HTC has announced yet another device in its flagship One line, this
time with an E8 moniker. The smartphone drops the premium aluminium
construction of its
M8 brother for a range of colorful plastics, while retaining a number of the other handset’s core specs.
The One (E8) shares the One (M8)’s quad core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801
CPU, 2 GB RAM and 2,600 mAh battery. It also retains the handset’s
excellent 5-in 1920 x 1080 display, as well as the Motion Launch
gesture-based unlocking feature and impressive BoomSound front-facing
speakers.
The device drops the One (M8)’s 5MP “Ultrapixel” rear shooter in
favor of a more conventional 13 MP offering. The M8's front-facing 5 MP
camera has made the jump to the E8, complete with selfie-enhancing Touch
Up software. The E8 does bring something new to the party in the form
of dual SIM card slots, though this is something that will only be
available in select, unspecified regions. As you might expect, the new
smartphone runs on
Android 4.4.2, augmented with the company’s own Sense 6.0 overlay.
Other than the above, the biggest change made with the One (E8) is
its slightly squarer polycarbonate unibody design, which HTC claims is
designed “for the fashion-conscious.” Available in blue, red, black and
white, it’s certainly not an unattractive change, but the device might
struggle to retain the same premium feel of its flagship brother.
The E8 is set to launch at a 2,799 RMP (about US$448) price point in
China, though no Western prices have been announced. The device is
scheduled to hit shelves early this month in selected markets.