HTC One (M8) Pro Reviews

Now, the ultimate question that remains unanswered is whether or not it’s a logical decision to upgrade to the M9 if you currently own the M8. A tough question indeed, it purely comes down to whether or not you can tolerate the M9’s displeasing performances. At the end of the day, however, we can attest that there’s more good than bad going for the M9 over its predecessor. Like we plainly stated time after time, the M9 is an evolutionary phone for HTC – it’s not a dramatic leap, but it bears enough favorable qualities to make it the superior phone. That said, should you with to hold on to the M8 for another year, and wait for the next generation of flagships, you sure aren't going to miss that much.

If we take size out of the equation, though, the Note 4 has a clearly pronounced advantage: its brilliant Quad HD display is a beauty to behold with its accuracte colors, while the screen on the M8 does not look bad, but lacks that color fidelity, then, the Snapdragon 805 system chip on the Note 4 is an improvement over the 801 on the M8, and finally, the 16-megapixel optically stabilized camera is among the best smartphone shooters out there, while the M8's UltraPixel camera is not all that capable. Where M8 still comes up is the stylish unibody aluminum body, but hardware-wise it is just not as impressive. Picking between the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and HTC One (M8) also comes down to price, and that’s where the M8 has a clear advantage with a full, off-contract price of around $600 (540 euro), while the Note 4 carries a full retail cost of $825 (770 euro). So which one would you pick?

It is never easy to pick a favorite among phones that have so much to offer. One thing's certain, however – whether you pick the iPhone 6 or the HTC One (M8), you will receive your money's worth in exchange. You just need to know what your priorities are when making the choice between these two great models. When it comes to design, the two phones stand in the same league with their meticulously crafted metal bodies. But the iPhone 6 is definitely the more compact one with its slim and lightweight construction. The M8 might be larger and heavier, but its offers a bigger screen with higher resolution and a pair of great front-facing speakers. Taking the potent hardware specs of these phones into account, it is safe to say that both the HTC One (M8) and the iPhone 6 will be relevant for at least a couple more years. The two are definitely capable of handling their respective operating systems with ease, delivering a hassle-free user experience. If you tend to take photos often, then the iPhone 6 is more suitable for your needs as it packs the better camera. Not that the M8's snapper is bad, but it just doesn't meet the high expectations one would have for such a premium product. If you take a lot of selfies, however, we suppose you'll be quite pleased with the M8's 5MP front-facing camera.

The G3 seems to be better in pretty much every way, yet the One M8 is not far behind. LG G3 has the larger screen with a much higher pixel density, but the One (M8)'s display offers better outdoor visibility. LG might have stuffed the G3's 5.5” panel in a relatively compact frame, but the premium aluminum unibody of the One (M8) is still easier to operate with one hand. The G3 might sport a tad faster processor, and a version with 3 GB of RAM, but in everyday interactions it doesn't feel faster than the One (M8). When it comes to the camera and battery life, though, those important sections go entirely on the G3's side. LG's handset has a great 13-megapixel optically-stabilized camera with a much higher image and video quality than what the 4-megapixel camera of the HTC One offers. We also measured about 25% longer battery life, compared to the One (M8) in the same conditions. HTC One M8 offers the better sound output and call quality, and that's about it in terms of advantages before LG's finest.

We’ve dissected these two extensively, but at the end of the day, it boils down to size preference. By sticking with the HTC One mini 2, you merely get a phone that matches its siblings premium construction, but in a compact package that’s more manageable to operate with one hand. It’s that and the fact that you’ll save some money on picking up too! Even with the added savings, there are some obvious compromises by choosing to go with the HTC One mini 2 – like its watered down specs and missing software features. Honestly folks, that’s not all that surprising to us, seeing that the HTC One M8 is meant to provide us with the best experience. Indeed, you’ll be forking over more cash to pick it up, but at the end of the day, we gain something that’s synonymous of a flagship smartphone.

Like the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2, the new HTC One M8 isn't a big leap compared to the previous model. What HTC has done is taken a great phone and made it better. The M8 looks and feels gorgeous and with important upgrades including a microSD card slot and an innovative camera. This is one desirable smartphone.

Price-wise, the Sony Xperia Z2 and the HTC One (M8) rank among the most expensive smartphones money can buy right now, right along with other flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the iPhone 5s. But they're worth their price, given all the great features that both have to offer. Which one of the two you should pick, however, depends on your needs and taste. Both phones excel in the design department – you'll be drawing the eyes of people nearby upon taking either out of your pocket. We'd say that the HTC One (M8) fits a bit better in the palm, but the Z2 is still okay as large as it is, not to mention that it compensates for its size with a slightly larger screen and a water-resistant construction. And speaking of screens, the 5-incher on the HTC One (M8) is indeed an eye-pleasing one, and with more accurately represented colors compared to the 5.2-inch panel on the Z2. The latter has the advantage of being a tad larger and with better-represented whites, but its pumped up colors aren't as accurate. Then there's the performance of the two phones. Even though both pack the same silicon under their hoods, the HTC One (M8) feels slightly snappier, and we're guessing that the light-weight Sense UI has something to do with that. The Sony Xperia Z2 might feel slightly laggy if its home screens are too packed, but when it comes to, let's say, playing heavy games, Sony's flagship is in the same premier league together with the One (M8).

It's not really alllll that much different from the standard HTC version of the phone, which means it's not alllll that much better. Yeah, it's definitely laid out a little nicer and more intuitively, and it looks a bit cleaner, but HTC has scaled-back its skin (HTC Sense) enough that it doesn't really get in the way, and it doesn't really slow things down anymore. If you don't mind a carrier contract, you might as well just get the normal, subsidized HTC version from your carrier for $100-$200, depending on their pricing. But of course, if $700 means nothing to you then sure, go ahead and get the Google Play Edition, why not?

The Galaxy S5 is fast, well built, full featured. It has a big bright and bold screen, and good cameras, and it offers good storage- and connectivity options. And you could say all of the above about the new 2014 HTC One M8. The Galaxy S5 may offer a better, marginally bigger display, the HTC One M8 may be slightly faster, although you will be hard pressed to notice the difference in either area. Both phones offer interesting new features, and offer their maker's take on the latest Android. Ultimately availability and pricing will determine this battle, as well as the human and subjective response to design, build and interface. If it was me, at this stage I'd probably err toward the HTC One M8. But it really is a personal choice.

The One (M8) on Sprint continues HTC's reign as the maker of the best-designed Android smartphones. It oozes with style and sophistication, but makes some compromises compared with the Galaxy S5.

Well, we've been patient for these two particular smartphones, and now that they are both here, the only thing left to do is to make the difficult decision of which one to choose. Quite frankly, both the Samsung Galaxy S5, and the HTC One (M8) are superb devices that can offer you an astonishing user experience throughout most areas. Some of the rare exceptions where these two are faltering are the UltraPixel camera of the One (M8), which continues to lag behind its rivals when it comes to quality, and the other is the somewhat unnatural color tones of the Galaxy S5's AMOLED screen (though they are admittedly punchy and eye-catching). Leaving these few weaknesses aside, it's clear that you simply can't go wrong with either of these, as they pack a tremendous amount of goodies to further complement their premium set of core features. The main distinguishing feature of the HTC One (M8) is, naturally, its premium, all-metal design, which is something that you don't get with the Galaxy S5 and its perforated plastic body. Without a doubt, the M8 feels like the more expensive product of the two, but it's also the colder product of the two. What we mean by this is that it's very likely for the Galaxy S5 to physically be the more comfortable phone to use for most people out there, and that shouldn't be overlooked. At the end of the day, Samsung and HTC are once again neck and neck with their latest flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S5 proves to be one step ahead with its superior camera, but the One (M8) kind of makes up for it with its premium design, more natural-looking screen and better speakers. The choice is yours!

HTC made my job incredibly easy with the HTC One M8. In terms of beauty, quality, and feel, there aren't many devices worthy of comparison to the One M8. I went looking for major gripes to have about the phone, but struggled to come up with any aside from the camera and aforementioned inconsistencies across carrier models. It wasn't a struggle to find faults with the HTC, but it was difficult to find faults big enough to make me not love the device. My appreciation for the 2013 HTC One has been well-documented on this site, so it shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that my new favorite phone is the follow-up that made that device more appealing. The HTC One M8 is the best Android phone at the time that this review is published. It might have that distinction for only a few days considering what's on the horizon, but the One M8 is a phone unlike any other.

Traditionally, the older a smartphone gets, the cheaper its price becomes. Therefore, it should be expected for a 6-month product to be lower in price point than let’s say, a new smartphone that was just recently released. Bearing that in mind, we’d be inclined to think that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 would be the affordable device, but that’s not the case here. In fact, the HTC One M8 is actually the more affordable smartphone – bearing a contract and outright cost of $200 and $650 respectively. In contrast, the much older Note 3 is attached with a sticker tag of $300 on-contract, and an even more ridiculous $725 outright through many of the popular wireless carriers. It’s staggering, don’t you think? We can argue endlessly and dissect each phone to determine the superior one, but again, they each have their unique features, attributes, and characteristics to reel in different individuals. In our opinion, the HTC One M8 has more of that balanced appeal to cater to a wider audience. From its stylish design, to its simple software experience, it has the key ingredients that are necessary for a solid foundation. Heck, the pricing is also easier to tolerate – an inviting incentive for those budget conscious buyers out there. Oppositely, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 can also attract the same folks, just as long as they can tolerate the diverse software features it offer, and its ordinary looking design. Nonetheless, productivity centric individuals will especially gravitate to what the Note 3 brings to the table. In fact, all of those software features, on top of the added functionality you get from its S-Pen, fit perfectly into the mold of productivity users.

Our opinion of the One M8 hasn’t changed much since we first tried it out a week ago. It’s an absolutely beautiful phone with an attention to detail that’s unmatched. The problem is that at its $650-$750 price, it’s going head to head with the waterproof Galaxy S5 and the iPhone 5S. We wish HTC included better water resistance and that the phone was a little less slippery to hold. If you already own the One, don’t drop your cereal and buy this immediately. HTC is going to send HTC One phones an Android 4.4 update, and you already have a phone that will last you just fine. But if you’re looking to upgrade, this is one of the best superphones around. It will be available on all four major U.S. carriers by the end of April, not to mention more than 230 other carriers around the world. At half the One M8′s price, $350, the Nexus 5 is still the best deal going for an Android phone, but if you have the money, or your carrier discounts the phone, the One M8 isn’t a purchase you’ll regret.

A simple summation of the many parts that make up both the HTC One M8 and the Nexus 5 initially yield a confusing result. The new One is clearly the better-looking, and overall more capable device of the two, but that comes with a considerable price premium. Starting with the fancy aluminum body, design is as an integral part of the One M8 as is value for money for the Nexus 5. But the One isn't just a pretty face – it's an exceedingly capable device, and it really shines in areas such as performance, multimedia, call quality, and battery life. That said, the UltraPixel Camera still disappoints. In contrast, the $350 Nexus 5 takes a palpably different approach to your heart. At $350, few can say no to a full-fledged flagship, and though the subsidized device is outclassed on several fronts by the newer One (M8), it still offers a surprisingly robust bundle. It's far more compact, and doesn't really fall behind on the performance or camera fronts. It's also unsurpassed in terms of speedy Android updates – a big plus for those looking to maximize lifetime utility. Obviously, however, that price tag demands some shortcuts be taken, and those are felt when looking at its inferior earpiece and loudspeaker, not to mention battery life. In the end, it really boils down to a choice between a better, more classy device, and a less-stylish one that offers a very, very compelling bang for your buck. And folks, it really is as clear-cut as that.

Two flagship Android smartphones, two fantastic performances amongst them in several key areas. There’s just no going around the obvious here people, they have nearly all the elements we want to find in a smartphone that would cement their statuses as being flagship things. Making a logical decision in what to choose is tough no doubt, especially when each device has their unique characteristics to pull in certain consumers. Consequently, pricing is a driving factor that can fine tune a decision for some. Taking into account that it’s been out for a longer period of time, the LG G2 naturally benefits from having a lower price point than the HTC One (M8). Depending on where you shop, you can even snag it for as low as free with a 2-year contract – or $465 outright if you prefer not being stuck with an agreement. Meanwhile, the HTC One M8 is priced at $200 on-contract, or $650 outright through several carriers. Savings is something you’ll get more sticking with the LG G2. Overall, the decision will mainly hinge on what you like – and pricing too if that matters to you. Pick up the LG G2 if you want an inexpensive smartphone that can still hold its own ground by offering us a ton of software features, and being the superior phone when it comes to snapping photos and videos. However, if you want a phone that can stand out from the crowd for its beautiful design, produce some cool post photo effects, boasts a long lasting battery life, and has an excellent call quality performance, then the HTC One M8 is going to be the device for you.

There is no doubt that the HTC One (M8) is the better smartphone of the two... for the most part. The one area where the Xperia Z1S easily steals the show is the camera, as HTC's UltraPixel thing continues to lag behind the competition. That is not to say that the 4 MP shooter of the M8 is poor. No, it's actually pretty good for casual use, but if you want superior performance from your smartphone camera, then the 20.7 MP G Lens snapper of the Z1S will do a better job. Aside from that, the One (M8) sports a newer chipset, better screen, nice front-facing speakers, and better battery life. In terms of exterior, well, both handsets are spectacular. The Z1S has the advantage of being water- and dust-resistant, but it's like the new One is the more likely phone to win a design award. Similarly, both handsets offer very nice and polished custom user interfaces, with that of the One being a notch fancier. At the end of the day, the more advanced technology in the One (M8) allows it to bestow consumers with an overall better experience (except for the camera department). But we wouldn't have declared it a clear winner if it wasn't for the immense amount of work HTC has put in the design of this gorgeous smartphone.

A breath of fresh air for HTC, their newest star is able to give Apple’s darling a good run for its money. As we all know by now, the two handsets sport very similar prices – $200 for most carriers selling it with a 2-year contract, or $650 for unlocked models. Pricing and specs can dictate a phone’s overall value, but the true telling is really found in their performances. All the money in the world can get anyone a beefy spec’d, good-looking smartphone, but if it fails to perform in the areas that matter most to us, it’s merely an utter failure. Dissecting their performances, it’s arguable to say that one can sometimes be dramatically better than the other in a specific category. For the iPhone 5s, it shows its worth when it comes to taking photos/videos, more quality third party applications, and donning a straightforward & uncomplicated software experience. In contrast, the HTC One M8 impresses us with its stunning premium design, diversified software features, extended battery life, and superb phone call quality. Ultimately though, it’s going to come down to personal preference. Size is also something to factor in, as well as how their software experiences cater to our needs. Whatever you end up picking, you can sleep knowing that you’re choosing a smartphone that’s going to be relevant throughout this year – so expect them to continue vying for supremacy in the space!

The One (M8) on AT&T continues HTC's reign as the maker of the best-designed Android smartphones, but while it's an awesome phone, there's plenty of awesome right around the corner.

Improves on the original in every way, aside from the dual camera it's largely a by-the-numbers update, but the design alone is still enough to turn heads

HTC hit the mark in several areas with the M8, proving to us that they’re able to improve upon the foundation set forth by its predecessor. Even with all of the improvements, like its speedier performance, more stylish looks, and longer battery life, we can’t help but think about its camera. To tell you the truth, that’s single handedly the one thing we were hoping to see the most dramatic improvements. Rather, the generally quality of its photos remained unchanged before – enhanced instead by the myriad of duo effects courtesy of that secondary camera. Now comes the matter of pricing, something that always becomes the focal point for any consumer purchase. The new HTC One M8 is going on sale for $200 with a 2-year contract with most carriers – a befitting mark for a brand spanking new flagship smartphone. In contrast, the M7 can probably be picked up for dirt cheap nowadays. Heck, it’s likely that it can be found for free even, depending on where you look naturally! Bearing that in mind, it’s only fitting for budget conscious individuals to pick up the older model, but if cost is not an issue, then it’s only logical to snag HTC’s latest flagship. Quite simply, that’s probably going to be the biggest deciding factor. All roads point to the obvious here, where it’s painstakingly clear to pick up the newer device if you fancy the most cutting edge thing. You won’t be disappointed either, since improvements are seen in pretty much all aspects of the smartphone. Well, that still doesn’t mean you should totally disregard the aging model, seeing that it’s still a capable smartphone in itself. For what it’s worth, it can still tangle with some of the best – albeit, probably not at the highest capacity like its successor.

Like the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2, the new HTC One M8 isn't a big leap compared to the previous model. WHat HTC has done is taken a great phone and made it better. The M8 looks and feels gorgeous and with important upgrades including a microSD card slot and an innovative camera. This is a very desirable smartphone.

So what does it all mean for the new HTC One, the handset that the company is betting on to succeed in the face of stiff competition? Yet again, we can’t deny the obvious that it’s an amazingly gorgeous smartphone – one that we’re unlikely to see surpassed by any of the flagships being released within the first half of 2014, probably with the exception of the Sony Xperia Z2, which will be able to rival the new One's premium build. The new HTC One doesn't seem to have any particularly weak spots, save for the UltraPixel camera, which continues to lag behind rival offerings. Still, we have to make it clear that the camera is good enough for casual usage. So, it'll all come down to just how important the camera is to you. If you happen to demand top-notch camera quality with no compromises, then we think it'd be worth waiting a few weeks so that you can take a look at the upcoming Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2, which are expected to perform noticeably better in this respect. However, if you're ready to settle with just a decent camera, then we're sure you're going to appreciate the new HTC One's beautiful design and robust set of features and capabilities.

HTC and Samsung have been in a heated battle for as long as we can remember. When one comes out with something, it instantly becomes the most talked about thing in the industry – for a short time of course, until the other chooses to out something newer. In our present moment, we have the new HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, two devices that are currently available for pickup right now. Being the newcomer, there’s a natural inclination to expect better results from the newer device – and we do see some of that in the new HTC One. HTC pounds Sammy’s offering in the design department, where its all-metal aluminum body exudes the premium look we crave in any flagship smartphone. In fact, it’s leaps and bounds better than what the polycarbonate plastic body of the Samsung Galaxy S4. Regardless of that, good looks alone won’t drive any particular handset to stardom. Surprisingly enough, the older Samsung Galaxy S4 manages to beat out its significantly newer rival in certain categories, like the camera’s still image quality and its expansive set of software features. Just because it’s older, we can’t automatically count out the Galaxy S4 from potentially edging out the new HTC One. Even though it’s filled with several software features, some useful, some obnoxiously redundant, specific people will nonetheless appreciate those features at their disposal. If we’re to factor in current pricing for the two handsets, there’s an incentive to stick with the Galaxy S4, since it sees more discounts than the just outed new HTC One. Therefore, if you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to settle on some cheap-o smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is an enticing option that has few compromises. Conversely, if you’re all about the latest and greatest, not to mention taking pride in how your phone looks, the new HTC One will fill in that gap for you.

HTC could've played it safe with the new One. Followed the crowd; put in a fast chip and a big display, and taken the easy route. Whether that would've actually done the firm any good is a question we can't - and needn't - answer, since instead the One M8 tries to push the boundaries of what we've come to expect from a smartphone. Not everything works. The Duo camera system shows incredible potential, but HTC's software still has rough edges around how the depth information is actually used, and the quality of some of the images reminds us that UltraPixel isn't without its compromises; the Extreme Power Saving mode gives some impressive numbers, but lacks the flexibility to be tailored to what each user might want to do with their device.Nonetheless, the new One M8 is beautifully design and constructed, is fast and has a great display, uses one of the best manufacturer-customized interfaces we've seen in recent time, and delivers all that without demanding compromise on battery life. That HTC has learned from its past missteps and will have it on shelves the same day as it's announced is testament to just how seriously the company is taking its position in the smartphone segment today. What remains is the really difficult stuff. Competing with the monstrous advertising budgets of Samsung and Apple. Delivering the sort of timely software changes the One M8 opens the door to. Convincing would-be users that Android isn't synonymous with Galaxy. That's a journey that will take time, but the 2014 One M8 is an excellent place to start.