HTC One M8 Review Thread

[Hadron]

I know it's only just been announced, but it looks like samples have been reviewed under embargo because full reviews are already appearing:

HTC One (M8) review | Phone Reviews | TechRadar

HTC One (M8) review: One and only - GSMArena.com

HTC One (M8) Review

http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/128011-htc-one-m8-review

http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/25/htc-one-2014-review/

http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/25/5544642/htc-one-review-m8

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2014/03/htc-one-m8-review-a-one-two-knockout-punch/

http://www.zdnet.com/htc-one-m8-review-more-metal-same-limited-detail-ultrapixel-camera-7000027643/

http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/htc-one-m8/

http://www.androidcentral.com/htc-one-review-2014-m8

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7893/the-htc-one-m8-review

http://www.androidauthority.com/htc-one-m8-review-363716/

Google Play Edition:
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/04/03/htc-one-m8-google-play-edition-unboxing-and-quick-look/ (thanks KOLIO )

 

[Shocky]

GSMArena nailed it.. Sure, it's a great phone in every other area but they ruin it with a dodgy camera and they removed OIS which was a great feature.

Unfortunately, we can't avoid the elephant in the room that is the One's (M8) camera setup. After the UltraPixel backfired last year, you would've thought the company would go for a safer option this time around. Fewer but bigger instead of more but smaller pixels sounded great on paper but the company underdelivered and all the supposed advantages of the bigger pixels simply weren't there, demoting the original HTC One to an also-ran in the cameraphone race.

They are back for another round this year, but unfortunately, we doubt the same 4MP sensor will take them any further. If last year's move brought them a financial bruise or two, it's only going to get uglier this year.
You see, last year, about the time the HTC One was announced (February 2013), most competitors still had 8MP cameras with the Xperia Z being the only one with 13MP (image quality wasn't much better than an 8MP camera anyway).
The year was soon to bring a huge improvement in cameraphones though. The Lumia 1020 brought its 41 MP PureView tech to the table and Nokia followed it up with a couple of 20MP devices (Lumia Icon, Lumia 1520). The Samsung Galaxy S4, the Galaxy Note 3 and the LG G2 all came forward in 2013 with mature, high-quality 13M cameras on board. Sony went even further and by now, it has introduced not one, but three 20MP smartphones (Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z2).

That's not all. Top-of-the-shelf smartphones in 2014 all record 4K video (Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, LG G Pro 2, Sony Xperia Z2). And they are certainly not kidding around, image and video quality is awesome.
And what has the HTC One got? There is an improved 4MP camera, overcomplicated hardware trickery, which is only used for the trivial task of adding image effects in post-processing, and 1080p video recording. That's all. Even last year's optical image stabilization - a key selling feature - is now gone.

 

[CafeKampuchia]

Keep an eye on anandtech.com as they are big HTC fanboys and write very thorough reviews.

 

[Shocky]

Keep an eye on anandtech.com as they are big HTC fanboys and write very thorough reviews.

Agreed, Anandtech are definitely HTC fans. It's amazing how many reviews are overlooking the cameras shortcomings, if this was a Samsung phone they would have butchered them for it.

 

[sean76]

I like the simplicity of the review that David from the Verge did.

As a nexus 5 owner and hearing that the the camera on the n5 is better then then the M8 is just so mind boggling to me!

Why not slap an 8mp ultra pixel shooter on there, or just roll with a 16mp without these ultra pixels.

Honestly its a cool looking device but the tallness, and crappy camera are enough to make me say pass....

 

[CafeKampuchia]

It's up:

AnandTech | The HTC One (M8) Review

Edit:

It's amazing how many reviews are overlooking the cameras shortcomings

That's not what I'm seeing.

 

[Hadron]

It's up:

AnandTech | The HTC One (M8) Review

Ninja'd! I just came here to add that one

 

[CafeKampuchia]

I'm going to request a change in username

Spoiler

CafeNINJACampuchia

 

[CafeKampuchia]

This is not a review, but certainly impacts the results found in the reviews:

HTC admits its High Performance Mode pumped up benchmark scores for the HTC One (M8)

From the article:

"Thanks for your email about the HTC One (M8). Benchmarking tests look to determine maximum performance of the CPU and GPU and, similar to the engine in a high-performance sports car, our engineers optimize in certain scenarios to produce the best possible performance. If someone would like to get around this benchmarking optimization there are ways to do so, but we think most often this will not be the case."

 

[WifiMaxed]

Whoa, this review nails the camera and talks about the OIS debacle.

Gear Review: A Photographers Take on The HTC One M8 (2014) | Colby Brown Photography

 

[ne0lyfeism]

Whoa, this review nails the camera and talks about the OIS debacle.

Gear Review: A Photographers Take on The HTC One M8 (2014) | Colby Brown Photography

Um, they didn't bash the camera or OIS as badly as your post implied. In fact, the reviewer was lauding the improvements made to the camera with the only nit being the lack of resolution and how it negatively impacts cropping. The sample pictures the reviewer posted looked pretty good too.

 

[CafeKampuchia]

FutureMark is apparently not amused by HTC's comments spinning their high benchmark results as a high performance mode and have delisted the M8.

Futuremark gives HTC One (M8) the boot for cheating - GSMArena Blog

So the benchmark results in the reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt, not that they affect dailey experience much. But there are some folks that care.

 

[CafeKampuchia]

Android Authority comes late to the party:

HTC One (M8) review | Android Authority

 

[SolApathy]

Here is another review

HTC One (M8) Performance: Benchmarks vs. Reality | Android and Me

 

[SolApathy]

Yet another review:

This time vs the S5... Definitely don't agree on all points, especially the battery life section (S5 wins)

I will not go into all the details of the review and spoil it. There are some going points, but it really looked like the author was aiming to make a tie...

Some of the points are not very well made...The option to turn off the backlit keys on the S5, while the option is missing on the M8...Well considering turning off the backlit keys on the M8 would mean turning off the screen I am a little confused. This is aside from the fact that the back-lighting on capacitive keys is such a tiny power drain that it would not affect battery life in any noticeable fashion. Turning the phone greyscale is just a gimmick....

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One M8

 

[mruno]

just saw this review on google news:

http://www.thewestsidestory.net/2014/04/20/htc-one-m8-review-one-phone-rule/

 

[i VTAK]

I'm sure many of you have upgraded go the M8 from the LTEVO. I want to aswell but am a little leery of all the reviews saying that reception is worse on the new device.

I'm not in a super strong 4G market but I do get it in certain places. I don't want to upgrade to a phone with less connectivity.

So please, can I hear of some of your experiences? I even went to a Sprint store just to play with it and the girl behind the counter said I shouldn't get it because a lot of people were returning them with problems. I didn't ask her to elaborate but a lot of reviews say it has poor service compared to the LTEVO.

 

[i VTAK]

I've read most of these reviews. I'm more interested in real world use and experience after a few months of ownership. I'd like to know how the M8 compares to the LTEVO in terms of call quality and internet speeds.

Why is it anytime I make a thread, it gets combined with a thread different from my question?

 

[EarlyMon]

I'm getting better reception with my M8 than I did with my LTEvo - 3G and LTE. Better roaming too.

I've only had mine a week but I move around a lot these days so I'm sure it's true.

However - whereas the LTEvo could do simultaneous voice and data either with 3G (SVDO) or with LTE, the M8 can't.

It's because of the new Spark network radio setup, and not unique to this phone.

 

[i VTAK]

Yeah I've read about the voice and data not working at the same time. I've had the capability for 2 years and only used it once, just to see it work. After reading some posts on the M8 forums, I'm confident in getting one.

 

[Lord Vader]

I'm getting better reception with my M8 than I did with my LTEvo - 3G and LTE. Better roaming too.

I've only had mine a week but I move around a lot these days so I'm sure it's true.

However - whereas the LTEvo could do simultaneous voice and data either with 3G (SVDO) or with LTE, the M8 can't.

It's because of the new Spark network radio setup, and not unique to this phone.

I did not know this about the M8 on Sprint's network. I'm glad I switched to Verizon, then, because this limitation doesn't exist. I was on the phone yesterday while looking up some stuff on the Web on the phone.

 

[EarlyMon]

I did not know this about the M8 on Sprint's network. I'm glad I switched to Verizon, then, because this limitation doesn't exist. I was on the phone yesterday while looking up some stuff on the Web on the phone.

Yep, it's peculiar to Sprint.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...upport-simultaneous-voice-and-data/2013-11-19

In some fantasy future we'll get it back with VoLTE.

I rarely used it before as I'm often on wifi but it's nuts that I had it for the last two years on 3G and don't anymore.

But that's Sprint and as you note, not an M8 issue.

 

[Lord Vader]

Yup, that's Sprint. I'm certainly not ripping them, having been with Nextel then Sprint for something like 12-14 years, at least. I've always considered Verizon the absolute best network out there, but with their high prices, I never went with them. I was willing to put up with Sprint's horrible service (horrible IMHO). However, with Verizon having become much more competitive and comparable to Sprint in pricing, I jumped ship and haven't looked back.

And being able to pick up the M8 brand new at $99 didn't hurt, either.

 

[Big__Daddy]

I have had my new HTC M8 now for several weeks and I have noticed I have a M8Q whilst my son who has the M8 as well actually has the M8X.

I have noticed some subtle differences please can someone advise as to what the differences are.

Thanks

BD

 

[Rhyalus]

I have had my new HTC M8 now for several weeks and I have noticed I have a M8Q whilst my son who has the M8 as well actually has the M8X.

I have noticed some subtle differences please can someone advise as to what the differences are.

Thanks

BD

Where are you seeing this alphanumeric value?

R