*5 compelling reasons that make the HTC One(E8) the most enviable Smartphone currently available in the market*
Are you planning to purchase an Android Smartphone in the near future? Is your budget within in the 30 - 35k bracket? Are the Samsung Galaxy S4 / S5, Sony Xperia Z2 or the Moto X Gen2 on the top of your mind? Hold on, as you may want to consider purchasing the newly launched HTC
One(E8), which currently makes for an enviable purchase. My review is based on owning and using the HTC One(E8) for more than a month. I have no direct affiliation with the brand however aim at provide readers with a blatantly honest, yet balanced view on this phone.
Introduction
*Introduction*
An avid android aficionado for the past 3 years, I previously owned the HTC One X+, and before that the HTC Desire S, both brilliant android phones in their respective segments. Though I never faced any such issues with both phones, having used the Desire S for a year and the popular HTC One X+ for about a year and a half, I was contemplating on migrating to another brand. With a budget of 30 - 35k in mind, and the sense to get my hands on something new, I was considering the likes of Samsung, Motorola and Sony.
After a few months of thorough online research, analyzing reviews on existing and soon-to-be-launched Smartphone’s and also gauging perceptions of peers on their experience with various Smartphone’s available in the market, I finally zeroed in on the HTC One(E8) and my review encapsulates five solid reasons why you may consider buying one.
*5. Display*
Starting in ascending order of some of the most attractive feature, the HTC One(E8) offer a huge 5-inch with a Full-HD display that is bright, offering excellent viewing angles and vivid colours. What I really love about this phone is that the visibility is undeterred even under direct sunlight. No hassle with typing that quick SMS or replying to an email whilst your outdoors. The phone comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 offering protection against slight scratches.
*4. Camera*
The One E8 is equipped with a 13-Megapixel rear shooter with BSi sensor, that produces sharp enough images. The camera can click some brilliant outdoors images, however does lack quality in low-light settings. In addition, the whites seem a tad over-exposed, and reds are kind of saturated, however this does not impact the picture quality significantly. However it is important to note, if camera performance and subsequent image quality is of utmost importance to you, you may want to consider other options.
The E8 will make a perfect buy for selfie-freaks as it features a capable 5-Megapixel front-facing camera that allows you to shoot some great images and videos. The HTC Zoe mode allows you capture full-HD videos and convert the footage into stills or take a sequence of pictures with brief video for use with other effects. Shooting HD Videos at 1080fps does not disappoint as it produces amazing videos with fantastic sound quality. The panoramic option in the E8 also works very well.
What is most incredible about the rear-facing camera of the E8 is the fact that it is very quick and seamless, without any lag.
*3. Design Ergonomics and Build Quality*
Are you bored with the basic and lackluster Samsung or Sony Smartphone design, across its models? You might then want to consider the HTC One E8 then. Walk into a smartphone retailer and get your hands on this baby.
From the front the E8 looks almost identical to its elder sibling the M8. However, unlike its elder twin that is created from gunmetal, the E8 is equipped with a polycarbonate shell. Mind you, this does not let the E8 look or feel inferior in any way. The phone feels solid in your hand and is also lighter provides better grip than the M8.
The E8 sports rounded corners and a slightly curved back panel, with golden metal rings around the camera and led-flash, lending to its timeless design. The design ergonomics will most certainly incite the “Wow” factor for Non-HTC users.
*2. Smart Gesture Control*
When Samsung launched the S4 & S5 with smart gesture controls, it always made me wonder how would scrolling a webpage or answering a call without touching the screen in any way enhance ones user experience? Why would anyone of us, use a feature like fingerprint recognition unless you’re two timing your partner, or simply hiding some highly confidential information from NASA? Jokes apart, do you really feel that these are some of the finest Smartphone technologies currently available in the market? Well you may have to think twice.
The “Smart Motion Launch” shortcut controls on the HTC One E8 take gesture control to a whole new level. You can answer incoming calls by simply raising your phone to your ear. You will never miss on that priceless moment as you can easily launch your camera by holding your phone in landscape and pressing the volume rocker. What I also love about the Smart Gesture options available in the E8 is the simple double tap feature, which allows you to wake up your phone whilst it is asleep. You can swipe down while the screen is asleep to make a quick voice call, or swipe right to access your news feeds. Aren’t these functions not only intelligent but also very practical?
*1. Phone Hardware and Battery Back-up*
Hardware
HTC One(E8) is currently one of the most powerful Smartphone’s available in India. It comes equipped with a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core which is the best processor available. It also boasts of a 2GB RAM which offers a seamless experience. However HTC could have provided 3GB given the high price-point. There is absolutely no lag while launching applications, switching between apps, clicking photographs, browsing the web, clicking pictures, watching HD videos, or playing graphics-heavy games like Temple Run or Ashpalt.
Battery Back-up
Having a Smartphone without a great battery is like owning a vehicle that provides you with poor mileage. Most Smartphone’s available in the 30 - 35k range today(Except Sony Xperia) offer you batteries that last for not more than 12 - 14 hours with more than average use on 3G Networks. Why would you even contemplate carrying a spare battery / a power bank when you have shelled out a whopping 35 – 40k on your Smartphone?
I am very impressed with the battery backup delivered by the E8, synonymous to most HTC Smartphone’s. With moderate to high usage, including about two to three hours of making / answering calls, listening to music, clicking pictures, browsing the web and playing games, the phone will last you for about 18 - 20 hours at best even on 3G Networks.
The innovative “Extreme Power Saving” function that gives you hours of talk-time even when your phone is out of juice at 10% by restricting background data and offers access to Phone, Messages, Mail, Calendar, and Calculator apps.
Speaker and Sound quality
The front facing boom-sound speakers of the One E8 is one of the high-points of this model. The speakers are very loud and clear, allowing you to enjoy enhanced audio quality. The call quality of the E8 is brilliant and the noise reduction features work very well to cut disturbances in the background.
Network
The E8 is equipped with FM radio and also offers NFC connectivity options. The phone is capable of supporting Indian 4G LTE bands like its metal sibling however it currently supports only 3G in India. At times you may experience call drops however this would be in locations where the signals are very weak.
LED Notification Light
The LED notification light is one of the most underrated features of Smartphone’s today. With this intelligent function on my E8, I am notified on pending emails or SMS’s during meetings. So I don’t need to activate my screen every time I want to check if there are any unread emails, SMS’s or social network alerts.
Final verdict
The HTC One E8 offers best-in-class hard