The HTC One M8 is not only a matter of prestigious looks but also looks determine success. The beautiful aluminum case, which is a trademark of HTC’s leading model, got a successor, but not in the true sense of the word. It could be said that he got a plastic partner. The HTC One E8 is a phone that should bring all the goods that the HTC One M8 has but at a slightly lower price. At the same time, HTC may have wanted to experiment a bit with the design and see how the One M8 would look in a plastic body.
The answer comes in the form of this new model, which in relation to the shiny model brings minor changes, both in terms of aesthetics (if we exclude the replacement of aluminum with plastic), and the camera, which now has a classic 13MP sensor.
HTC One E8 design
I could say that the HTC One E8 is the same as the HTC One M8 and vice versa. Indeed, minimal differences are difficult to notice. Starting with the shape, rounded edges, the HTC logo, and the recognizable BoomSound speakers, everything is already well seen. What you can hardly notice with the naked eye is revealed by official data which say that the HTC One E8 is 0.5 mm thicker than the original model. So we can say that the models are identical in dimensions. That can’t be said for the weight because the plastic version brings a lighter 145g.
If you really want to look for hair in the egg, then the differences in appearance could be described like this. The HTC One E8 has a slightly smaller front camera frame, and on the back, there is no dual camera, but a classic single camera with a simple LED flash. Also, there is no infrared transmitter, so there is nothing to control the TV instead of the remote.
The new plastic surface is quite shiny, and the shine itself will be spoiled a lot by the prints and smaller stains that stick to it. The look of the phone also depends on the color you choose, but it is clear that white and black reflect prints and less dirt better than red, which is really impressive but has this flaw. The quality of the phone is promising and lies nicely in the hand thanks to the rounded edges, but still, it cannot replace the irreplaceable feeling of the aluminum case of the One M8 model.
HTC One E8 screen
When it comes to the screen, HTC hasn’t changed anything. The phone has an identical 5-inch Super LCD3 screen with 1080×1920 pixels, which is 441 pixels per inch. Everything else is a story already told. If you’re interested in how this screen behaves, read the HTC One M8 display.
HTC One E8 software
It is often said that something is simple and the best. And it is so. The HTC One E8 runs on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system which is coated with a Sense 6 user interface, which is, at least in my opinion, the best interface you can find. At the same time, it is complex, with many options, but also easy to use, which is the most important thing in the end. The core of the interface is BlinkFeed, which continues to collect the most important information and place it on the home screen.
HTC One E8 specification and performance
One is sure. This phone does not lack power. Powerful and powerful quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor runs at a high frequency of 2.5GHz. It is also more than enough to get to know you flawlessly fluently, whether you use your phone for games, surfing the net, or as navigation. Like its predecessor, the HTC One E8 has a generous 2GB of RAM so multitasking has never been an issue. When it comes to internal memory, there is a standard 16GB, but when the part that occupies the system is rejected, the user is left with a decent 10GB, which can be further expanded with a microSD card to a maximum and more than enough 128GB.
Durable batteries are identical to the One M8. The battery has the same capacity, but it is interesting that the official data give preference to this model over the original, but in practice, the phone will serve you the same as if you had One M8.
HTC One E8 camera
If so far we have more or less copied what we noticed with the aluminum model, with the camera the thing is different. Instead of UltraPixel technology, the HTC One E8 has a classic 13MP camera with a single LED flash, as well as a 5MP front camera. The camera has a fairly simple and clear interface with logically arranged virtual keys and not too many options. There are panorama mode and classic settings.
When it comes to camera performance the results are quite confusing. By the logic of things in daylight, the camera should take the best photos. And it is, but they are often much darker than they really are. The color rendering is at an acceptable level, but the level of detail has been raised to a higher level compared to the 4MP photos from the original model. However, it is still less than the main competitors, so HTC will have to deal with this issue in the coming period.
When it comes to indoor and night performance, the situation is identical. There is enough detail, but the light balance is problematic, so you get darker photos again than you should. The reason for this lies in the flash, which is not as strong as its aluminum brother.
It sounds weird to say that you are limited to recording videos in HD resolution, but considering the pedigree it is. The HTC One E8 doesn’t bring the ever-present 4k shooting, so the videos are decent, fluid, and with a lot of detail, but I like the photos darker than necessary.
HTC One E8 conclusion
Was the HTC One E8 really needed? The answer is definitely yes. For all those who can’t afford the HTC One M8, this phone is a great solution. With the exception of the plastic case, the HTC One E8 is an identical phone. However, there are differences, as we could see. Most objections to this model can be directed at the expense of the camera. The HTC One E8 is some 20% cheaper than the HTC One M8 and I think that’s quite adequate considering what the phone has to offer.