The amount of RAM has not changed since last year. This is not surprising: the main driving factor in this direction is the screen resolution, and, as you know, it has not changed since last year. The amount of internal memory is 16 or 32 GB (with 24 and 10 GB available, respectively), but now it can finally be expanded thanks to the microSD slot, which supports cards up to 128 GB, so you are unlikely to feel the lack of free space.
Communications that a smartphone could still have are quite difficult to come up with; it has everything, including all possible Wi-Fi, HSPA and LTE standards. There is even an infrared port, which we have already mentioned.
The capacity of the non-removable battery is 2600 mAh, and this is the weakest indicator among the results of the trio chosen for comparison. However, HTC has carried out optimization and as a result, the new flagship lasts longer than the previous one. It is enough for almost a day of active use. There is also an energy-saving mode, or rather, even two energy-saving modes: traditional and critical.
Everything is clear with the first one, but what happens in the critical one? First of all, the clock frequency of the processor is reduced, and significantly. Almost all sensors and sensors are turned off, data transfer stops immediately after the screen goes blank, the backlight brightness becomes minimal. But that's not all. In critical power saving mode, you can not use almost any applications, except for calls, messages, mail, calendar and calculator. Of course, turning on this mode makes sense only when the battery is very close to being completely discharged. But you can also set it to automatically turn on at the level of 20, 10 and 5 percent of the charge.
Case Dot View, Sense 6.0
We have seen more than once how manufacturers are trying to make the case not just a case, but a functional element that simplifies the work with a smartphone. Apple started with its SmartCover for iPad. But HTC, in our opinion, has gone the furthest. The Dot View case looks like a traditional (and not the most comfortable) accessory. It closes the back panel of the device completely and is fixed on it, and on the front side there is a folding silicone cap.
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: 16/32 GB, microSD card support (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 speaker grills BoomSound 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 (like the iPhone since the 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 yet 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. A brief summary of 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 the "invisibility" of individual dots 441 ppi. The newest HTC smartphone uses Gorilla Glass 3 to protect 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:
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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's worth mentioning that the HTC One M8's camera 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 is that 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 web surfing over 3G/LTE with automatic brightness settings, you can count on the result of 7-9 hours of continuous work, 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 and Yandex maps, 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 has recently become 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 runs on the latest Android 4.4.2 with HTC Sense 6.0 interface. The latter takes all the best from the previous version, intelligently integrates innovations in KitKat and, most importantly, imposes much less controversial usefulness of features like HTC's BlinkFeed universal news feed or Zoe's "photo-video-stories" 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 ruthlessly taken 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, hold the smartphone in landscape orientation and 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
This is clearly one of the best Android smartphones of 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 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 of the HTC One M8 (2014) smartphone allowed us to find out:
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
Between glass and metal you can see a thin strip of plastic. It is needed so that when the case is heated, the metal does not press on the glass.
HTC is proud of the fact that 90% of the back of the case (according to the manufacturer) consists of metal. In the previous generation of HTC One, the amount of metal was 70% (most likely, we are talking about the entire body minus the glass). For better ergonomics, the transition from the sides to the back is rounded. Due to this, the smartphone is more comfortable in the hand. In addition to the window for the ultrapixel camera, one more thing has been done in the case - for the second camera. The purpose of the second can be found in the "Cameras" section. To the left of the main camera lens is a dual LED.
On the sides of HTC One (M8) you can find a slot for a SIM card (Nano-SIM, left) and a memory card (MicroSD, right). In addition to the slot for memory cards, on the right sidewall there is a double metal volume rocker. On the top end there is an on/off switch. It has been moved from left to right. The key is made of glossy black plastic, exactly the same as the entire top end. The IR transmitter is built into the key. Headphone jack and USB-cable is located on the bottom.
During the test, we encountered the following problem several times - the unwillingness of the smartphone to detect Kyivstar and Intertelecom SIM cards. As it turned out, the whole point is that both SIMs were cut off, as a result of which, their chips were located in close proximity to the metal tray, which led to a short circuit. It was possible to solve the problem using a folk method - by sticking pieces of adhesive tape on the edges of the Nano-SIM. In this regard, in order to avoid such problems, we recommend that users get factory Nano-SIMs, and not cut off the old Mini or Micro-SIM. Despite the declared support for CDMA networks, the smartphone refused to register in the network of the operator "".
The case of the smartphone is not disassembled. There are no complaints about the assembly, the case does not creak when squeezed and cannot be twisted. Due to the different location of the power key and the volume key protruding above the surface of the case, the ergonomics of HTC One (M8) has improved significantly compared to HTC One (M7).
Operating system and shell
The smartphone is running an operating system with an updated proprietary shell HTC Sense 6.0. Visually, the new shell practically does not differ from HTC Sense 5.0.
The first thing you notice when you get acquainted with HTC Sense 6.0 is the presence of virtual touch keys at the bottom of the screen. Icon design has not changed. In the notification panel, in its second tab, an icon has been added to edit the location of shortcuts and their number. In total, 12 shortcuts can be displayed, and their total number is 24. Holding on any of them takes you to the corresponding menu. The icons in the settings menu, depending on whether the function is active or not, have become gray-green. Among the new items are "Print" and "Import from another phone" (using Bluetooth to receive data).
The lock screen has not changed, but the lock icon can now move not only up, but also left and right. Depending on this, you will be taken to the main desktop window or to the BlinkFeed feed. In addition, from the lock screen, you can go to Google Now. To enable widgets on the lock screen, check the box in the "Security" menu. Unlike other devices, you cannot start the camera with a swipe to the left, this gesture takes you to the menu with widgets.
The number of desktop windows has increased by one, to six. The leftmost window is reserved for the BlinkFeed news feed. You can delete it, but you cannot add a window with shortcuts and widgets in its place.
There is now a separate key to call the running applications manager (on HTC One M7, you had to press the Home key twice). To delete an app, swipe it up; to delete everything, click the cross at the top of the screen. Previously, there was no such possibility. From here you can go to the section of running applications.
The application list still allows you to change the number of icons displayed on one screen from a 3x4 matrix to a 4x5 matrix. Widgets with the weather were removed from the main screen, and the line with settings and sorting, on the contrary, was made permanent. The location of the shortcuts can be changed at your discretion, alphabetically or recently added.
Hardware platform
The smartphone is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 hardware platform, equipped with 2 GB of RAM and 16 or 32 GB of permanent memory. At our disposal was the younger version with 16 GB on board. Of the 16 GB, a little more than 10 GB is available to the user. They can be expanded with memory cards up to 128 GB inclusive.
The single-chip system manufactured using the 28 nm process technology is an improved version of Snapdragon 800. Their capabilities are largely the same, moreover, without resorting to additional costs and preparation, manufacturers can replace Snapdragon 800 chips with Snapdragon 801. The crystal consists of four Krait 400 processor cores operating at a frequency of up to 2.3 GHz, and an Adreno 330 graphics core. Together they make the novelty one of the most productive smartphones to date. In the 3DMark benchmark, the smartphone overtook the closest opponent in the face by 1000 points. The results of other benchmarks confirm the advantage of HTC One over other models. Until the release of the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One will be the most productive smartphone.
Like most devices based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, the smartphone easily plays 4K video (30 fps) and Full HD video at 60 fps, but does not support AC3 audio tracks. The built-in player has a limited number of options.
Video file playback
| Codec\Name | UltraHD4K.mp4 | Neudergimie.mkv | GranTurismo.mp4 | Spartacus.mkv | ParallelUniverse.avi |
| Video | MPEG4 Video (H264) 3840×2160 29.92fps, 19.4Mbps | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1920×816 23.98fps, 10.1Mbit/s | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1920×1080 60fps, 19.7Mbit/s, 20Mbit/s | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1280×720 29.97fps, 1.8Mbps | MPEG4 Video (H264) 1280×536 24.00fps 2.8Mbps |
| Audio | AAC 44100Hz stereo 124kbps | MPEG Audio Layer 3 44100Hz stereo | AAC 48000Hz stereo 48kbps | Dolby AC3 44100Hz stereo | MPEG Audio Layer 3 44100Hz stereo 256kbps |
The speaker volume is very high, you can enjoy videos and music even in noisy environments. The sound has become more voluminous, which cannot but rejoice, because even its predecessor had it at a very high level. At the presentation, it was said that in comparison with its predecessor, the volume increased by 25%, while the speakers themselves were replaced with new, even better ones. In terms of speaker sound, the HTC One (M8) has no competition. No less impressive sound in headphones, including bundled ones. The volume reserve is so significant that you can listen to music in the subway at 12 out of 15 levels. The same applies to the sound when watching a video.
The speed of finding GPS satellites is high. A cold start takes seven seconds, a second search takes three seconds. The data exchange rate in the Wi-Fi network (standard n) is close to the maximum, the frequency bands of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and the ac standard are supported.
Like its predecessor, the novelty is equipped with an IR transmitter that can easily work with home appliances (TV, DVD, home theater).
Among other wireless modules, we note NFC, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX support. To connect to a TV, you can use both the DLNA protocol and MHL. Your smartphone has the Fitbit app. Built-in sensors are used to receive data about your movements.
To pass the Antutu Tester test, we had to put it in the refrigerator. The result obtained cannot be called worthy. It is possible that an update will be released soon, in which, when a certain battery / processor temperature is reached, the clock frequency of the chip will decrease. So at one time it was with HTC One (M7).
In two-hour tests, the novelty proved to be quite good, in some ways it is better than analogues, in some ways it is worse. In game mode, the user can count on 169 minutes of work.
| Operating time indicators | |||||
| Mode\Device | HTC One (M8) | Xiaomi Mi-3 WCDMA | LG Nexus 5 (ART) | LG G2 | Sony Xperia Z1 |
| Music | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 1% |
| Reading | 10% | 15% | 17% | 11% | 15% |
| Navigation | 24% | 24% | 31% | 18% | 21% |
| Watching HD video | 16% | 19% | 28% | 15% | 13% |
| Watch HD video from Youtube | 18% | 22% | 39% | 27% | 18% |
| Antutu Tester (points) | 305 | 356 | 373 | 419 | 500 |
| GFXBench (minutes) | 169 | 183 | 146 | 209 | 208 |
| GFXBench (points) | 1389 (24.8 fps) | 1579 (28.2 fps) | 1364 (24 fps) | 1294 (23 fps) | 1360 (24 fps) |
The % value displays how much the battery is discharged in 2 hours of testing. In mode reading all wireless communications are turned off, including data transmission in the mobile network, and the display brightness is set to 50%. When listening music automatic data synchronization, data transfer worked. Headphone volume at 12 out of 15 possible levels. All music files in MP3 format, bitrate 320 Kbps. Navigation includes route planning in the Google Navigation app. The brightness is set to 50%, all communication communication modules are disabled. When playing video data transfer is active in the mobile network, the display brightness is set to 50%, the sound volume in the headphones is at level 12 out of a possible 15. Video file format MKV, resolution 1024x432 pixels, frame rate 24. Video playback from Youtube was accompanied not only by work in the Wi-Fi network, but also by active data transfer. The display brightness is set to 50%, the headphone volume is set to 12 out of 15 possible levels.
Display
The smartphone comes with a 5-inch S LCD 3 display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (441 PPI). Information is easy to read on a bright sunny day, and the minimum backlight level does not tire your eyes when reading in the dark. The colors are saturated, the white balance is closer to warm tones, however, this can only be noticed when compared with its predecessor, in which the color temperature is too high, which is why cold shades prevail in the image.
The display brightness is adjustable from 12.1 cd/m² to 470.2 cd/m², 50% corresponds to 131.2 cd/m². The ambient light sensor and auto-brightness work correctly, dimming the backlight to a minimum in the dark and raising it to a maximum in bright light. The contrast ratio is 1960:1 - this is the highest figure that we have seen in IPS-matrices.
Factory calibration done well. The color temperature is in the region of 6800K, which confirms the subjective assessment, the color gamut is beyond the sRGB space, the colors do not mix, the delta value is linear and is in the region of 14 (a good indicator), and only the gamma curve value is slightly raised, which makes grayscale a little darker than it should be.
Taking into account all these factors, high-quality oleophobic glass coating, good display behavior in the sun, the smartphone can be rated as high as possible.
Gesture control
To compensate for the not very convenient location of the power / lock key, and at the same time add new features to the smartphone, the novelty was taught to respond to gestures. For example, to turn on the screen you need to tap on it twice, pressing again turns off the backlight, but only if you are on the lock screen. The reaction to gestures is instant, but for one hundred percent operation, the smartphone must be held in hands, otherwise there may be failures. To quickly launch the camera, the gadget must be rotated horizontally and press one of the volume keys. To turn off the ringtone, take the smartphone in your hands and swipe the screen (or case) from top to bottom. In addition to double tapping, you can unlock your smartphone with a swipe up, and in this case you immediately get to the desktop. Swipe right brings up BlinkFeed, swipe left brings up the desktop. The difference between swiping up and to the left is that in the first case, you simply unlock the smartphone and get to the last running window / application, and when you swipe left, to the main desktop window. Other features include automatic answering a call when you hold your smartphone to your ear, image / sound transmission to a TV, home theater or wireless speakers with a three-finger swipe up. We cannot judge how much all these gestures will be in demand by the user, but the fact that HTC did not limit themselves to a simple unlock, but added other functions, cannot but rejoice. The author, as a user of LG G2, liked the presence of such gestures.
cameras
The novelty received three cameras at once, a front one with a resolution of 5 megapixels and the ability to record Full HD video and a wide-angle lens and the main one, consisting of two modules - Duo Camera. The main feature of the main camera is that when shooting, the camera focuses on all objects in the frame, as a result, by going into photo editing and selecting UFocus mode, the user can change the focus point. There is a similar function in , the advantage of UFocus is that you do not need to launch a special mode, the camera uses it by default, but whether you use it or not is up to you. The only thing I would like to add to UFocus is the ability to expand the focus area, since the desired object is not always fully in focus. If you close the second camera while shooting, you will receive a notification that Duo Camera cannot work. The camera focuses instantly.
UFocus example
Among other features of the application for applying the effects of the seasons: autumn, winter, summer, spring.
Panorama shooting, updated HTC Zoe function, dual shooting (simultaneous use of the front and rear cameras), the ability to apply blur effects, create a 3D image, etc. All this should be more than enough for most users, but those who often edit photos on a smartphone will still install specialized applications.
The viewfinder interface has gained new functionality. The user can save the settings as a separate file, however, we could not figure out how to switch between them. Shooting modes include macro, HDR, portrait, landscape, text, and manual settings. With manual settings, the user can set the color temperature, white balance value, ISO (100 to 1600), shutter speed (4 to 1/8000) and focus.
The novelty can shoot HDR video, Full HD video at 60 fps and Slow Motion video at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and a frequency of 120 fps.
Impressions from the HTC One camera are positive, the resolution of the main module of 4 megapixels somewhat darkens the picture. It could be expected that the manufacturer will take into account the wishes of the owners of the previous One and equip the smartphone with a higher resolution camera, but alas.
Sample photos taken with HTC One (M8) smartphone
Comparison with HTC One
HTC One (M8)
The original video can be downloaded/watched from this link
Results
After getting to know the HTC One closely, we managed to find out how much the new smartphone differs from its predecessor. Differences begin with the case, which received even more metal. Despite the increased dimensions and larger screen, rounded sides and comfortable keys make the smartphone more ergonomic. The increased battery capacity is leveled by the increased screen size, so in terms of autonomy, HTC One did not bring any surprises. Like most smartphones, with an average load, the user can count on a day of work. But the performance has increased significantly. In this regard, HTC One (M8) has no competitors yet. The volume and sound quality leaves no chance for opponents. If this parameter plays an important role for you, you simply cannot find a better smartphone. The practically unchanged shell received a number of changes specific to the version of Android used. In addition, the novelty has a slot for memory cards, gesture control and an additional camera. With the latter, not everything is so smooth. There are no complaints about her work, which cannot be said about the resolution, but, again, not all smartphone users edit and even more so print photos. Therefore, the vast majority of HTC One owners will be satisfied, especially since for a smartphone it makes no difference whether you shoot day or night - in both cases you will be satisfied with the result.
2 years ago 0
0. Nice design1. Good screen: no graininess, nice natural colors, good brightness. Glass is almost impossible to scratch.2. Just great sound! (if you have good headphones, of course) By the way, the sound from the built-in stereo speakers is also good (as good as the sound from the built-in phone speakers can be). performance. Compared not by parrots, but in the process of working with other devices. For example, a full backup / restore of the system through recovery is five to six times faster than on my previous device (although the difference was ~ twice in parrots. Both devices have 4 cores and 2 gigs, the flash drive is the same). The interface does not lag from the word "completely".4. You can easily unlock the bootloader with the help of official services from HTC and download any ka
2 years ago 0
Excellent screen - Simply amazing sound both in headphones and speakers (Better than in the old One for sure) - Attractive design and all-metal body - Improved interface compared to the previous generation of this model (for example, on-screen buttons are much more convenient than the buttons on the previous one) one, prettier design, a lot of new software features in the camera, added a couple of nice little things to the interface, such as the ability to close all applications at the same time in the task manager and gestures to unlock: double tap, swipe, etc - very convenient) -Improved autonomy - Smooth, powerful (36500 points in Antutu)
2 years ago 0
Nice bright screen. Before it, I had an HTC One m7, which I really liked. Despite the fact that the M8 is slightly larger, it feels much more comfortable in the hand. Yes, and it looks more beautiful. The battery lasts longer, the first 50 percent spends as quickly as the M7, when it reaches half, for some reason the percentages decrease very slowly, that is, about 35% of the charge remains by 12 at night. -Fi, Bluetooth, Facebook and all the news on Blinkfeed, which I really like, thanks to him the phone is "live", something changes all the time there. This is only for HTC as far as I know.
2 years ago 0
Beautiful case, very pleasant in the hand. Nice bright screen. Not buggy. Good sound. And the charge lasts long enough. Initially, I was going to buy a Sony, Z3, and even ordered it in an online store (with the condition of pickup from their outlet on Gorbushka), but when I went to pick it up on the way to the 2nd floor, I accidentally saw this device in the window :)) I already compared 2 devices in my store and chose, of course, HTC. Moreover, before that there was also an old NTS.
2 years ago 0
Design, operating time, SD card up to 128GB.
2 years ago 0
I bought an excellent device and am very satisfied. The response time is just excellent, it does not hang. It lies in my hand as it should
2 years ago 0
The screen, in brightness, is not inferior to s4, brighter than One m7. The chromaticity is the same, if we compare the same matrices, on the European One m7 (in my case, the Norwegian assembly), cold ones predominate, the temperature is lower here, the eyes do not hurt so much. - The sound is louder than m7, by 25%. Better instrumental. The headphones are worse, as it seemed to me, the crooked channel separation, if almost nothing is noticeable in the plugs, then in some BD 990 you can already clearly hear the difference. - Appearance. The back cover is just a standard, looks great. The front is also good. - Battery. Overnight discharged 1% in standby mode. Generally lives ~40% more than m7. There is an Extra Energy Saving function, at 15% it lives 40 hours, current calls, sms, mail are available. - Factory overclocking with one tick. - 3D panorama, looks great. - Sense 6.0, very
2 years ago 0
Gorgeous screen, colors are rich and close to natural -Simply awesome sound, I get real pleasure from listening to songs both on speakers (of which, by the way, there are two, with amplifiers) and in headphones. Boomsound really improves sound quality -Sense 6 and Android 4.4.2. The smartphone is very fast, runs very smoothly -Very powerful and not very energy-consuming processor (I have a frequency of 2.3GHz) -32 gb of internal memory (about 25-26 gb available) -Support for SD-cards up to 128 gb -The all-metal body is very comfortable in the hand, for my hand like a glove. The quality of both materials and assembly of the smartphone is at a high level. The design of a smartphone, of course, is a subjective matter, but for me it is great. Holding the phone in your hand, you understand that this is a real thing worth the money - Nesmo
2 years ago 0
Design, build, battery (lasts 24 hours with average use). At seven in the morning I charge up to 100%, at seven in the morning of the next day I put it back on charge at 15%. Charges pretty fast. Excellent interface, after "touchwiz" from Samsung, "sixth sense" from HTC is simply pleasing to the eye. Management is very convenient. Camera on a solid four. For a smartphone camera, you don’t need a higher rating, if you want a solid five, buy a DSLR. Great sound. Loud speakers, even quiet tunes are heard well. Vibration is the bomb. it is better not to put it on the edge of the table, the phone may vibrate down.
2 years ago 0
0. A bad camera in its class, and not a software shell, but its hardware. Color reproduction is disgusting. Photos look dark and give off blue. I would forgive this if the device cost 2 times cheaper, but such cameras are not installed in flagships.
1. IMHO - a disgusting shell! In order not to argue for a long time, I’ll write this: Sens, it’s like a car with an enormous fuel consumption, which you can only drive straight. At the same time, what especially delivers, he will eat gasoline, even if you parked it and left home with the keys! This is easily treated with third-party firmware, but most will not be fooled by this, right?
2. Aluminum housing. Yes, yes, I wrote it down as a disadvantage. In my opinion, there are two reasons for this: firstly, it is rather slippery and often falls, and secondly
2 years ago 0
The rear camera is frankly bad, this also applies to image resolution and color reproduction.
-Although the interface has been improved, but it is not very convenient, you need to get used to it if you have not used the sensor before
-High price of 33 thousand rubles, they could have done less
- Case for a five-inch display is too large
-Inconvenient location of the unlock button, although there are gestures to eliminate this shortcoming
2 years ago 0
I don’t particularly see, well, if the battery would be even more powerful.
Camera. Whatever you say, but ultrapixels do not save. However, on the screen, the pictures look good, plus excellent video. On the desktop is better not to throw off.
2 years ago 0
For those who need a 5-inch smartphone, it may not be suitable, because. due to the on-screen buttons, the working diagonal of the smartphone is about 4.7 inches
-Camera (yes, it's not perfect), but the pictures on the smartphone look great.
2 years ago 0
Various applications open in your pocket and reject or answer calls if you have Motion Lunch turned on. Without a cover - books, it is better to disable this function. The speakerphone worked twice during a conversation, I almost went deaf in one ear, given that the speakers are very loud. I don’t know the reason for the spontaneous switching on of the speakerphone, I hope it won’t happen again.
First, a few clarifying points. I had a few hours to get acquainted with the novelty, and I will receive a sample for testing in the coming days. However, even two hours is enough to make a first impression of the smartphone, albeit a very brief one. I also want to remind readers that the material was written by an ardent fan (still) of HTC, and in the article you can find my subjective assessments. However, I will try to be restrained.
Traditionally, let's start with the most important - prices and sales start dates.
Price and timing of the start of sales
In Russia, sales of the new HTC One begin today (March 26), the cost of the 16 GB version will be 32,990 rubles. Do not rush to immediately close the page, expressing your "fi" about the high price, HTC did their best to make the new flagship so that the user or potential buyer at first glance understands why he is asked for such money. And the company succeeded.
Smartphone name
As I expected, the company did not invent new names and went on the right path - the new product is called exactly the same as the previous model - HTC One. Of course, M8 will be added in reviews, various mentions of the smartphone and even on the box on the back, but in general, the novelty is just HTC One, and that's right, I think. The series is already popular, money has been invested in its advertising, and the smartphones of this line are mostly successful, and the choice of a simple name for the next flagship is very logical.
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: HTC Duo dual camera: 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. Optional 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 9.4 mm
- Weight: 160 grams
Design, case materials, assembly
This is where I need to catch my breath. The fact is that a year ago I admired the design and workmanship of the first HTC One, and now, when I picked up the new One, I caught myself thinking: how much better it is in everything related to design and materials! Still, human memory has an amazing property - what until recently looked and was perceived as the height of perfection is becoming obsolete, and now you are already experiencing new sensations and impressions from a new device / technology. Exactly the same situation I had with HTC One (M8). In photographs, renders, and even video, the smartphone looks like the previous One, it seems that there are almost no differences between them in detail. In reality, this is a completely new device, and there is nothing in common, except for the shape of the body and the location of some components, with the previous generation HTC One.
Firstly, the case of the new HTC One is made almost entirely of aluminum, there are no plastic inserts along the edges, and the only strips of plastic are due to the location of the antennas under them. That is, it is aluminum, a pair of plastic grooves and Gorilla Glass 3 glass - that's all. Secondly, the assembly is very high quality, even the test sample was made for five points: the finest work, no gaps, places where dust can clog, everything is very high quality. Thirdly, excellent basic body colors and a beautifully finished metal surface. The colors are noble, not boring, but not variegated either - dark gray (pictured) and light silver. The golden HTC One will appear with us later, probably this color is also made without excessive brightness.
The first, general impression of the device is formed in a person exactly when he picks up a smartphone for the first time, and here HTC One is perfect. The new flagship of the company in terms of workmanship, materials and the general feeling of all these elements together evokes one emotion - “wow”. Comparing a smartphone with other Android models is meaningless, it's just a different level of performance, design and materials used, even a comparison with the previous generation HTC One would not be appropriate, although last year's One was stronger than competitors when it came to design and materials.
With the new HTC One, the company is a few steps ahead of all manufacturers, there is nothing to say about Samsung and LG, these companies have not practiced design work (in the normal sense) for a long time. It is either absent, which is good, or present, which is worse. Comparison with smartphones from Sony is more appropriate, the Japanese manufacturer at least tries to make unusual products using non-standard materials, but even with such a comparison, in my opinion, the new HTC One remains far ahead, it combines design and cool materials with the overall practicality of the case, there are no traces visible on it, it is non-staining (as far as I can judge by two hours of using the device), which cannot be said about Sony smartphones made of glass.
In general, design, materials and overall build quality are exactly the things due to which the new HTC One can and should be sold, and, in a good way, this story about the new product can be completed. Before us is a vivid example of a smartphone in which appearance plays a major role, and it is likely that for many it will be a decisive factor when choosing this device, and not dimensions, characteristics or software, the new One turned out to be so impressive.
Dimensions
The new HTC One on paper is noticeably larger and heavier than last year's model, but in reality the difference in dimensions is almost imperceptible due to three points - rounded corners of the case, the overall integrity of the design (there are no sides with plastic inserts, and the edges smoothly merge into the back of the device) and the preserved width corps. In the hand, the new HTC One lies exactly the same as the previous one, no differences, the increase in height is barely noticeable in reality.
If you compare the smartphone with other Android devices, the difference in dimensions seems to be noticeable, but, as I wrote above, in reality there is no feeling of a spade-shaped smartphone. I'm not writing this because I'm an HTC fan and don't like Samsung (which is true), but only because I've held both the new HTC One and the old one, as well as many smartphones from Samsung, and I'm just describing my feelings.
HTC One M8 and Meizu MX3
HTC One M8 and Apple iPhone 5
HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S4
Platform and Memory
At the heart of the new HTC One is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 platform with a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor. The company notes that they did not use the overclocked (2.5 GHz) version of the platform in order to optimize battery consumption. RAM 2 GB, built-in storage for data 16 or 32 GB. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, the device works with cards of any size, 128 GB cards are guaranteed.
The memory card tray is located on the right edge of the device, for a nanoSIM SIM card - on the left. Judging by the width of the SIM tray, the company plans to release a DualSIM version of the smartphone in the near future.
I will not talk about the performance and speed of the smartphone, based on the results of benchmarks. For two hours of working with the device, I did not notice any lags or “brakes”, everything works smoothly and quickly, so I just did not pay attention to the fact that I would need to evaluate the speed of the interface, and this is perhaps the main indicator of its smoothness.
Screen
HTC One (M8) has a 5'' display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. I have nothing more to say - the device has a high-quality screen with maximum viewing angles, a good margin of brightness and natural color reproduction.
The screen can be controlled with gloved fingers, a stylus, and the display also responds to touch when the cover is closed, we'll talk about this below.
Camera
Everything here is sad, I will say right away. The company stubbornly continues to develop the idea of "ultrapixels", inventing new interesting things along the way, but for me personally, everything depends on the low resolution of images, and here it will again be limited to a four-megapixel camera module.
Yes, an f/2.0 camera with a large pixel size, an additional camera for capturing scene depth data, and uFocus technology that allows you to change the focus point in an already taken picture. And this is where the technology really works – you take a picture of a subject and then you can edit the picture to change the focus point from the subject in the foreground to some distant subject. There is a dual LED flash that illuminates the frame not necessarily with bright white light, but varies in brightness and color depending on the shooting conditions. There is a "Copy & Paste" function that allows you to cut a piece of the frame and paste it into another photo. Finally, there are huge opportunities for "sharing" photos and entire albums, the ability to view friends' albums and other things. The camera interface itself has become simpler and more pleasant, this is also important.
But here's the problem - we are talking about all these things, and they are really done in the new HTC One to the conscience, they work, however, when it comes to the main parameter - photo quality, it remains to lower your eyes to the floor if you are the owner of HTC One (I'm talking about last year's model now). Apparently, the photo quality in the new HTC One will be about the same as in the previous model, and this saddens me personally. I stubbornly cannot understand why the company is trying to attach all these interesting software features and solutions to a 4 MP camera for the second year in a row. After all, their value becomes much lower than if HTC used them together with a conventional 12-13 MP camera.
I don't know what else to add here. Of course, I will believe to the last that the quality of the pictures has improved, we will conduct a comparative photo test of the new flagships, and in the HTC One review I will ask you to help me with the photo part of Roman Belykh, but so far everything is going to the fact that the camera in the new HTC One will be the weakest link.
By the way, the front wide-angle camera in a smartphone with a resolution of 5 MP, there is no autofocus, but even without it, you can get good shots only due to the resolution and the ability to fit in the frame not only yourself, but also a couple of comrades. So for connoisseurs of “photos of themselves in the elevator”, the device can be very attractive.
A few examples of photos from the main camera (the pictures were taken on an engineering sample):
Sound
The company refused to use Beats Audio developments, the new HTC One uses its own sound "improvers", everything else is the same as it was in last year's model. Two high-quality, by the standards of any smartphone, speakers with built-in amplifiers, HTC BoomSound technology and very clear and very loud sound. Judging by the fact that the new flagships from Samsung, LG and Sony do not offer anything new in terms of external speaker sound, HTC One (M8) will again be the only leader in this parameter.
Separately, I would like to note the transfer of the 3.5 mm jack to the bottom end of the case, that's what I didn't like about HTC (M7), because it's located on top. Now everything is more correct and more convenient. The power button was left on the top end (now you will have to use it much less often, but more on that later), as well as the "window" of the infrared port.
HTC Sense6
The improvements around HTC Sense are mostly in the nature of neatly correcting mistakes made earlier in the development of this interface, and rightly so. The BlinkFeed service no longer occupies a central place, the screen with it can be completely removed if you are not using the service. Now you can add news sources from different countries (previously it was impossible to view news from such sources at once), make collections, and some other things.
Themes now do not just change the color scheme and pictures of the desktop and lock screen, HTC went further and made colored "caps" for various types of programs. That is, applications for communication can be with a blue “hat”, browsers and programs for accessing the Internet - red, system ones - green, and so on. The idea is interesting, but how useful it will be, I can’t say yet.
The overall style of the interface hasn't undergone major changes - neat icons, an elongated font that can now be changed, a calm color scheme without bright contrasting spots - everything is very familiar and comfortable.
motion launch
The Motion Launch function is the recognition of the surrounding environment by a smartphone thanks to information from various sensors and sensors, collected and processed by a separate coprocessor. According to the company, this technology is a contribution to optimizing the power consumption of the device. If usually each program in a smartphone independently polls each of the sensors when necessary, then in the new HTC One, programs simply access this data without polling sensors and sensors.
There are also many practical applications of the technology. To activate the device, just slide your finger across the screen, and depending on the direction in which you swipe your finger, a certain screen will open - BlinkFeed, the main desktop, or something else. To get to the lock screen, you need to “tap” twice on the surface of the screen. To answer a call, it is enough to bring the device to your ear, and to launch the camera, hold down any volume key and rotate the smartphone to portrait orientation.
The presence of different sensors allows you to use HTC One as a pedometer paired with the Fitbit program (for Russia, the application will appear approximately in mid-April), the smartphone takes into account steps, running and other “body movements”.
Case HTC Dot View
Together with the new HTC One, the company introduced an interesting case called Dot View. The chip of the cover is in its appearance, it is perforated, with holes, the surface of the front cover, the back is made of plastic. And most importantly, this is the format for displaying notifications in the form of pixel elements. It looks very unusual, for my taste, cool, but someone will probably find it strange or uninformative.
The screen, covered with a cover, displays the time and weather, you can also see information about new messages, mail, an incoming call will also be displayed here as a picture.
The Dot View case will be available in six colors.
Operating time, battery
One of the most important innovations is the serious work of the company in the field of energy saving. According to HTC representatives, the new flagship has become better in terms of operating time, not only due to an increase in battery capacity (2600 mAh versus 2300 in last year's model), but also due to the optimization of power consumption in various applications, the use of a coprocessor to collect information from all sensors, the use of non-overclocked , but still a productive processor.
In addition to the classic power saving mode, when vibration is turned off, brightness and other parameters are reduced, a new one has appeared - Extreme Power Saving Mode. In this mode, all interfaces are turned off, except for cellular communications and mobile Internet (works only for the mail application), vibration, brightness decreases and only a few programs become available for work - phone, text messages, calculator and a couple more. With a 100% battery charge in this mode, the smartphone can work up to 14 days, according to the company, while receiving calls, text messages and emails (how much is not reported).
How good the battery life of the new HTC One will actually be, we will find out very soon, in the review I will try to dwell on this point in more detail.
Conclusion
HTC is good at everything that concerns the external side of the device - design, case materials, assembly. The overall impression of the new HTC One is excellent thanks to these components. In this case, HTC also plays on the contrast, while almost all other manufacturers strive to improve software (or simply install more programs), use more cores and install a lot of memory in the device, HTC makes a beautiful, spectacular smartphone. This is the main point that determines the attitude towards the new HTC One. If you take it in your hands and feel the same way as I do, you will most likely consider buying, despite the huge cost that puts the company's new flagship in the premium segment on a par with the Apple iPhone 5S.
If you don’t get any special “feeling” from the new HTC One after the first ten minutes of acquaintance, the smartphone is unlikely to hook you with something in the future. There is a high-quality display, excellent speakers, an interface that is neat and not overloaded with the amount of software and additional functions, but today almost all of this is available in any smartphone costing from 20,000 rubles and more, and when discussing the new HTC One, we are talking about a device with a base cost of 32,990 rubles, but a 32 GB version will appear later.
Therefore, HTC relies on the design and the first impression of the new flagship, I don't know, consciously or not. Hope it works, it worked for me!
