First Impression: HTC One M8

Technology, looks have edge over peers

The night before HTC One M8 was to be launched, I was busy admiring my friend's HTC One, which I thought was spectacular. An impressive full-metal body, high processing speed, sound clarity - it had it all. What more could HTC offer, I wondered.

Like its predecessor, the One M8 sports a metallic design and the best specifications. Though it's a little heavier than the HTC One, its curved edges make it easier to hold. The M8 comes with a five-inch full high-definition display. However, M8's resolution takes a hit with fewer pixels an inch against the 4.7-inch One.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 2.5-GHz quad-core processing unit, the M8 comes with a 2-GB RAM, with 16 GB and 32 GB storage options that can be extended by another 128 GB with a microSD card.

PROCESSOR
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
2.5-GHz quad-core
STORAGE
16 GB and 32 GB storage options
OPERATING SYSTEM
Android OS,
v4.4.2 (KitKat)

The phone takes a nano-SIM. The highlight of the M8 is the dual rear-camera setup with depth perception.

While the main camera is the same 4-ultrapixel resolution as in the One, HTC claims M8's is a notch above and will work in all lighting conditions. The second rear camera captures depth and can refocus images and detect background objects.

The M8 also has dual LED flash. The M8 runs on the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat and the new Sense 6 customised user interface. The M8 has a 2,600-mAh battery and its extreme power saving mode turns the phone into a touch screen feature phone in which users can only access calls, messaging, calendar data and the calculator.

Though HTC has not revealed the M8's price, I don't think that could stop someone from buying this crackerjack of a phone.

The device, unveiled on Wednesday would be available in India by the third week of April.