HTC One (M8) deals and reviews

Should you buy the HTC One (M8)?

The new flagship handset for HTC, the HTC One (M8) is a worthy successor to the original HTC One. With good looks, flashy performance and a brand new Motion Sense interface, the HTC One (M8) is an elegant powerhouse that perfectly combines style and substance. As one of the most up-to-date phones on the market, this handset is an excellent choice for anyone looking to replace a smaller smartphone, or to combine work and personal devices into a single unit.

Reviewers liked

• The quad core processor which ensures the phone is quick and responsive whether you are surfing the web, taking photos or playing games.
• The powerful battery which keeps the HTC One (M8) running all day.
• The aluminium casing - it's stylish and protects your phone against bumps and drops.
• The front-facing stereo speakers and 5 inch display. These features make watching videos an immersive and enjoyable experience.
• The SD card slot which allows you to add more storage space for apps and photos.

Reviewers disliked

• The 4 megapixel camera, which is composed of larger 'ultrapixels' that collect more light than a regular camera. Although an advantage in low-light conditions, this is a disadvantage in brightly-lit conditions because the resulting photos lack detail.
• The aluminium casing - even though this is also listed as something reviewers liked, some say it renders the handset too slippery.

The HTC One (M8): in more detail

As the successor to the critically acclaimed HTC One handset, the new HTC One (M8) was always going to be subjected to high expectations. Thankfully, it has delivered. Writing for CNET, Brian Bennet praised the "elegant style, raw power, and sophisticated features [which] make the HTC One (M8) an excellent smartphone choice for anyone but the most exacting photographer."

Quad core processor

Using the HTC One (M8) is a joy thanks to the powerful quad core processor which allows the phone to do more, quicker. Gaming, surfing the web and switching apps is lightning fast as you would expect from one of the speediest smartphones currently available. A high power battery also ensures that the HTC One (M8) keeps running all day, extending the time between charges so you can leave your cables at home.

Aluminium casing

The aluminium casing of the handset has, in the main, been extremely well-received. With the exception of the screen, the phone is made of brushed aluminium that helps protect the handset against bumps and knocks, although you will still need to be a little careful of the sizeable 5 inch display. Stuff's Tom Parsons loved the edge-to-edge metal casing, commenting that "Beautiful machining is a big part of the appeal".

Display, sound & camera

The display offers plenty of vibrant colour and full HD video playback. This is coupled with a pair of BoomSound speakers mounted on the front of the handset to provide stereo sound that matches your games and movies without the need for headphones. HTC claims these new speakers are capable of delivering 25% louder volume than their predecessors. There is also an HTC Zoe feature which takes 20 images whilst also recording a short three second video clip, enabling you to decide whether to share the video or a specific still with your friends.

Motion Launch interface

The HTC One (M8) is equipped with a new Motion Launch interface that makes it easier to access functions like speed dialling or the camera. Motion Launch has been designed to provide these functions even when the screen is turned off, making it very quick to get started. This is also backed by HTC's Sense 6 interface designed to make the Android operating system easier and slicker to use.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	AndroidPit | Robert Zak The HTC One M8 is a perfectly balanced smartphone, offering high-end, intelligently-designed features across its hardware and software that work together to form a true technological gestalt. Read full review
100	TheEffect.Net | David We would have no issues whatsoever in recommending this phone to anyone looking to pick up a new smartphone because we can guarantee, you will not be disappointed. It looks like lightning can strike twice! Read full review
100	Expert Reviews | Christopher Minasians HTC has played it safe with the HTC One M8; it isn't a radical departure from the HTC One, but it made all the necessary upgrades in order to compete with other flagship handsets in 2014 Read full review
100	Recombu | Alex Todd The HTC One (M8) boasts up to date hardware, one of the best designs on the market and a user experience that's rich and enjoyable. If you're willing take on a top-tier handset that doesn't always play by the rules, then the M8 might be for you. Read full review
100	S21 The HTC One M8 builds on last year's One with a premium metal design, superb stereo audio, blazing fast performance and Android KitKat with BlinkFeed. The camera is unique, with a second lens to capture depth information and Ultrapixels for low light performance. Read full review
100	Alphr | Jonathan Bray The HTC One M8 is a better smartphone than last year's One. It has improved cameras and software, the display is superb and the design is the best we've seen from a smartphone this year. At the moment, this is the best Android smartphone money can buy. Read full review
100	TechRadar | Gareth Beavis Stunning design, loads of power and some big upgrades: HTC's done it again Read full review
100	Digital Versus | Florence Legrand The HTC One (M8) delivers on practically every front. Inside its stylish, beautifully designed body is one of the best Full HD displays on the market. Our only real beef is the lack of sharpness from the camera. All in all, HTC has hit its mark for 2014. Read full review
100	The Gadget Show Put simply, the HTC One (M8) is every bit as enjoyable to use as its name is difficult to pronounce. It's beautifully built, beyond user friendly, as cutting edge as you can get right now and packs clever camera tech we think is going to become the norm in mobiles very soon. Read full review
100	What Hi-Fi? The HTC One M8 is a resounding success, building on one of the best phones of last year, and making it even better in every way. The One M8 eclipses its predecessor, tidying up a few niggles and improving on an already superb phone. This is easily one of the best Android phones money can buy. Read full review
100	Mobile Choice | Alastair Charlton The One (M8) is more than just a gorgeous phone. It mixes the design and finish of a luxury Swiss watch with the spped and power of a top-of-the-range smartphone, resulting in a device that has simply bowled us over. Read full review
100	The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs As with last year's One, HTC has done an outstanding job at creating a powerful, premium smartphone with great build quality and functions most people will actually use without gimmicks. Read full review
100	MSN Tech | David Phelan Size apart, it's hard to fault this phone. It's the best phone the company has produced and deserves to be a smash hit. Read full review
100	T3 | Pete Dreyer ...the HTC One M8 is a fantastic improvement on what was already our Phone of the Year in 2013. Read full review
100	Stuff | Tom Parsons A truly brilliant, beautiful smartphone, and a new benchmark for 2014's other flagships to beat. Read full review
100	Pocket-lint | Chris Hall Overall, the HTC One (M8) is a wonderful reinvention of the 2013 handset we liked so much. There's innovation, refinement and new features aplenty that make it a shining example of a flagship device. The bar has been set high with what will be one tough act to follow. Read full review
98	What Mobile | Callum Tennent Those of you with the money to spare needn't worry though, as it's worth every penny. HTC has done well to push its phone out before the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2 as - at least until their imminent release - the One M8 is the best smartphone money can buy. Read full review
95	Australian PC World | Tony Ibrahim HTC has managed to put together one of the best smartphones. Forget the DuoCamera gimmick, because the One M8 boils down to the basics - the screen, the speakers, the processor, the software - and HTC has laboured extensively to get them absolutely right. Read full review
92	Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader The HTC One M8 is a better phone than the original, but it's no longer easily the best high-end Android smartphone. From the performance to the display to the seemingly-endless battery life, is top-notch, and we're so, so excited to see HTC at the top of its game. Read full review
91	pocketnow | Michael Fisher HTC has put its competitors on notice with the All New One. The potent combination of competence, the all-around sense of sheer quality that the HTC One M8 delivers. Read full review
90	The Independent | David Phelan Although it might not fit all budgets, the updated HTC One is a wondrous device. The best Android handset on the market just got better. Read full review
90	Eurogamer | Damien McFerran Despite this, the HTC One M8 remains a fantastic slab of tech, and arguably the best Android phone we've seen so far this year - but it also serves to remind us just how good last year's One was too. Read full review
90	Trusted Reviews | Andrew Williams The HTC One M8 is a beautiful phone, showcasing HTC's exceptional design-prowess. It lives up to the very high standards set by its 2013 predecessor, the HTC One, in almost all departments. There are a few niggling issues with the camera that need work, but in every other area the HTC One M8 is a modern classic. Read full review
90	Brighthand | Jeff Dunn Just like its predecessor, the HTC One M8 is an excellent piece of hardware with superb performance. Some camera issues mar what is otherwise a top-of-the-line Android smartphone. Read full review
90	BGR | Zach Epstein Don't let the similar appearance fool you - everything about the M8 is new. From the design, to the materials, to the internal components and the software… it's all new and it's all remarkably impressive. And the new gunmetal gray color with a brushed finish is absolutely stunning, as is the amber gold color HTC introduced on the M8. Read full review
90	TechnoBuffalo | Todd Haselton The One (M8) delivers on every last thing that I look for in a smartphone, and even excels with its battery life, an area where I typically worry the most. The One (M8) easily deserves a 9, and if it just had a slightly better camera it would be pretty much perfect in every way. We don't say this often: need a new phone? Buy the One (M8). Read full review
90	SlashGear | Chris Davies the One M8 tries to push the boundaries of what we've come to expect from a smartphone. It 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. Read full review
90	The Next Web | Ben Woods HTC did exactly what it set out to do – it made a better version of the already impressive HTC One. The end result is a well-designed, responsive handset that has an amazing audio experience and a camera that's certainly more accomplished than last year's model, if not quite on par with some of the other range-toppers. Read full review
90	The Boxed (UK) | Editorial Team Its camera is only quite moderate, falling short of the detailing higher pixel count in good lighting conditions, it lacks an SD card slot, has a non-removable battery and the battery life is very mediocre. However, HTC has succeeded in making a more attention-grabbing, iconic phone than it has done in years and if you can get past these drawbacks then the HTC One is definitely a very good buy for you. Read full review
90	ITProPortal | Sandra Vogel And with my complaints about BlinkFeed dealt with, along with fab stereo sound, the ability to read USB storage, a top notch build, and plenty more plus points besides, HTC is right back up there with the leaders of the pack. Read full review
90	International Business Times | David Gilbert The HTC One (M8) may not be enough on its own to save the Taiwan smartphone manufacturer, but it is still the best phone the company has ever made. Read full review
90	Know Your Mobile | Paul Briden A really compelling premium smartphone. This is Android's answer to the iPhone with a gorgeous design, fluid interface and performance, and a capable spec sheet Read full review
90	LAPTOP | Dan Howley The HTC One M8's gorgeous design, excellent battery life and powerful performance make it the best Android phone yet. Read full review
90	PC Advisor | Chris Martin 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. Read full review
90	Coolsmartphone | Dan Whilst I want to say 100% yes go out and pick up one of these for yourself, I just can't after using some of the other flagship devices. Read full review
90	Wired UK | Dave Oliver There's no doubt that the HTC One (M8) really is a very good phone indeed. With its high quality metal casing, fine screen, powerful processor and capable camera, it has some of the finest hardware available anywhere, and Sense 6 includes a range of features that enhance standard Android to new levels of usability and intuitiveness. Read full review
90	CNET UK | Brian Bennet Elegant style, raw power, and sophisticated features make the HTC One M8 an excellent smartphone choice for anyone but the most exacting photographer. Read full review
88	phoneArena | John V 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. Read full review
87	NotebookCheck | Felix Sold The Taiwanese manufacturer is full on attack with the HTC One. Successful. Read full review
85	The Verge | David Pierce I desperately wish it took better pictures, and I'm reluctant to buy or recommend it until it does, but I like absolutely everything else. It's fast, long-lasting, does everything a phone should, and does it all with totally unparalleled class and style. From motion gestures to the Dot View case, it has genuinely new, genuinely useful features. Read full review
83	Engadget | Brad Molen The new One looks sharp, performs well and improves on its predecessor in many ways. It's still at the top of our list, but its slick finish makes it uncomfortable to hold. What's more, we'd like to see some more improvements to the One's display and also HTC's UltraPixel technology, which were once among the best in their class. Read full review
80	Gadgets Now | Anupam Saxena ... if you want the most good looking smartphone and price is not a consideration, we'd highly recommend buying HTC One (M8). Read full review
80	Android Authority | Joshua Vergara What HTC has done is focus on the user experience, crafting a stylish device that appeals to fans of the original One, while providing new users with an accessible and attractive package. Granted, the camera might be a wrinkle in an otherwise great smartphone, but it's far from a deal breaker. Read full review
80	The Street | Gary Krakow I will tell you right off the bat that the new One isn't perfect. Everything works smoothly and quickly. As an extra bonus those speakers actually sound great - some of the best smartphone sound ever. Read full review
80	IT PRO | Khidr Suleman The M8 has a great 5in display and excellent battery life, but it's expensive and there's no protection from water or dust. Read full review
80	The Inquirer | Carly Page It has a larger screen, smooth performance and a largely vanilla Android user interface, a feature we appreciate in Android smartphones. However, we can't help but think that the HTC One M8 is lacking the "wow" factor, and with the phone remaining largely unchanged compared to last year's model, we found ourselves struggling to get very excited Read full review
80	V3 | Alastair Stevenson The HTC One M8's robust but elegant design encases a host of top-end components and key productivity features that make it one of the best Android smartphones currently available. Read full review
80	NDTV Gadgets | Jamshed Avari The HTC One (M8) is not a radical departure from last year's HTC One. It's a solid update, but isn't new or exciting, and definitely isn't worth upgrading to if you currently use any of last year's premium phones. Read full review
75	AnandTech | Anand Lal Shimpi & Joshua Ho It's a very well executed phone, and as I mentioned earlier - if you liked the [the original HTC One], you'll be very happy with the M8. The question is whether or not that's good enough. I feel like HTC has the makings of a real success story, but it needs slightly broader appeal. Read full review
70	Gizmodo UK | Gerald Lynch It's not the jaw-dropping entrant into the smartphone war that the first HTC One was - even with the fancy add-ons and larger screen it's too similar to its predecessor to shock or surprise in any major way (something that the months of leaked details haven't helped with). But don't let its familiarity put you off. This is a wonderful device, and easily HTC's best smartphone yet Read full review

Compare HTC One (M8) specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen bar Dimensions 146.36 x 70.6 x 9.35 mm (5.76 x 2.78 x 0.37 in) Weight: 160 g (5.64 oz)
Screen	Size: 5.0 inches diagonal Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels Screen Density: 441 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 66.7 % Display Type: Super LCD3
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801 CPU: Quad-core 2.3 GHz (US/EMEA)/ 2.5 GHz (Asia, China) Krait 400 GPU: Adreno 330 RAM: 2GB
Camera	Main Camera: 4 ultrapixels dual camera system for selective focus with dual LED flash (true tone), 1080p video recording Secondary Camera: 5MP
Storage	Built-in Storage: 16GB/32GB Expandable Storage: Micro SD
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 2600 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: No Quick Charge: Yes (v2)
SIM standard	Micro SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	Not Available
Fingerprint Reader	None
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the HTC One (M8)

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the HTC One (M8) camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the HTC One (M8).

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.