The HTC One M8 is a brilliant phone, but comes at the very top of the market thanks to its high-end hardware, latest software and beautifully crafted metal chassis. Now, HTC are offering the same bleeding edge hardware and software in a much cheaper package, in the HTC One E8. The phone swaps metal for plastic, making for a lighter and cheaper phone. In fact, some initial reports have the plastic-clad phone retailing for around £270 – nearly half the price of its metal-bound brother.
As well as the change in materials, you’ll see three other notable changes moving from the One M8 to the One E8: a different camera, relocated buttons and a second SIM slot.
So the innovative Ultrapixel DuoCamera system has been replaced with a conventional 13 megapixel rear shooter. That means low-light performance will be a bit worse, but well lit scenes should come out much better thanks to the higher megapixel sensor. Next, the power button has moved to the top-centre; with the change in position comes a loss of the built-in IR blaster that found some fans on the M8. Finally, you’ll get a second SIM slot in the One E8, allowing you to mix-and-match for the best deals on minutes and data, take both work and personal calls, or travel abroad without needing to swap out SIMs.
Otherwise, somewhat remarkably, the One E8 retains all the best components of the M8. The quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset is present and accounted for, as is 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. The highly praised 5-inch 1080p is present and correct. The internal sensor hub, including pedometer, barometer and accelerometer, are also kept. In terms of software, you’re looking at an identical build of Android 4.4.2 with Sense 6.
This definitely marks the One E8 as analogous to the iPhone 5C, rather than the current rash of ‘Mini’ Android phones, which typically share only a name and looks with their higher-powered older brothers. The One E8 remains a flagship phone, with similar materials to the Galaxy S5 and LG G3 at a fraction of the price.
The HTC One E8 is available in a wide range of colours, all of which will be coming to Mobile Fun. You’ll have the choice of Misty Grey, Polar White, Electric Crimson and Maldives Blue.
The phone’s UK price has not yet been finalised, nor has its release date, at the time of writing. For our latest live information, please visit the product pages linked below:
- SIM Free HTC One E8 Dual SIM – Misty Grey
- SIM Free HTC One E8 Dual SIM – Polar White
- SIM Free HTC One E8 Dual SIM – Electric Crimson
- SIM Free HTC One E8 Dual SIM – Maldives Blue
We’ll have a full range of accessories for the phone – have a look at our One E8 accessories page for more!
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