone are surprising, namely: USB 2.0 standard and only 2 GB of RAM. Of course, for most users, this amount of RAM will be more than enough, but the data transfer rate over the cable will not be what you expect from the most modern device.

Camera

While testing the smartphone, I involuntarily got the impression that the main function of the HTC One is the camera. This was facilitated by several features of the device.

Firstly, there are as many as three cameras here! In addition to the front one, One has a 4 megapixel main camera. It is called UltraPixel, since the size of one dot is 2.0 micrometers, which is a lot. For example, one pixel size in the iPhone 5S matrix is ​​​​1.5, and in Sony Z1 it is even less - 1.1 microns. The main sensor of the HTC One is equipped with Back-Screen Illuminated (BSI). The aperture is set to 2.0, which contributes to the rendering of a pleasant blur and creating depth in the image. The second camera installed above also helps in this. Together, the two sensors are called the HTC Duo Camera and allow you to create photos in which you can change the focus point (UFocus). This function is reminiscent of the famous Lytro camera.

Secondly, there is no shortage of various shooting modes in HTC One. There are really a great many of them. Among them are panoramic shooting, and the ability to create spherical photos, and double photography, that is, when in the picture, in addition to the main frame, there is a small image from the front camera. All sorts of photo effects and editing methods are also present by default. In addition, there is a curious Zoe application, thanks to which you can create your own diaries.

The number of all these settings is off scale and because of it, the developers had to twist up a rather confusing photo application interface. We are all used to the standard division of functions into photo and video recording. Here, in the main menu of the sensor, you can also select creative scenarios, which have a place among all other modes and camera settings.

Of course, HTC wanted to put their, in their opinion, the most interesting chips in prominent places, but this only confuses the user. Most consumers need to quickly take a photo and occasionally edit it a bit with the tools at hand. Nobody wants to learn anything and remember every time: “Where did I see this regime last time?”. And this is a minus.

Thirdly, about the pleasant. The camera starts up in less than a second, and the frame rate is very fast. There are no freezes. All frames, frills and other effects are opened and superimposed with lightning speed. Once the camera application crashed, but it was a one-time failure and not a defect in any way.

The quality of the photographs lags behind the loud exclamations of marketers.

A smartphone is definitely not suitable for those who are looking for a powerful and modern solution with the ability to create beautiful shots.

Despite the fact that all modes, such as HDR, Night, Text, in special conditions really help to achieve maximum quality, the overall picture is somewhat depressing. Beautiful pictures can only be obtained in conditions of sufficient lighting. High detail is hard to achieve. In cloudy weather, the machine makes mistakes, and from two photographs taken with the same settings, under the same conditions, one can turn out to be much better than the other.

Scenarios such as UFocus, image background change, photo frame overlay, and others are more like toys than really useful features that consumers use every day. It is strange when a world-class manufacturer focuses on some little-demanded features and tries to force customers to do and appreciate what they do not need. All this leapfrog took place at one time in Nokia with the function of using gloves to control a smartphone and cameras of 41 megapixels.

Let's look at sample photos.

Obviously, the detail of the pictures is at an average level. Colors almost always remain natural and undistorted.

Of course, frames created, for example, using the “Photosphere” script are just cool chips and cannot be viewed on a computer the way One shows them.

In full manual mode (M), you can independently set the exposure, white balance, shutter speed and ISO (100-1600). Among other things, you can choose the depth of focus and get a beautiful and strong background blur. This is not necessary, as the device perfectly focuses on any object, even in auto mode and in low light. Yes, he can't take that away. By the way, for taking pictures in the dark, a dual LED flash can come to the rescue.

Video recording

The camcorder specifications are standard: 1920×1080 pixels at 30 frames per second and stereo sound recording. Tracking focus and stabilization work out their functions at the proper level. As additional settings, there is an HDR mode, video recording at 60 frames per second, or a SlowMotion scenario (slow motion). The latter is not accompanied by an audio stream and is recorded in silence. See video examples below.

Easy Video Recording:

Video recording in SlowMotion mode:

Video with 60 fps effect:

Sound

HTC One has two external speakers. Despite this, the volume of melodies is not amazing. The playback quality is really good, but you still expect more from those loud praises that are in the press release.

The sound in the headphones is high quality and pleasant. The BoomSound add-on really brings changes that are pleasant to the ear: it adds clarity and volume to the sound.

The playback quality is comparable to the competition, and in my opinion, One copes with this function a little better than, for example, the iPhone 5. In fact, such nuances can only be detected by direct comparison and nothing else.

Interestingly, there are no special Beats Audio settings in the device now. This is how HTC accustoms its users to one thing for several generations of devices, and at one fine moment, as if nothing had happened.

Software

The smartphone runs out of the box on Adnroid 4.4 and is equipped with the HTC Sense 6 shell. The company has not abandoned its proprietary BlinkFeed desktop and other interface chips.

Internet browser preinstalled on the device own production which is difficult to use. It is not stable, it hardly loads pages that run almost lightning fast in Chrome. Generally, standard application for web surfing resembles Internet Explorer.

IR port equipped proprietary application and perfectly copes with the management of any technique. You just need to download the appropriate profiles and train yourself to keep your smartphone close to the controlled devices.

Time battery life

HTC One, as mentioned above, has a non-removable battery that has a capacity of 2600 mAh. This is not much, but in practice the device has debugged power supply algorithms. There are many modes and settings here that activate the sparing mode of using the smartphone’s battery and really help to get the most out of a single charge.

Compared to previous generation, M8 extended battery life. With intensive use of all all functions, One is able to work until late at night. Unfortunately, in our time, this is quite a good indicator for a flagship.

With intensive use, the smartphone heats up quite noticeably. Web surfing, heavy gaming, and the camera interface cause the back of the HTC One to become very hot. Of course, it is impossible to burn your hands, but for someone it can be a critical moment.

Sensors and technologies

The smartphone has implemented a new interesting system called Motion Launch, the essence of which is that data from all sensors of the device is collected and stored in one place. Applications do not need to access sensors directly, they use information from a single database. This feature allows you to save battery power and implement new smartphone chips.

HTC One can be unblocked using the most different ways. First, it is tapping on the screen. Secondly, swiping your finger across the display surface in sleep mode, which activates one or another function of the smartphone, depending on the direction of the gesture. Everything is configured by the user from the menu. During the time that I tested the device, I imperceptibly managed to get used to the function of unlocking the smartphone by double tapping on the screen. This is a really useful thing, not marketing nonsense.

In addition, if you turn the smartphone horizontally and press any volume key, the camera interface opens from sleep mode. This script is the only one that worked once or twice. Otherwise, the sensors of the device always work correctly.

HTC Dot View Alternative Case

The company offers as an additional accessory for relatively little money (1,790 rubles) to purchase a sort of lattice case. This plastic case well protects the smartphone and opens up new facets of using the device. The accessory is compatible with all of the same Motion Launch gestures.

The smartphone, being in a case, displays various notifications through its openings. It looks really impressive. Of course, such effects work best indoors or with a lack of light. In the sun, these shimmers noticeably fade.

Outcome

HTC has shown the monstrous speed with which a new device enters the market. updated version HTC One was announced on March 25, 2014 and the next, attention, the next day, the smartphone could be purchased at retail. Such a feint cannot be cheap, as the price of the device indirectly tells us.

Of course, 32,990 rubles is expensive!

We all know the current exchange rate of foreign currencies, in which all transactions of world brands are made. And it is no longer possible to keep the same price level as in previous years. We see this on the example of HTC and the hero of today's review.

Further. In the first month of finding a smartphone on the market, he will no longer be alone. Samsung Galaxy S5 arrived on store shelves and Sony Xperia Z2 is on its way. And HTC One becomes the most expensive of the three newest flagships. And this does not mean at all that it has the best characteristics. Samsung Galaxy S5 has a camera with a very decent image quality and the highest detail, USB 3.0 and higher frequency characteristics processor (2.5 versus 2.3 GHz for the Taiwanese brainchild). Of course, the Korean cannot be compared with HTC One in terms of appearance. However, there is also the Japanese novelty Z2, which, in addition to 3 GB of RAM, a larger display, 4K video recording capabilities, has its own distinctive design.

Should I buy HTC One (M8)?

In my opinion, no. With a price of 25,000 - 27,000 rubles, the smartphone would have every chance to compete for some significant market share. At the moment, the device is of interest only to connoisseurs of the brand and the Sense shell. It is also possible that users who are tired of the Apple design or the notorious Sony Style will find something new in One for themselves.

He was in dire need of a successor who would not lose face. The updated HTC One (from its predecessor HTC clumsily differentiates it with the addition of an internal model designation - M8) once again relied on appearance, case materials and well-thought-out software both in terms of design and functionality. We have been using the HTC One M8 as our main smartphone for almost a month and are ready to tell you how it outperforms competitors' products and how it lags behind both them and last year's predecessor.

Specifications

• OS: Android 4.4.2 with Sense 6.0 shell
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Quad-Core (MSM8974AB) @ 2.3GHz
• Graphics subsystem: Adreno 330
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage Memory: 16/32GB Support microSD cards(up to 128 GB)
• Interfaces: DLNA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, infrared, microUSB (USB 2.0) for charge/sync, 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Screen: capacitive IPS, diagonal 5 inches, resolution 1920 by 1080 pixels (FullHD), density ~ 441 pixels per inch
• Cameras: main 4 MP with autofocus, Full HD 1080p video recording, front 5 megapixels, frame depth sensor
• Network: GSM/HSDPA/LTE
• Navigation: GPS/GLONASS, A-GPS
• Radio: FM tuner
• Sensors: accelerometer, proximity sensor
• Battery: 2600 mAh
• Colors: white, black
• Dimensions: 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4mm
• Weight: 160 grams

Design, ergonomics

The manufacturer failed to impress the press and potential buyers with the appearance of the HTC One M8 - firstly, the official announcement was preceded by 1000 and 1 leak, and secondly, the design of the device, although it has changed, is only evolutionary. The same black rectangle of the screen is looking at the user, to which metal panels with perforated BoomSound speaker grills are “attached” above and below, unexpectedly it turned out to be very similar to the inverted back panel of the iPhone 5s. Here are the most noticeable changes: we moved the buttons from the dedicated strip under the display directly to the screen, changed the location of the proximity and light sensors, and, finally, significantly, especially in length, increased the size.

The latter is not happy. If from last year's generation of flagships HTC One was perhaps the most convenient, then the novelty lies in the hand much less confidently due to the length that has grown by almost a centimeter (up to 146.4) mm and 2.5 mm wide. The thickness has remained almost the same (0.1 mm increase is invisible), the comfort of use has increased due to the rejection of sharp edges of the case in favor of rounded ones. But for many, the dimensions will be on the verge (or beyond) convenient, and the weight, having increased by 16 grams, has become more noticeable.

The volume rocker and power/lock button protrude a little more than the 2013 model and are more comfortable. But the lock button is still on the top end, every time you have to train your fingers to stretch with unnatural movements to turn off the screen of the device. Well, at least you can unlock HTC One M8 with gestures on the screen, we will talk about them in more detail in the chapter on software.

The smartphone requires a nano-format SIM card (similar to the iPhone since iPhone 5, Motorola Moto X or Nokia Lumia 1520), it is inserted into the "sled" that slides out of the case. Similarly, on the other edge of the device, you can insert a microSD memory card up to 128 GB.

In the case of the smartphone itself, there is now even less plastic and even more (90%, if you do not take into account the screen and filling) metal. The surface looks and feels different than last year's One - it's less matte, yet has a subtle but visible texture, as if soft aluminum has been brushed with a wire brush. She has no immunity to scratches, when used without a case (with it, the dimensions go beyond all reasonable boundaries), they appear after a week of use. However, the color and texture are chosen so that small scratches are noticeable only if you look closely, and even then they do not spoil the impression of the device.

On the other hand, in the box along with the phone, the buyer will find a protective case. It's a simple translucent "bumper" that protects the rear panel and case perimeter, but such care is welcome. Additionally, you can purchase a Flip Case with a flip cover, a cheerful multi-colored bumper Double Dip Case, or the most interesting option - a Dot View case with rows of small transparent holes on the cover. It allows the smartphone to display basic information such as time and weather by highlighting individual dots. HTC claims that this does not significantly affect battery life.

Both connectors - for a USB cable and for headphones - are located on the bottom end of the device. On the back is the main camera, complete with dual flash, designed to provide natural colors in any light, as well as a secondary camera designed to determine the distance to objects in the frame. About why it is needed (if needed at all) - in the next section. Brief Summary in appearance and convenience: the second is clearly brought by the developers in favor of the first.

Screen

Traditionally, in recent years, there have been no complaints about the quality of displays in HTC's flagship products - IPS technology provides excellent viewing angles, color reproduction, and a margin of brightness. In the bright sun, the image, of course, fades, but at the same time it remains no less readable than indoors.

With a diagonal of 5 inches, the HTC One M8 screen has a Full HD resolution - 1920 by 1080 pixels, the pixel density is not a record, but quite guaranteeing "invisibility" individual points 441 ppi. The newest HTC smartphone uses protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protects the screen from most scratches and damage. At the same time, if (like us) we do not take special care to protect it, then small scratches that are noticeable upon close examination of the surface still appear on it after a couple of weeks of use. That is, this is not a panacea, if you want to keep the screen in perfect condition, you will have to use a case, or rather, a protective film.

camera, sound

Let's start from the end - with the front camera. Its resolution in HTC One M8 has more than doubled - from 2.1 to 5 megapixels. At the same time, the size of the matrix has not changed much (from 1/5.8 to 1/5), so there is no need to talk about a significant improvement in image quality.

HTC One M8 is the only smartphone ever released in the world, which has a front camera resolution higher than the main one. HTC engineers are still convinced that the size of the pixels is more important for image quality than the number of photosensitive elements of the matrix. Therefore, the main camera still has about 4 million megapixels, but the pixels themselves are several times larger than those of competing counterparts.

Traditionally, in recent years, smartphone manufacturers have increased the number of pixels - the sensor elements that capture light - and users are used to thinking that the more, the better. However, the final image quality, contrast and color saturation, the way we see it on a monitor (with a resolution, usually not higher than Full HD, that is, two megapixels) or on a smartphone screen, is much stronger than the size of the sensor matrix itself and its elements. . In addition, algorithms for processing data from the matrix are important, which are responsible for the correct color reproduction and contrast.

Yes, 4 megapixels compared to 16 for the Galaxy S 5 or even 8 for the iPhone 5s can be daunting in a flagship smartphone. But that doesn't stop the HTC One M8's camera from taking noticeably better shots than most Android smartphones. Pixels will be missing only in one case - if you want to crop a photo in the editor by selecting and enlarging one section of the image. Then the lack of resolution, of course, will affect the quality.

All this could be said about the camera in last year's HTC One, except that the sensor is from another supplier and the manufacturer promises increased color accuracy and saturation. However, there is a difference - the second camera, located just above the main one. The purpose of this sensor (technically the same 2-megapixel module that was used for the front camera in last year's One) is to work in conjunction with the main camera to determine the distance to different areas of the image.

The smartphone simultaneously saves data from the main and secondary cameras, but only the first one displays and saves as a normal one. Thanks to the second camera, a "depth map" of the image is created, dividing it into several zones, conditionally the foreground, middle ground and backdrop. This data allows you to apply various effects in post-processing - from simulating a lens with a shallow depth of field (bokeh effect) to desaturating the background. Unfortunately, in practice, the "depth map" is far from always created correctly, as a result, blurry (or discolored, or autumn leaves or snow flying over them - there are countless effects of varying degrees of naivety in the arsenal) are not exactly the parts of the image that should be would.

With due persistence in certain scenarios, you can really get the effect of shooting with an expensive camera with a high-quality "portrait" lens, but the system will not be able to magically transform each shot. Perhaps the situation will improve in new versions of the software or products from third-party developers. To them, HTC promises to open the SDK of its camera so that third-party applications can access tricks with frame depth.

So far, the results of using the Duo Camera look like this. For most users, the new technology will simply be an excuse to play around with a couple of shots, and will not revolutionize mobile photography at all:

Here the result is slightly better, however, the system still could not perceive the girl in the center of the frame as one object, part of the hair and the elbow were in the background and fell under the processing effect:

In the event that you are shooting a half-length portrait or a carefully calibrated still life, the results will certainly be better. However, even then, the digital blur effect applied to the background does not look as natural as real optical bokeh.

Sample photos, comparison with iPhone 5S. Click to view full size images:

HTC One M8	Apple iPhone 5s

The pictures show that the HTC device is less accurate in determining the required shutter speed - the first two frames are distinguished by overexposed areas, while the third is underexposed. On the other hand, subjectively, the grass and flowers on the second frame turned out to be more pleasant on the Taiwanese phone. This is invisible in the thumbnails, but due to the higher resolution in the iPhone 5s image, you can see more details (for example, in the third frame, the pattern on the girl's dress in the foreground). Finally, the iPhone introduces less geometric distortions into the urban landscape shot - the HTC lights on the edges of the frame and the State Duma building on the left are more "drunk". In general, the quality of pictures from HTC is excellent, however, automatic algorithms that determine the desired shutter speed and white balance sometimes work a little rough.

The rest of the photos taken by HTC One M8 can be found at this link (Dropbox). The main claims, if you find fault, are insufficient detailing of small objects (tree branches, for example) and often overexposed bright areas of images. The HDR mode, unfortunately, does not solve the last problem - the smartphone draws out the details in the shadows, but the bright areas still remain overexposed. However, the color rendition is usually correct, and the contrast is good, the pictures look nice on the screen of a smartphone or computer. In low light conditions, the smartphone shoots well, but we did not notice any radical difference for the better from other flagships during the test.

There is another problem that applies to shooting videos and photos in low light - the HTC One M8 camera lacks optical stabilization. Most likely, the manufacturer decided to save money, or the OmniVision supplier could not produce the required number of modules in the right time. In any case, the image stability of the HTC One M8 when shooting video handheld or on the move is noticeably lower than that of its "optically stabilized" predecessor.

It is worth mentioning that htc camera The One M8 is extremely fast - it takes a fraction of a second to autofocus, saving is generally instantaneous. In addition, in continuous shooting mode, it is possible to shoot up to 99 frames in a row at a speed of about 12 frames per second. If desired, the selection of the best of them can be entrusted to an automatic function. The camera app itself looks very thoughtful, all the settings are at hand, but do not get in the way unnecessarily. Unfortunately, HTC refused to simultaneously display the photo and video buttons, so to quickly switch to shooting a video, you will have to get into the shooting mode menu.

Finally, briefly about the sound - HTC released a smartphone for the second year in a row, which leaves behind all competitors in terms of built-in speakers. Of course, the laws of physics do not allow to fit a really high-quality audio system in a compact smartphone case, but among the flagship devices, the HTC One M8 is still the leader both in terms of the sound volume of the stereo speakers and the clarity of playback. No one has yet made a better built-in alternative to compact Bluetooth speakers.

Filling, performance

Like its main competitors - Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2 - HTC One M8 is built on the most powerful chip available to manufacturers today, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AB). In the European version of the smartphone, which is also sold in Russia, the processor frequency is 2.3 GHz. The Asian one has 0.2 GHz more, but it probably consumes the battery faster. In any case, the result is one of the best:

For games, the device is also ideal, except that it could be easier. The frame rate at maximum quality is almost the same as that at the minimum, that is, the margin of graphics performance is huge:

The HTC One M8 has 2 GB of RAM - the engineers considered it irrational to install more. The built-in memory of the device is 16 or 32 GB, but the presence of a microSD slot with support for cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB makes it pointless to purchase a 32-gigabyte model. "Out of the box" a little more than 10 GB is available to the user:

Another important design feature- the device requires a nano-SIM, the old mini- or micro-format card will have to be cut or replaced.

Battery capacity HTC One M8 leaves 2600 mAh - 13% more than its predecessor. With normal use (45 minutes of video, about 15 minutes of calls, regular monitoring of news in the Press RSS reader, occasional surfing, social networks and e-mails, switching to airplane mode at night), the smartphone has a 24-hour battery life:

This means that even with active use, it will be possible to “kill” the battery in a working day before returning home only by trying - for example, by playing 3D games for several hours or continuously watching a movie in Full HD at maximum brightness. When the brightness was set to 2/3 of the maximum, the HD Ready resolution video in .mp4 format was played by the HTC One M8 without stopping until the battery was completely discharged for a little over 11 hours. This is a phenomenal result compared to its predecessor - the 2013 HTC One could continuously work as a "cinema in the palm of your hand" for no more than 6-7 hours. In the case of surfing the web over 3G/LTE while automatic installations brightness, you can expect a result of 7-9 hours of continuous operation, over Wi-Fi - more than 10 hours. And the 2014 One also charges significantly faster than the 2013 model - an average of just over 2.5 hours versus 3.5.

The HTC One M8 has no problems with data transfer speed (3G and LTE networks), LTE still flies faster than other Wi-Fi. In addition, it was noticed that at points where the iPhone 5s received data over 3G uncertainly or even switched to EDGE, the HTC One M8 transferred data perfectly and quickly enough to the 3G network. The disadvantages of the device's communication capabilities include the pensive work of GPS. At least in google maps and "Yandex" after waking up the device, the location marker, as a rule, turned out to be in the right place after 10-25 seconds. Most other smartphones find themselves "waking up" much faster. I would like to hope that this is a flaw in the software and it will be promptly corrected.

Another feature of every self-respecting flagship smartphone recently became a built-in motion sensor. Both the iPhone 5s and the Galaxy S5 have a pedometer, and the new HTC flagship also has it. The devices are preloaded with one of the best of its kind, FitBit, which is able to analyze data from the One M8's built-in sensor. There will be another reason to force yourself to get off the chair and go for a short walk. HTC One M8 and iPhone 5s, being in different pockets of jeans during the day, record almost the same number of steps.

Software Features

HTC One M8 works on latest version Android 4.4.2 with HTC Sense 6.0 interface. The latter took all the best from the previous version, intelligently integrated innovations into KitKat and, most importantly, imposes much less controversial usefulness of a function like universal news feed HTC BlinkFeed or Zoe photo-video story tool. True, the Wallet application for NFC payments dangles on the home screen, which, as it turned out, mercilessly wastes battery in the background. For this reason, and also because of the unwillingness to trust the card data to the most vulnerable mobile platform(sorry, Android, but it's true), it was mercilessly torn down after a couple of days of testing.

The appearance of Sense 6.0 is very good, perhaps, this is the only firmware from first-tier manufacturers that can compete with stock Android not so much with an abundance of dubious features, but visually. The fonts are good, and the choice of colors, and the design of the widgets, HTC software designers obviously do not eat their bread in vain, unlike their colleagues from some other companies.

Aside from visual differences, as well as dubious attempts to compete with third-party software developers in their field like BlinkFeed, HTC Sense 6.0 adds really useful things to Android. One of them is the extreme power saving mode. You can turn it on manually or program it to activate when the battery is discharged to a certain level.

In it, the device essentially turns into a regular "dialer"-communicator with access only to the most important: calls, SMS, e-mail(inbox will have to be updated manually), calculator and calendar. At the same time, the maximum screen brightness is limited, the frequency of the processor and graphics core is reduced, background data transfer, motion sensors and screen gesture recognition are turned off, all applications are unloaded from memory. In this mode, 5% of the battery charge, according to HTC, can last for 15 hours, and 20% - for 60, that is, 2.5 days.

The second important and really useful feature of the HTC One M8 software is gesture control. With such dimensions, no one wants to reach out to the unlock button several dozen times a day, so the smartphone can be “woken up” with the usual double tap on the screen, holding it in portrait orientation. To immediately unlock the device, just swipe up from the bottom of the screen. To launch the camera, you need to hold the smartphone in landscape orientation, press the volume up button. Unfortunately, there are no gestures to lock the device. In order to turn off the screen, you still need to reach for the button on the top of the smartphone.

Purchase, conclusions

We clearly have one of best Android smartphones 2014. The price of the device matches such conclusions - 33,000 rubles at the start of sales, which is 10% more than the obvious competitors - Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2. A device imported into Russia unofficially, and deprived of the manufacturer's warranty, can be purchased for about 5,000 cheaper, in addition, many "white" sellers also retreat from the 33,000 mark. However, when choosing the best smartphone of 2014, we must remember that the HTC One M8 is by far the most expensive of them.

However, the device is not without drawbacks. The first is the average ergonomics due to the size, although the Z2 and Galaxy S5 are still worse with it. The second is the camera, the pictures from which are great for Instagram and other social networks, as well as sending by mail, but nothing more. If these two factors do not bother you, then the HTC One M8 is perhaps the most impressive smartphone of 2014 in terms of design (including interface design) and workmanship, moreover, it has a very durable battery, best-in-class speakers and a full-fledged support for microSD cards up to a record 128 GB capacity.

So, here's what the review allowed us to find out HTC smartphone One M8 (2014):

Pros:

• Great design, build and body materials
• High, although not record-breaking, performance
• Long battery life
• Loud and clear sound from built-in speakers
• Thoughtful, functional and stylish software

Minuses:

• "Locked" GPS
• Uncomfortable size, especially vertically
• Controversial camera