This phone seems to be a result of HTC listening to what the users wanted.
The HTC One M8 wowed many with its sleek design and polished user interface when it came out. Turning into one of the biggest success stories, it had an undeniable impact on the appearance of the follow up models as well.
As much as it was appreciated, everything wasn't perfect. Camera for example, being one such area. HTC's insistence for pushing the 'Ultra Pixel' technology puzzled many.
Enter the HTC One M8 Eye. This phone seems to be a result of HTC listening to what the users wanted.
The phone uses a more conventional 13 MegaPixel camera and not the UltraPixel technology. Looking as slick as the former, the HTC One M8 Eye attempts to remove the flaws while cutting corners in some areas to keep the pricing under check.
1. In terms of looks and built, the HTC One M8 Eye looks like a clone of the HTC One M8. The unibody design garnered rave reviews and no wonder the think tank at HTC retained the aluminium chassis.
The top part carries the power key, whereas the right hand side houses the volume rocker and the nanoSIM slot. The bottom part carries the 3.5mm audio jack and the microUSB port. The microSD card slot is located on the left side of the phone. The phone can be used with a single hand for most of the part.
The build quality is superb, and imparts a confident, classy feel to the device when held or looked at.
2. HTC One M8 eye features the same 5-inch screen as seen on the regular HTC One M8. This translates to the fact that it carries a full HD resolution of 1920×1080, and a pixel density of ~441ppi which is pretty sharp. The display is vibrant and colours look just a bit over saturated.
The web browsing experience was pleasant, with font coming out crisp and clear.
The outdoor visibility was not an issue either. Thanks to LCD based technology, the viewing angles turn out to be very good as well.
This one right here, has to be one of the better displays out there in the segment.
3. HTC One M8 eye comes with same 2GB RAM as HTC One M8, and runs on Quadcore processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800) clocked at 2.3GHz. Although the HTC One M8 runs on different chipset (Snapdragon 801) and is clocked at 2.5GHz (2.3Ghz for the Asian model), HTC has done a fabulous job with the optimisation.
The phone shows no signs of reduced processing speed as the apps open and close effortlessly, transition effects performing as expected leading to an overall experience that is butter smooth. Users won't find the hardware power of the phone lacking in any way.
4. The phone comes with Android 4.4.4 (Kitkat) preinstalled and has HTC's Sense 6 skin atop the operating system. One cannot help but admire how the interface for HTC has become a polished, user friendly OS over time. The minimalistic and flat design keep things simple, and yet Sense 6 provides a fluid experience which stands next only to the Nexus devices.
Blinkfeed is available at the left of the homescreen, and provides the tile based updates for the social as well as regular news feed, this time there's Fitbit integration as well. One can choose to turn BlindFeed off as well this time! With Motion Launch, HTC provides a way to accomplish tasks while the display is turned off.
Then there are the features like double tap to wake, automatic call answer by placing phone to the ear, swipe based task execution, three swipe gestures etc.
HTC has also provided colour schemes for various 'genres' like messaging app, system settings, data centric apps etc. This provides a better shot at organising things.
In the multimedia section, the gallery app is looking slicker with the Zoe video highlights coming up under categories of pictures. Video highlights are present from previous edition, so are the options to edit out and share the media.
All in all, Sense 6 provides those little tweaks and features to make the users fall in love with it again.
5. The most talked about feature for the HTC One M8 Eye will be its camera. HTC decided to go with a 13 Mega Pixel worth of camera, rather than their 'UltraPixel' variation. The camera here is assisted with a second sensor and a dual LED flash.
The second sensor provides the now popular Bokeh/Blur effect and provides the users with an option to present their moments with different perspectives. The performance is much better than the original HTC One M8, and this should delight many. Low light performance of the camera is good as well.
However, HTC really should have provided a richer experience here. The 1080p HD videos are not detailed enough for large display consumption, and lack of Image Stabilisation which the users will have to deal with every time. No option to shoot the 4k/Ultra HD videos does stick out even more sorely as these are fast becoming norms with high end phones.
HTC included the usual array of filters and many editing options as 3D, refocusing, seasons, face fusion etc. There is access to manual controls for the veterans as well. However, pictures clicked during low light or with macro mode cannot be post processed via the camera editor.
To summarise, the camera department provides respite by going down the Mega Pixel route, and provides an adequate solution, but the cost cutting measures are very much apparent. Some very glaringly so.
6. Coming to the multimedia experience, HTC smartly decided to retain the very impressive BoomSound speakers. This boosts not only the multimedia experience, but the phone's resume as well.
They are not too loud, but perform adequately and do the job admirably well. Dishing out a rich sound effect with no tinniness is something one would definitely admire in a prized possession.
The headphone jack in itself provides solid output in itself. Users have the option to power their big headphones and indulge in superlative audio experience. This should provide users with specific audio taste to lean towards this phone even more.
7. One of the area where the HTC One M8 Eye is lacking when compared with he original One M8 is the connectivity department. The prospective buyers need not worry, as the M8 Eye comes with the essential connectivity options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AGPS, GLONASS. But HTC decided to take out the NFC and the IR blaster options with this one.
The missing NFC is the reason the rear part of the phone is missing; that connecting black line between the two camera lenses.
8. The phone comes with 16GB of onboard storage memory. This definitely seems less, given the amount of data being consumed in current times, but HTC thankfully has included the memory card slot. Users have the option to add a further of 128GB of memory by using MicroSD cards.
9. The battery performs satisfactorily, as the claimed talk time for the non-removable Li-Po 2600 mAh battery is about 24 hours. Moderate usage easily makes the battery last for about day and a half, which provides enough time for the users to charge the phone before heading out for another long haul.
As soon as the charge level hits the 20 per cent mark, the battery saver mode kicks in. There is also the Extreme Power Saving Mode, which reduces the phone's functionalities to basic tasks like phone text messages, phone calls, and manual mail receiving only. This greatly boosts the chances of the miniscule battery charge to last longer.
10. Considering the fact that the HTC One M8 Eye tweaks the feature marginally or in not so essential areas, it provides the users a chance to lay their hands on a brilliant device at an affordable price.
However, depending upon user's preference of specific features, the phone should face decent competition from the likes of Samsung Galaxy S5, Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen), and HTC's very own One E8.
