Surface Pro 5 news

Surface Pro 5 news

Surface Pro 5 features

The impressive, if a bit troubled, Surface Pro 4 is nearing its one-year anniversary, so naturally we tech lovers are already thinking about its successor. And with the Surface Pro 4 having sold nearly 10 times more than its younger (but bigger) sibling, the Surface Book, surely Microsoft has a sequel in the works.
In fact, rumors of a Surface Pro 5 release date have been floating around the internet since the current model was launched onto store shelves. The keyword there is "rumors", as none of those reported are citing trustworthy sources, if any at all.
That goes without mentioning folks clamoring across message boards, like Reddit, for their most desired features and improvements. (Can you guess the most popular one? It rhymes with "flattery.")

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The would-be fifth Surface Pro tablet
• When is it out? Current rumors point to spring 2017
• What will it cost? Likely as much as - if not a bit more than - the current Surface Pro 4

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Surface Pro 5 release date

As reported earlier in 2016, the second major update to Windows 10 was delayed until spring of next year to correspond with a new hardware launch. Purportedly, this lineup would consist of the Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2, though a new Surface keyboard appears even more imminent.
Moreover, with Intel's 14-nanometer Kaby Lake processors having just released, it wouldn't be out of character for Redmond to push back the hardware a few months. As the previous Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book encountered technical issues early on, it makes sense for Microsoft to allot itself time with the new CPU architecture.
Regardless of when the Surface Pro 5 finally arrives, you don't need to wait for the next iteration to get your hands on a Surface Pro as Microsoft recently revealed a subscription program that lets you upgrade to new hardware as it's released. Otherwise, you could snag a discounted Surface Book if you act now.

Surface Pro 5

Surface Pro 5 price

In case you haven't noticed in the phone market, the prices of later iterations of modern tech products doesn't change all that drastically - if at all - between releases. Applying that logic to the eventual Surface Pro 5, it's likely that the device will start at $899 (£749, AU$1,349) and escalate from there depending on the configuration and accessories you choose.
Is there any chance that the final price will differ? Of course there is. Would it be smart for Microsoft to deviate too far from the standard it has set? Nope. Regardless, the ball is in Microsoft's court here, and the company will naturally preserve its bottom line if pricier new features are implemented as standard.

Surface Pro 5

Surface Pro 5 stylus

One piece of the puzzle regarding every new Surface is how Microsoft will upgrade its Surface Pen stylus accessory that comes bundled with each tablet. Uncovered earlier this year was a patent filed by Microsoft for a stylus that features a rechargeable battery system.
Specifically, the patent details a magnetic charging dock built to give the new Surface Pen its juice, seemingly with connectors meant for a Surface Dock mounting. Such a venture makes a lot of sense for Microsoft, as the iPad Pro's Apple Pencil currently has this exact edge over the Surface Pen, able to charge by awkwardly connecting to the tablet via its Lightning port.

Surface Pro 5

What we want to see

Look, as much as we've been impressed by the Surface Pro 4, firmware issues aside, there will always be room for improvement. (That would be the case even if it had earned our Editor's Choice award.)
From the screen size and resolution to the hardware inside, we have a few ideas for how Microsoft could craft an even better Windows 10 tablet.

Longer battery life

This is a bit of low-hanging fruit, but countless customers have lamented the Surface Pro 4's battery life - regardless of issues with its "Sleep" mode. We rated the device for 5 hours and 15 minutes of video playback.
That's well below Microsoft's promise of 9 hours of video playback, but we all know that few, if any, laptops actually meet their promised longevity. Our video playback figure is in line with the average laptop, though it's a far cry from what its nemesis, the MacBook Air, can produce.
Ideally, and realistically, we'd like to see at least 7 hours of battery life reliably from the next Surface Pro tablet. That would put it closer in line with the MacBook Air as well as competing tablets, like the iPad Pro.

Surface Pro 5

An even sharper (and/or bigger) screen

With the Surface Pro 4, Microsoft managed to oust countless rivals in both the laptop and tablet spaces when it comes to screen resolution. With a razor-sharp 267 ppi (pixels per inch) already at 2,736 x 1,824 pixels within a 12.3-inch screen, it's not as if the Surface Pro 5 needs to be much sharper.
However, if the next Surface Pro were equipped with, say, a 4K (3,840 pixels wide, at least) screen, that would rip its productivity and entertainment capabilities wide open. Film and photo editors could work at the native resolution that's increasingly becoming the norm, while average Joe's (teehee) could finally watch Netflix in 4K on a tablet.
That said, the realm of super sharp resolutions might be reserved for the Surface Book range at this point. So, why not up its size a bit?
The Surface Pro 4 is big enough for almost all tasks, but it's still not the established default size for most laptops: 13.3 inches. Understandably, the point is for the Surface Pro to straddle both sides of the ever-eroding line between laptop and tablet.
However, maybe the iPad Pro is onto something with its 12.9-inch display. Plus, granted the resolution doesn't bump up too much alongside a size increase, the extra space could allow for a battery life boost.

Surface Pro 5

It might finally be time for USB-C

We saw the latest Google Chromebook Pixel and MacBook be two of the first devices to adopt the latest in USB technology, but now it's the standard among a growing number of smartphones, tablets and laptops. Hell, even the HP Chromebook 13 has two USB-C ports.
The reversible, versatile port may be just what the Surface Pro 5 needs to alleviate the product line's slight input/output problem. A single USB 3.0 port and a proprietary charging port aren't going to cut it for much longer.
It helps that Microsoft has already well-tested the USB-C port within its new Lumia phones, so it's practically a no-brainer to apply that same tech to the Surface line.
If scuttlebutt is to be believed, we're about five months out from a release - plenty of time for the rumor mill to fire up. Stay tuned to this space in the coming months for the latest on things Surface Pro 5.

CES 2017: What to expect and when is it?

CES 2017: What to expect and when is it? 

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the world's largest meeting of technology innovators and enthusiasts. Held in Las Vegas, the consumer conference is awash with robots, smart home appliances, phones and TVs.
At the 2017 conference CES will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. In the past half a century it has gained a reputation as the major tech event of the year, witnessing the announcement of entertainment-changing innovations from the first videocassette recorder in 1970, to camcorder and CD player in 1981, to the Xbox in 2001.

An array of companies from around the world will showcase their latest innovations in keynote speeches, presentations and booths around the city in the first week of the year, setting the agenda for 2017's trends in tech. 

 

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CES is held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada Credit: Derek Blair. When and where is it? 

CES 2017 officially runs from January 5 to 8 in Las Vegas, United States. However, tradition dictates that many of the larger tech companies in attendance announce their products at CES Unveiled, a preview of trends and innovations that runs from January 3.

What companies will be attending?

The companies that are most likely to be making announcements at CES this year include:

• Casio
• BMW
• Bosch
• Honor
• HTC  
• Huawei
• Intel
• Faraday Future
• LG
• Lenovo
• Nissan
• Nvidia
• Panasonic
• Samsung
• Sony
• Qualcomm
• Toyota 
• Volkswagen
• Xiaomi

Technology giants Apple and Google notably don't make an appearance at CES, but prefer to hold their own launch events. And while web companies Amazon and Netflix have attended in the past, we're not expecting a big show from them this year.

What will be announced at CES 2017?

Between them we can expect to see a range of new products and concepts, including laptops, smartphones and tablets, as well as the future of the car and completely connected homes.
One of the most exciting announcements will include Faraday Future's concept car, " a premium electric vehicle that combines extreme technology, industry leading range and holistic design". Meanwhile, Sony is expected to announce its first range of OLED TVs and products will be unveiled by Samsung, Nvidia, Bosch and more.

There could also be innovative uses for VR, waterproof and 4K smartphones, and endless drones and smart home gadgets. And there will be no shortage of the weird and wonderful such as home security robots, smart watch straps, and pollution and radiation fighting clothing.

 

 

Microsoft More Than Doubles OneDrive’s Free Cloud Storage To 15 Gigabytes

Microsoft More Than Doubles OneDrive’s Free Cloud Storage To 15 Gigabytes

Continuing the trend towards free, unlimited cloud storage, Microsoft this morning increased the amount of capacity that it offers free to regular users of its OneDrive service to 15 gigabytes, more than double its previous offering of 7 gigabytes.
The company will also now offer a full terabyte of storage to all Office 365 customers. If you want more storage capacity, but don’t want to pony up for Office, you can now pay $1.99 monthly for 100 gigabytes, or $3.99 each month for 200 gigabytes.
The latter storage option cost $11.49, previously.
What this boils down to is that Microsoft has greatly increased the amount of storage that it is giving away for free, and, if you buy Office as a subscription in any capacity, you get what works out to nearly unlimited free cloud storage.
The single-person Office subscription, Office 365 Personal, costs $6.99 monthly and now comes with a full terabyte of storage. If you need more users, the ‘Home’ version of he same software costs a few dollars more, tipping in at $9.99 monthly and comes with a terabyte of storage per user, for up to five users. Microsoft has therefore greatly decreased the price per gigabyte it charges paying customers.
Surprising? Not at all, but interesting all the same. As a part of the platform wars, storage is an enabler. As I’ve written before, files like to be edited near where they are stored — so, whomever controls cloud file storage will be able to vend editing tools. Microsoft makes quite a bit of money selling Office, so it has a vested interest in doing well in cloud storage.
Dropbox, Box, iCloud Drive, Amazon Drive, and Google Drive all have their sights on Redmond’s cash flows, of course. That makes the Microsoft’s move to greatly expand its free offering, and enhance its paid offering, understandable.
15 free gigabytes isn’t enough, however. Box, earlier this year, offered up to 50. If Microsoft is feeling aggressive, it will acquiesce to its own logic, and provide more — the company is making a bet that when offered a massive chunk of cloud storage for a low price, consumers won’t mind paying for Office, and that 15 gigabyte carrot will keep them inside its services’ camp.
But, as this Google Trends chart points out, Microsoft is running behind its rivals when it comes to consumer mindshare:

Therefore, the company should be all the more aggressive, provided that it wants to increase its share of the growing cloud storage market.
Its moves today are useful, but don’t go as far as I might have hoped. When you have essentially unlimited cash, why not stomp on the gas pedal and do your damnedest to hit top speed?

Best smartphones 2014: The best phones available to buy today

So, you want to buy a new phone? If you're looking for the best smartphone of 2014, you've come to the right place. We will guide you through the hottest mobile phones of the year to save you time when you go to your local phone shop.
We continually update our best smartphones feature to reflect recent launches, putting 2014's latest devices alongside the best of 2013, but all the listed devices have been fully reviewed by us.
Things are changing fast in the world of smartphones: slashed prices, ever-improving hardware, software updates and refreshed handsets arriving every few months means that things never stand still.
It's launch season, meaning plenty of new devices coming out and that means we'll be updating this list regularly over the next weeks and months. This list is never static, it's an ever-changing beast.
Our best smartphones list covers all operating systems, all sizes, and prices, so you'll be armed with everything you need to consider when choosing to buy your next device. Of course, the most important factor in buying a new device is making sure you have the best smartphone for you. The best for your budget, the features you need, the size that feels right and platform that suits you best.
Be sure to let us know what you think is the best smartphone in the comments below.

18. Nokia Lumia 620

The Nokia Lumia 620 earns its place by delivering that Windows Phone experience without costing the earth at around £150. That's right, this budget WinPhone really delivers value for money while still retaining great design and build quality. It's getting a little old now, however, and its position is hotly contested by the Lumia 520.
Of course some compromises have been made on the spec sheet to hit the low price point, but the Nokia Lumia 620 is a great choice for those looking for smartphone performance in a compact package.
Buy the Nokia Lumia 620 if you want a cheap, compact, but competent Windows Phone.
FULL REVIEW: Nokia Lumia 620 review

17. Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini continues Samsung's trend to capitalising on a successful handset name. It's not a mini in the sense that it matches the specs, but in design and to some extent, experience.
Samsung's customisation brings a huge change over Android, packing it with useful features and options, although some might find that over the top. The display is great, if not quite matching the sharpness of the HTC One mini, but here you have the advantage of microSD card expansion and access to the battery, should you wish to swap it on a busy day.
With enough power under the hood, slick design and all that software innovation, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is cheaper and more compact than it's bigger brother, but still delivers a great smartphone experience. It sounds a little expensive in light of devices like the Moto G however, costing £379.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini because you want the Samsung experience in a compact package.
FULL REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini review

16. HTC One mini

The HTC One mini offers the lovely design of the HTC One, but doesn't stop there. It has a cracking 4.3-inch 720p display that's very capable and enough grunt under the hood to cope with pretty much everything you want to do with your phone on a day-to-day basis, but won't match the top handsets for sheer power or speed.
The HTC One mini takes a hit on the spec sheet, but offers the same UltraPixel camera of the HTC One, along with all the smart functions like Zoe and the highlight videos that bring your photography to life.
It's all wrapped into a nice mature bundle by HTC Sense 5 making for a mini experience that's really enjoyable. It's pretty costly compared to a phone like the Moto G however, costing you £325.
Buy the HTC One mini if you want that rich HTC Sense experience in a nicely designed, but pocketable handset.
FULL REVIEW: HTC One mini review

14. Nokia Lumia 925

The Nokia Lumia 925 rights the wrongs of the Lumia 920, while delivering much of the same goodness. Great design in a nice, slim, handset, brings together the best of Nokia and the best of Windows Phone 8.
The 4.7-inch display looks great, there are plenty of extras that have been added by Nokia and this phone also offers some of the latest upgrades to Windows Phone too, with the recent Lumia Black update making this device more impressive and compelling.
It's also available for not a lot of cash, costing only £275. However, with the Lumia 930 waiting in the wings, the Lumia 925 is more difficult to recommend: it's still a great handset, but soon to be made redundant.
Buy the Nokia Lumia 925 if you want a wonderfully designed, great value for money, Windows Phone that's a good all-rounder.
FULL REVIEW: Nokia Lumia 925 review

15. Nokia Lumia 1020

Nokia is chasing two things in smartphones: the best Windows Phone experience it can create and the best camera. If those align with your own needs, then the Nokia Lumia 1020 might be the perfect phone for you.
The very capable PureView camera on the back brings options you simply don't get elsewhere in the smartphone world: it's a great performer. The compromise you have to accept however, is that this is a big phone, especially compared to Nokia's "other" flagship, the Lumia 925, although that's about to be replaced with the larger 930. The Nokia Lumia 1020 also struggles with battery life if you're using the camera a lot and can get hot when in use.
In many areas, the Lumia 1020 offers the same experience as other Lumia devices, with Windows Phone offering a great alternative to Android or iOS. There are still some holes in the ecosystem, but Nokia is doing more than any manufacturer to plug them and the recent Lumia Black update brought improvements and features to the experience.
Nokia is being agressive on price, however, as the Lumia 1020 is now down to £399, SIM free.
Buy the Nokia Lumia 1020 if you want the best smartphone camera available.
FULL REVIEW: Nokia Lumia 1020 review

13. Apple iPhone 5C

The iPhone 5C is Apple's "colourful" handset. It takes the innards of 2012's iPhone 5, adds a touch more 4G compatibility and a slightly improved battery life and wraps it in a colourful plastic casing.
Originally perceived as the "cheap" handset for those who couldn't afford the iPhone 5S, which offers better performance all round, the iPhone 5C offers a great Apple experience, with access to everything the App Store has in offer. It lacks, slightly, because it doesn't have quite the same potential as the 5S and it could be seen as more expensive than it should be, given the older specs and plastic body and the £469 price tag.
However, for many, the iPhone 5C will offer a great choice of handset. It might not have the large display of some of the mid-range Android stars, but you still get a great experience.
Buy the iPhone 5C if you want the iPhone experience on a tighter budget.
FULL REVIEW: Apple iPhone 5C review

12. Motorola Moto X

Motorola has been in this business a long time and although it doesn't launch as aggressively as rivals like Samsung, there's still a great feeling of quality when you get your hands on the Motorola Moto X.
The Moto X doesn't go up against the flagship phones out there on the spec sheet, but it still delivers the essentials. The dual-core processor offers plenty of power, partnered with 2GB of RAM and the 4.7-inch display offers plenty of space to play, even if the resolution is a notch down at 720p.
What you do get, however, is the option to customise the exterior of your phone (for those in the US), so you can design it to suit your own style with a choice of 252 different colour combinations.
The software offers a blend of Android KitKat with a range of Motorola tweaks, which we think get the balance just about right. It's all you want of Android and not too heavily drawn off into unnecessary customisation. There's a generous 2,200mAh battery, that will see this phone outlasting some rivals. It might have some mid-range specs, but it delivers an experience that impresses at £399.
Buy the Motorola Moto X if you want an experience close to raw Android, with some clever customisation.
FULL REVIEW: Motorola Moto X review

11. Sony Xperia Z1

The Sony Xperia Z1 refreshes the excellent Sony Xperia Z, bringing you a powerful handset, with waterproofing, a slick design and a large 5-inch display.
On paper the Z1 sounds like it will be king of all classes, but the boosting of the battery and the accommodation of a 20-megapixel camera, swells the body to larger than its rivals, with a bigger footprint than the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG G2, but not quite reaching into phablet territory. But if you can handle the size there are plenty of treats in store.
It's a veritable powerhouse, with great internal hardware, so everything is slick and fast. The waterproofed 3.5mm headphone jack is now more convenient than the original Xperia Z, but the previous phone is smaller and getting cheaper, so is definitely worth considering. The Xperia Z1 will cost you £469.
Buy the Sony Xperia Z1 if you want big power in a big phone.
FULL REVIEW: Sony Xperia Z1 review

10. Nokia Lumia 1520

The Nokia Lumia 1520 is the best Lumia to date. It brings Windows Phone into the realm of the phablet, but it does it with aplomb, giving you a device that offers size, power and a great camera performance.
Nokia's commitment to the platform, dragging apps - kicking and screaming - over to Windows Phone really enhances what's on offer, but also pouring home-grown features in too.
We've been critical of some of the moves of Windows Phone, and of Nokia, in the recent past, but the Lumia 1520 feels like the hero device that Nokia needed. It's powerful, it's wonderful to use and it's the rival of Android peers that rule the big-screen phone world. It's also fairly affordable for a device of this size, priced at £530.
Buy the Nokia Lumia 1520 if you want the biggest and best Windows Phone experience.
FULL REVIEW: Nokia Lumia 1520 review

9. Nexus 5

The Nexus 5 plays out the pure Google dream, debuting Android 4.4 KitKat and bringing you plenty of power for your money. There's also a brilliant display, which gives you plenty of detail and performance to rival some of the top phones out there.
There are downsides, however. We don't think it's the best designed phone around, perhaps less interesting than the Nexus 4 which came before it and as is typical of Nexus devices, the camera isn't so good and neither is the battery, which is the biggest downside.
However, the Nexus 5 delivers plenty in it's aggressively priced package at £299, especially if power and display are top of your list and you have the reassurance of knowing you'll be at the front of the Android upgrade queue too.
For some, however, the refinement added by other manufacturers will bring attractive features out of the box that the Nexus 5 lacks.
Buy the Nexus 5 for the pure Android experience and plenty of power in an affordable package.
FULL REVIEW: Google Nexus 5 review

8. Samsung Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 brings more innovation to a phone that's already at the top of its game. The design offers flexibility where others don't, with access to the battery and the option to expand the memory via microSD.
Some may say that there's a feature too many and the design isn't as inspiring as some other devices like the HTC One, but if you opt for the Samsung Galaxy S4, you won't be disappointed. Samsung crams a large 5-inch full HD display into a handset that isn't overly large, so despite going big, the size is still manageable.
Undoubtedly the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be the top smartphone choice for many and sell by the bucketload, but recent launches bring more raw power and a more refeshing user interface. SGS4 users are awaiting an update to Android 4.4 KitKat and it looks like the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be announced before it arrives.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will handle anything you throw at it, and beautifully so, but those looking for more power might be tempted by the cheaper LG G2. The SGS4 will cost you around £469.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 to get flagship performance, with the option to change battery and expand the storage.
FULL REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy S4 review

7. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 takes the large device format and continues to refine it. In this 2013 model, there's a cracking 5.7-inch display offering a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, giving you 386ppi. It's packed into a frame that measures 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm, making it one of the most compact devices with such an expansive display.
Some might not like the faux leather back, but you can peel that off and swap it out: as well as access the internals to expand the storage or change the battery.
There's plenty of power, thanks to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset and 3GB of RAM, meaning that everything is slick and smooth. Samsung hasn't ignored the screen space on offer, giving you innovative features through the S Pen to help keep you productive.
You get a lot with the Note 3, but it's also going to cost you a lot at £579. Arguably you can get bigger displays for the same money, but in the Note 3 the blend just feels right. It might be just too big for some.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for the best phablet experience.
FULL REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review

7. HTC One (M7)

For a long time the HTC One sat at the top of our Best Smartphones list, but now it finds itself unable to defend that position. The unique features that made this phone great are now easily surpassed by the new HTC One (M8). That doesn't make the original HTC One a lesser device, but with only a £60 price difference between the two, it makes the older model much more difficult to recommend now.
It still has a great display and the BoomSound speakers are second only to those on the new handset. The design is very good, but the original HTC One now obviously lacks some of the specs to compete with the latest devices: it isn't as fast and the battery performance can't match the top run of handsets from the likes of Sony, Samsung and the new HTC One (M8).
However, the HTC One will be more appealing if you can get it for a good price: it still offers a very slick experience, but it would be enhanced by an update to Sense 6.0 to match the refinement of the latest device.
Buy the HTC One because you want great design.
FULL REVIEW: HTC One review

6. LG G2

LG hasn't had the smoothest run of in the world of modern smartphones, but the LG G2 brings things back into focus. There's heaps of power on offer and a 5.2-inch display crammed into a body that's still fairly compact: LG has banished bezels, so you get more space to play.
It's a powerful phone with the latest hardware. The point is though, this phone competes brilliantly with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 while offering a more "Android" experience, through a slightly less customised UI. The camera isn't the best; the SGS4 beats it easily, and the iPhone is streets ahead.
Some have expressed dislike of the rear-mounted buttons, but they make sense when you're in a call and trying to adjust the volume - far more so, at least, than side mounted buttons do.
But best of all, the display is outstanding. LCD screens have great detail, and accurate colours that AMOLED screens can't claim. And the high-quality audio system will blow you away if you plug in some high-quality music, and some decent headphones.
What we like most is that LG hasn't just thrown features at the phone. It's thought about what is missing from current phones, and what customers might like to have, and done its best to incorporate those into the LG G2. It will cost you around £439.
Buy the LG G2 for it's impressive performance, slick design and thoughtful software tweaks.
READ: LG G2 review

5. Sony Xperia Z2

The Sony Xperia Z2 updates the Xperia Z1, sticking to familiar Xperia Z design. It is slim and solidly built, if a little on the large side, but it does offer a 5.2-inch display and new front-facing speakers. 
It's more accomplished all round than the Xperia Z1: the display is better, there's a lot more power and it's better handled. The battery performance is very good and the camera produces great results. 
The new front speakers boost the audio delivery, but it won't touch the HTC One for speaker skills. However, the Z2 features in-built noise cancellation if used with compatible headphones, which is a nice unique feature.
There's plenty of refinement in the software, although it doesn't feel as though the Z2 has evolved much over the Z1 in this department, and Sony still seems very focused on pushing its own content services which can be a little intrusive. We still think it's a little uncomfortable to hold due to it's flat, squared, design, but there's no denying the power it offers.
Buy the Sony Xperia Z2 because you're looking for a great media experience on a larger screen.
FULL REVIEW: Sony Xperia Z2 review

5. Motorola Moto G

The Motorola Moto G has taken a lot of people by surprise. We've heard the sentiments plenty of times before: performance at a price, without compromise. Motorola, however, went ahead and got it right. The Moto G is a fantastic smartphone and incredible value for money that's difficult to ignore. With a price as low as £100, if you're on a budget, this is the handset to choose.
Take the price out of the equation and you don't feel let down, however. The design is great, the display is excellent and there's plenty of power too. Yes, it will be out-performed by any number of handsets, but those are handsets that will cost you twice, if not three times, as much.
We're really impressed with what you get in the Moto G. It's a great handset and no matter what your budget, if you're after a smartphone for daily use, then this phone pretty much does it. It's fast, the display is lovely and the camera will give you some decent shots too.
Better still, the Motorola Moto G was one of the first non-Nexus devices to be upgraded to Android 4.4 KitKat.
Buy the Motorola Moto G for the best Android experience in a budget handset.
FULL REVIEW: Motorola Moto G review

4. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact

The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is the phone where Sony Mobile got it right. It blends power with performance and design in a handset that will slip into any pocket. There's no shortage of devices at this size, but the Z1 Compact is the best performer by a considerable margin.
Although this handset doesn't have a full HD display, the 4.3-inch 720p screen is packed with detail and it doesn't feel lacking. It also offers better colours and better viewing angles than other Sony phones. There's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage with the option to expand with microSD, all sealed into a water resistant package.
Although it launched on Android 4.3, a KitKat upgrade arrived swiftly. There's plenty of refinement in the software, but a hefty amount of Sony bloat too.
We really love the power controls, which brings day-long performance to the Z1 Compact, easily outlasting many of the devices on this list. Sony's Stamina mode offers granular control over the apps and services, giving you much more control over data and battery use.
The result is a handset that should be seriously considered. It's fairly unique, making it a phone that we'd happily recommend to those looking for a powerful, yet compact, Android handset. It's also priced cheaper than many flagship devices at £449.
Buy the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact for the best flagship Android experience in a compact device.
FULL REVIEW: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review

3. Samsung Galaxy S5

 
The Samsung Galaxy S5 refines much of what the SGS4 offered. The design is similar, as is the interface, but there's refinement at every level. This is still the Samsung smartphone you know and love, but it's slick and fast, with plenty of power, and offers a stunning 5.1-inch full HD display.
The build offers the same flexibility as previous devices, so you can remove the back of the phone to switch out the battery which gives you all-day performance. The build might be mostly plastic, lacking the premium sheen of some rivals, but that makes for a device that's lighter and more compact.
The addition of a heart rate scanner is one element of a new focus on fitness from Samsung, even if the implementation of the fingerprint scanner is a little awkward. The camera produces great results, and is a good performer in all conditions.
There are perhaps a number of features packed into the Samsung Galaxy S5 that you won't use, but there's no lack of choices. Things like the download booster and user interface features that make use of the larger display give you plenty of useful elements to enhance the day-to-day experience.
We expect the SGS5 to be one of the top selling devices of 2014, such is the success of Samsung's machine, and for many, it will be the phone of choice.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S5 for the vast array of features and great display.
FULL REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy S5 review 

2. Apple iPhone 5S

With exquisite attention to detail and wonderful design, the iPhone 5S is master of the largest mobile ecosystem around. The design isn't a huge step over the previous edition, but the internal modifications, paired with a new refreshed OS, keeps Apple in the smartphone fight.
The iPhone 5S experience is very refined; it's mature, familiar and intuitive and supported by an App Store that's always first in line for the new apps, while you won't be left waiting for Apple's software updates. This is the handset that iOS 7 was built for and where it performs the best.
The iPhone 5S sets itself up for future dominance: 64-bit support and a new coprocessor dedicated to handling the motion sensors provide the potential for new directions. The camera is as reliable as ever, with a better flash unit and the addition of a fingerprint scanner provides for easy access with a layer of security, and more effectively implemented than rivals.
Great battery life comes with this phone that is slick and fast in operation, it's just a shame that the display is one of the smallest around. At least it won't be making an unsightly bulge in your pocket, even if buying it might make a little hole in your finances at £549. A late launch in 2013 means the iPhone is unlikely to see a newer version until late 2014.
For many, the iPhone 5S will be the device of choice, hooking into a wider system of devices that work together with minimal fuss.
Buy the iPhone 5S to get the best Apple experience.
FULL REVIEW: iPhone 5S review

1. HTC One (M8)

The HTC One (M8) comprehensively betters the HTC One, taking the design and user experience of the former and refining it in many areas. There's no doubt that this is a premium device at the top of the Android pile. It's slick and fast and the refinement of the new Sense 6.0 user interface adds plenty to Android 4.4 KitKat.
The design is excellent, with a premium metal body offering a great feel in the hand. But this handset isn't only good looking, it offers a great 5-inch full HD display with some of the nicest visuals you'll find on a device at this size.
With size and power, you might expect the 2800mAh battery to be something of a concern, but the HTC One (M8) offers all-day battery life, along with an extreme power saver mode if you need to last longer.
The camera offers some clever features. Thanks to the Duo Camera you can easily refocus images, as well as apply a number of effects, after shooting. They add interest, but if camera performance is the most critical feature you want then you might wish to look elsewhere as the lower resolution makes it slightly less flexible.
Buy the HTC One (M8) for it's design, power and mature user experience.
FULL REVIEW: HTC One (M8) review

 

 

 

HTC One M8 Review: The Most Luxurious Smartphone On The Market

HTC One M8 Review: The Most Luxurious Smartphone On The Market

The HTC One M8 is surely one of the most hotly anticipated handsets of 2014 and one of the most leaked phones we’ve ever seen in a long history of incredibly leaky devices. While the original HTC One received a boatload of praise from critics and better sales than any previous HTC handset, it wasn’t enough to drag the Taiwanese manufacturer out of its rather precarious business position, or pull it into serious competition with rival industry giants such as Samsung – which is currently cleaning up in the Android space.
The HTC One M8 then, has a lot of work to do. So have HTC’s changes with this successor model made a significant difference?
I’ll confess, I was not a massive fan of the original HTC One. I appreciated the aluminium build and the overall aesthetic, but there was something clunky and uncomfortable about the handset during operation, the battery life was poor and then there’s the camera.
Although HTC’s Ultrapixel technology managed to get impressive results considering the 4-megapixel rating and sensor size, it still wasn’t up there with what you could typically (and reasonably) expect from a premium flagship, and its contemporaries left it in their wake.
So it’s with some nervousness that I approached the HTC One M8. The leaks said the camera had a very similar spec, and when it launched it emerged that not only was this largely true (on paper at least), it had also lost a few features (more on that later). The body had been re-designed, which was of course a positive thing, but the battery had only been boosted from the HTC One’s 2,300mAh to 2,600mAh – a good deal short of the 3,000mAh and above we’ve been seeing on many rival flagships, which consistently seems to deliver decent use-time. What else was new? What else was significant? Was this all enough?

SPECS 

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA, Asia
		HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - AT&T HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - T-Mobile
	4G Network	LTE 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2600 - EMEA LTE 700 / 1700 / 2100 - T-Mobile
		LTE 700 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 - Asia LTE 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 - AT&T
	SIM	Nano-SIM
	Announced	2014, March
	Status	Available. Released 2014, March

Body	Dimensions	146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm (5.76 x 2.78 x 0.37 in)
	Weight	160 g (5.64 oz)

Display	Type	Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	1080 x 1920 pixels, 5.0 inches (~441 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
		- HTC Sense UI v6

Sound	Alert types	Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers, built-in amplifiers
	3.5mm jack	Yes

Memory	Card slot	microSD, up to 128 GB
	Internal	16/32 GB, 2 GB RAM

Data	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	Speed	HSDPA, 42 Mbps (21 Mbps - AT&T), HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 50 Mbps UL, 150 Mbps DL
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
	NFC	Yes (market/operator dependent)
	Infrared port	Yes
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0 (MHL), USB On-the-go, USB Host

Camera	Primary	Dual 4 MP, 2688х1520 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, check quality
	Features	1/3'' sensor size, 2µm pixel size, automatic simultaneous video and image recording, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, HDR, panorama
	Video	Yes, 1080p@60fps, 720p@60fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., video stabilization, check quality
	Secondary	Yes, 5 MP, 1080p@30fps, HDR

Features	OS	Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801
	CPU	Quad-core 2.3 GHz (US/EMEA)/ 2.5 GHz (Asia, China) Krait 400
	GPU	Adreno 330
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email
	Browser	HTML5
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver, Amber Gold
		- SNS integration - Google Drive (50 GB cloud storage) - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - TV-out (via MHL A/V link) - DivX/XviD/MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player - MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV/FLAC player - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk - Organizer - Document viewer/editor - Photo viewer/editor - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input

Battery		Non-removable Li-Po 2600 mAh battery
	Stand-by	Up to 271 h (2G) / Up to 496 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 20 h (3G)

Misc	SAR EU	0.42 W/kg (head)     0.22 W/kg (body)
	Price group

Tests	Display	Contrast ratio: 1256 (nominal), 2.371 (sunlight)
	Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 75dB
	Audio quality	Noise -95.4dB / Crosstalk -93.2dB
	Camera	Photo / Video
	Battery life	Endurance rating 71h

Design and Build

During a briefing with HTC it was made very apparent that the key selling point for the HTC One M8 is its build and design. HTC is hedging its bets on the idea that consumers want a beautiful, luxurious and finely crafted smartphone, and unless you’re some kind of puritanical pragmatist it’s very difficult to argue against this line of thought. The success of the iPhone supports this theory more than anything else.
As a result, much of HTC’s development of the HTC One M8 has focused on the exterior, build and aesthetics – and to be sure the result is a beaut. If you’ve seen an HTC One in the flesh (metal) before you might look at the HTC One M8 and think: “It looks the same.”

You’d be dead wrong, however. Although the overall design ethos is similar – curved aluminium back, end-caps with punched front-facing speakers – the feel in the hand is a world away from the older model. Visually there are enough differences too, though you might only start to see them when you get the two side-by-side. This being the case, we’ve taken a bunch of snaps showing you both old and new models paired up together and have peppered them throughout this review – we’re nice like that.

I thought the original HTC One was quite cumbersome in the hand. It was, in truth, a fairly blocky phone; the corners were slightly curved, as was the back panel, but the edges were thin and flat, giving a slightly brick-like feel despite its slinky profile. 

With the HTC One M8, curves are the name of the game. The back panel has been re-jigged with its curvature (from left to right) becoming much more pronounced and as a result it now fits flush to your palm, unlike its predecessor. The corners have a more rounded design too and, importantly, rather than having the back panel sitting on a flat, plastic surround to form the edges, the HTC One M8’s backing tapers round in one continuous piece to form the smooth, curved sides. These are still nice and thin, but much more comfortable to hold.

The original HTC One had no problems with feeling flimsy, it was incredibly solid with a well-built feel in the hand and that’s something HTC has managed, unsurprisingly, to maintain with the HTC One M8.

It’s not perfect, however. Still being made of aluminium has its advantages and disadvantages. I can’t say I’ve seen any indication that HTC has made the build any more durable than the original model. I managed in the space of a few short weeks to scratch the screen and cause a few light scratches to the metal rear panel.

Another minor gripe with the design is that when gripping the phone you may find your fingertips come into contact with the touchscreen’s edges and can cause the display to be switched on via the motion gestures, or you can inadvertently activate apps or menu items near the edges of the screen.
Again though, minor gripes; on the whole the phone looks really slick. The punched speaker grilles still give it a cool edge which you don’t really see elsewhere, while the black banding on the rear panel also looks sharp. The One M8 is a little heavier than its predecessor but it’s not unwieldy by any means. The power button has shifted across to the top-right, making it much easier to operate, and the headphone port is now in the base of the device.

The buttons have been improved too – they still have the same solid feel and operation as the HTC One’s setup, but no-longer fit flush to the phone’s surface. While that was a nice touch visually it wasn’t very easy to use; now you can find and operate them simply by feel. The keys are also slightly rounded for a softer appearance and, as per the pre-launch rumours, the capacitive navigation controls on the front are gone in favour of on-screen Android ones.

It's not unusual for manufacturers to launch their own case for a new flagship these days, and certainly in HTC's case with a somewhat delicate metal phone it makes a good deal of sense.
For the One M8, HTC has produced the Dot View case, available in blue, red, orange and black. We've also got a grey one, but it's not listed on HTC's official product page - go figure.
So what’s the Dot Case all about? Well it’s a soft-touch plastic flip-cover which fits nice and snug to the handset’s back panel. The front cover is attached via a rubber leaf along one edge and the front panel itself is perforated with hundreds of little dots. The purpose of these dots is to allow you to see parts of the display underneath – when the case is closed the phone knows about it through some kind of sorcery (or perhaps sensors - who can say?) and displays the time and weather through the dots when you activate the handset.

Many of the Motion Launch gestures still work through the case’s front panel even when closed – you can answer calls without opening it and simply raise the phone to your ear, or you can double-tap to wake the phone and see the date/time/weather. Other functions are still available as well.
While this stuff is quite nice, I do have a few gripes with the Dot View cover. Firstly, the rubber leaf holding the front cover doesn’t allow you to fold it back flush to the rear of the device, which makes grip awkward. Perhaps more importantly, the cover design seems at odds with the design of the HTC One M8 – you immediately lose all of that lovely shaped metal. I can’t help but think case manufacturers will probably come up with a more elegant case which will properly compliment and emphasise the handset’s exterior while still providing protection. And they probably won’t have that annoying issue with the flip cover not folding back properly either.

Display

HTC was somewhat evasive about what display technology it had crammed into the HTC One M8. Previously the HTC One had used a Super LCD3 (SLCD3) at 4.7-inches with a full HD 1080p resolution at 469 pixels-per-inch (ppi), and at the time it launched this looked fantastic. Colour was rich, brightness robust with very pure whites, and things were nice and sharp with text being particularly clear. HTC has only hinted that the new phone features updated and improved display technology from its predecessor, but wouldn’t name it as SLCD3, SLCD4 (does that exist?) or indeed any other specific title.

Either way you’ve only got to look at the pair side-by-side to see the improvements are evidently there. The new screen is a larger 5-inch panel, again with a full HD 1080p resolution, which brings the pixel density down to a slightly lower, but still respectable, 440ppi. The screen is brighter and colour is much richer.

Viewing angles are better than its predecessor, although not the best I’ve seen. Additionally the phone is just about usable in bright sunlight while the HTC One’s screen is barely visible at all, but again, I’ve seen better phones for sunlight use than the HTC One M8 – viewing angles in these conditions also go downhill.

In normal conditions it’s a fantastic screen for your typical smartphone tasks. Videos, games, and websites all look vibrant and clear and it’s a joy to watch full-length feature films, Youtube, or TV shows.

Hardware, Storage and Connectivity

The HTC One M8 is following the same path as several other recent Android flagships by opting for 16GB of onboard storage and backing this up with microSD support for cards up to 128GB.
There’s two things worth noting here. Firstly, the HTC One lacked microSD, so it’s great to see it added aboard the successor. Second, there is a 32GB onboard storage variant of the HTC One M8 in existence, however, at present it is only available in certain markets – namely Asia and with certain US carriers. At time of writing HTC has not revealed any plans to launch the 32GB model anywhere else. Could it come to the UK eventually? Possibly, but in the meantime we’re going to have to assume it won’t.

Connectivity is pretty standard stuff for a high-end Android model: you’re looking at full 4G and 3G mobile data support and the handset takes a Nano SIM. Wi-Fi support includes Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Hotspot, as well as DLNA, and you also have Bluetooth, NFC, microUSB, MHL TV-Out, GPS, and an enlarged infrared blaster along the top of the device.

This handset has a few extra hardware tricks up its sleeve too. The phone is fitted with a motion co-processor in a similar vein to Apple’s M7 chip aboard the iPhone 5S. HTC has built a number of features around this based on motion control. You can wake or sleep the handset by double-tapping the display, or answer a call by simply holding the phone up to your face.
Other gestures are designed for waking the phone while also readying a certain function. With the phone in portrait orientation, swiping in from the left of the screen wakes it with BlinkFeed ready, while swiping down from the top activates voice dialling, prompting you to speak a contact’s name. Meanwhile, in landscape mode, pressing the volume up key wakes the device with the camera ready to go. The gestures are called “Motion Launch” and can be toggled on or off en masse in the settings menu, but you can’t individually toggle them.
Personally I found the call answering and camera activation useful and easy to remember. The double-tap had its moments, but the rest seemed a bit superfluous.  Additionally, all too often I found the handset was getting activated in my pocket or simply when picking it up, and I ended up turning the gestures off as a result. Hopefully HTC can iron out a few of these kinks with a software update in the future.

Another key hardware area is the audio equipment. HTC has revived its BoomSound speaker technology with a tailor-made amplifier, which it says has improved the audio quality as well as provide a maximum volume as much as 25% louder than its predecessor. With previous BoomSound-equipped HTC handsets I’ve found they’re plenty loud and clear enough as it is – you’d only let your alarm go off on anything above half volume once, because let’s face it, no-one likes dealing with angry neighbours.

It’s a similar story with the HTC One M8: audio quality is excellent. The front-facing speakers really do make a difference (why isn’t every manufacturer doing this?) and you can happily leave the phone playing music on your kitchen counter to good effect; it will fill the room well and without a trace of tinniness. Range from bass and treble is also very nice. The speakers enhance other multimedia options too, as well as complimenting the gorgeous screen; watching films or playing games is a great experience for both your eyes and ears.

Put quite simply, while there are plenty of phones on the market with good speakers HTC has managed to maintain its lead with the HTC One M8 – there is no better built-in mobile audio experience out there right now.

Battery

I was not expecting great things from the HTC One M8’s battery. A phone with a faster processor and a larger, brighter display, yet only a 300mAh increase over its predecessor (which offered poor battery performance anyway) did not look like a promising recipe on paper.
HTC has clearly done some extensive fettling to improve the situation, however, because the HTC One M8 actually doesn’t fare too badly alongside its contemporaries.
Our usual Django test – running all of Django Unchained for 2 hours 45 minutes on full brightness and with Wi-Fi and mobile data toggled on, from 100% charge – chalked up 50% battery remaining when the credits rolled up.
That’s not too far off the usual 60% or so we’ve typically seen from 3,000mAh cells inside rival devices. You can probably expect to get at least 5 hours 30 minutes of video playback from one charge, while more casual use (a spot of social networking, browsing, and the odd call) should net you about a day and a half without needing to plug in.
As usual, gaming is one of the most intensive things for the battery and I found that a 15 minute stint of Real Racing 3 saw a consumption rate of roughly 1% per minute of gameplay. At the very least this means you can easily calculate how long you can spend gaming before things go kaput.

Processor and Performance

The HTC One M8 runs on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor (MSM8974AB), an upgrade from the Snapdragon 800 commonly seen in rival handsets from late 2013 and into 2014. It uses Qualcomm’s Krait 400 core architecture clocked at 2.3GHz with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 graphics processing unit (GPU). While the HTC One’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chip was well-optimised and delivered smooth performance at time of launch, the difference with the Snapdragon 800 family is noticeably smoother. In terms of actual use scenarios gaming is ridiculously good; not only are the graphics console-like but the zero-latency delivery is very reminiscent of what you’ll find in one of the big-name game boxes, with absolutely no hiccupping whatsoever.

HTC has also clearly optimised  the Sense 6 UI and Android KitKat very nicely with the hardware; something we saw before with the HTC One, but this time round of course it has a lot more power to play with. Google’s “Butter” enhancements are quite evident here as screen transitions animations and menu elements glide around with ease – that’s not so unusual these days, but here they have this almost floaty, ethereal quality which is rather special. It really is a fluid UI.
As with other Snapdragon 800-based devices you can happily stack a boat-load of apps on top of each other running in the background with not so much as a squeak from the handset. The multitasking is tackled virtually effortlessly.
In short, this is a powerhouse of a handset.

Software

Regular readers may be aware that I’m a bit of a stock Android aficionado, so generally I approach custom UI overlays with a few reservations. However, Sense 6 is one of the few interfaces which I’ve actually grown very fond of having played around with it for a little while.

What’s won me over? Well, probably the elegant simplicity and slick stylishness of it all, which I feel fits very well with what Android’s all about. It doesn’t really feel too far removed from Google’s Android; more like a genuine alternative version of it. HTC has a couple of font choices on offer, both of which are riffs on the stock Android style font and are nice, simple, and clean. White text, icons and other UI elements are everywhere and keep in with the minimalist theme.

Firmware Update Brings Stability Fixes

The HTC One M8 has now received two different firmware updates, the first one worked on the Extreme Power Saving mode but the second brought extra overall stability.
You’ll receive the update OTA at some point and it comes in somewhere around 70MB. The extra stability comes in to help out a variety of applications, here’s the official changelog from HTC.
System improvements
- Radio stability improvement
Application improvements
- Camera stability
- Video Highlight stability
- FM Radio stability
- Weather app barometer update
Once you receive the update it’ll give the phone that little extra kick to make it even better than it was before. As you’ll find in this review we already found the HTC One M8 to be incredibly stable but it never hurts to try to improve things.

Speaking of themes, you can also select from a range of pre-made ones which set the wallpaper and menu colours for the handset (including the BlinkFeed interface). These all look great and the whole design is truly cohesive. HTC’s custom icons are simple and tidy and it really is the little things which make a big difference here, such as the way certain menu elements fade in or fade out fluidly; the way menu selection presses are registered – it’s all airy and light with a slightly sci-fi edge. The look of the Sense 6 UI is one thing, as you can see from these screenshots, but seeing it in motion really is something else.

It’s not perfect though. The multitasking section, for one, does look great but it’s not as practical as stock Android on account of the screen previews being WAY too small to be useful. The handset also lacks a native file browser, meaning you’ll have to grab a third party app to go rooting around for things.

FitBit

The iPhone 5s has its M7 coprocessor and Samsung has its S-Health suite of apps and accompanying range of smartphones. Fitness and well-being is a big deal in 2014’s smartphone space, which is probably why HTC partnered up with FitBit to bring some basic health and fitness tracking to the HTC One M8. 

FitBit makes sports bands and fitness trackers. You wear them on your wrist, they monitor your activity, and then they relay the information to your smartphone, tablet and/or computer. The only difference here is you don’t need a band around your wrist – the HTC One M8’s sensors can do all that.
It’s not quite as accurate as wearing a band, but for basic step counting it is more than adequate. Setting up FitBit on the One M8 is simple: locate the app, register, select the appropriate option (use FitBit Band or use One M8’s sensors), add in your details and, boom, you’re done. The HTC One M8 is now tracking you. 

You can also keep a food diary within the application, monitor calories and receive analytics on how much food you’ve consumed over a pre-selected period of time. The app isn’t quite as detailed as Samsung's S Health, but for basic stuff – daily step counts and calorie logging – it’s definitely decent. Setup is simple, it requires no additional tech, other than your phone, and the feedback it gives is easy to digest and helpful if you’re trying to be more active and eat less. 

Camera

Like the battery, this is another area where the HTC One M8 delivered above my expectations. In our review of the original HTC One, then Reviews Editor Basil Kronfli praised the handset’s low-light capabilities and video capture, and added that, for a 4-megpixel sensor, it was punching well above its weight. However, he also observed that it lacked detail compared to competing flagships and speculated the same tech with an 8-megapixel sensor (and indeed, I’d add, perhaps a larger sensor size) could well net some fantastic results.

So, here we are with the next-generation. What’s new? Well the bad news is the optical image stabilisation (OIS) from the previous model is gone. The sensor size has also not changed and it has the same 4-megapixel “Ultrapixel” back-illuminated sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. The good news is that, through some kind of voodoo magic, the all-round imaging quality has actually improved tremendously regardless. Detail is better, while contrast and colour are also punchier. Having an HTC One to hand we even captured some shots on both devices to show the difference.

Despite this noticeable improvement, there are of course other cameraphones on the market which can outperform the HTC One M8. Sony’s Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Xperia Z2, and Nokia’s Lumia 1020, Lumia 1520, and the new Lumia 930, to name but a handful. That said, the quality is, I think, going to prove satisfying enough for the majority of users. Sure, if you’re the type to print your snaps out as a poster you may find it still lacks what you’re after – but for sharing holiday snaps on Facebook it’s pretty good.

Low-light performance remains as robust as before in spite of the removal of OIS. One thing which really helps is the new dual-LED flash with both amber and white LEDs, this is similar to the iPhone 5S’s setup and the phone uses the flash intelligently to provide the best lighting conditions for a shot in the dark. The images below were captured in our podcast dungeon with the lights switched off and it was near pitch black.

HTC's also implemented some extra trickery here. That dual camera lens you may have spotted in leaks (or indeed, on these very pages) is not actually a second lens but a depth sensor and its job is to take in a sweep of spatial data every time you snap a picture. This data is stored in the image file and doesn’t expand the file size too much either.
What’s this good for? Well a number of things, actually, but the most prominent in HTC's marketing push is the Lytro-style “U Focus” which allows you to select a new focal point on the photo after capture. Each time you pick a new focal point and save the image it will save it as a copy – which cannot subsequently be edited – but the original can be re-focused and duplicated in this way as many times as you like.
This should be useful in enabling the HTC One M8 to be very much a “fire and forget” cameraphone, and we’re sure that would appeal to a lot of people who don’t want to have to faff to get the perfect snap. However, it's not quite as good as it could have been. You can see U Focus in action in the images below where I shot a picture of Cut The Rope’s OmNom mascot and selected a couple of different focal points.

And a picture snapped in Westminster, where I just managed to grab the nose of a passing Lotus 7 (shame I didn’t get the whole thing), which shows how you can bring the image’s focal point from the background – where it accidentally focused at time of capture - and pick the car instead, which is what I actually wanted to get in the first place.

But the problem is it doesn't really work. Look closely at both pictures and you'll notice that most of the image hasn't changed, the Lotus 7 has the same clarity in each version - all that selecting it as a focal point has done is blur out the background.
Likewise with OmNom, I selected the keyboard as the focal point and yet it's the same clarity in both images, all that's happened in the edited snap is that OmNom himself and other surrounding areas have become more blurry. Again, hopefully HTC can improve this with a software patch, but ultimately this doesn't impact on the basic image quality, which is decent.
Other features include a 3D mode which uses a parallax effect to simulate a 3D hologram, meaning you can rotate the camera slightly around a subject. This doesn’t work very well for landscapes or groups of people, as it ends up looking like a flat image being tilted. However, for individual objects such as a cuddly toy or a pint of beer it works very well indeed. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to demonstrate this here using picture samples as they will lose their 3D-ness if not viewed on the phone’s display.

There are a number of other editing modes and features which are less focused on the depth sensor’s data, as well as the usual set of filters, frames, and effects which can be applied directly to the photo.

The camera interface is very simple and streamlined, making it remarkably easy-to-use with its minimalist white, black and red menu elements and large icons. In capture mode the majority of the interface is given over to the viewfinder, but you can easily bring up a menu to tweak the mode setting (macro/night/auto etc.), ISO, white balance, filters, and exposure value with icons along the bottom. The flash control is ever present in the top left.

Another button in the bottom right opens up another set of options, including the regular camera, video capture, HTC’s Zoe camera (for capturing images and video simultaneously), a dedicated selfie mode, a dual-capture mode for using both front and back cameras simultaneously, and a “Pan 360” mode for panoramic capture.

There's also a 5-megapixel front-facing secondary camera which performs well in the dedicated selfie and dual-capture modes.
All told, the HTC One M8’s camera is a very comprehensive setup, but more than that it’s clearly been designed for the needs of your average phone user who wants a decent camera but doesn’t require something a pro might drool over. That means all the tweaks and tools onboard have been designed with quick and easy capture and editing in mind, and it’s a refreshingly effortless device to use as a result. Imaging quality is not the best on the market but it’s still better than its predecessor and is pretty damn good overall.
Well done HTC.

HTC Opens Up Dual Lens SDK To Developers

HTC has revealed its plans to open up its dual lens technology to developers. The firm announced its Dual Lens SDK Preview, which can now be downloaded by eager developers with an HTCDev account.
Speaking to Pocket-lint, HTC said, "Our hope is that developers will use this SDK to tap into the power of the Duo Camera and come up with their own cool, creative ideas for the depth sensor. Use of the SDK is free and open to any developer."
Hopefully this will mean you'll soon be able to download new applications and plug-ins which can do interesting things for your photography via HTC's depth sensor.

Conclusion

The HTC One M8 is a difficult handset to judge. On the one hand, you have the paradox of a device where the emphasis is very much on the good-looking exterior, and yet it seems too fragile to survive for long without cladding it in a protective case – a move which effectively undermines all that visual flair in one go. But, is that enough to counter all the other positive stuff?

I’d argue no. You see, it’s a pretty fantastic setup when you factor everything in: incredibly fast, smooth performance, a beautiful UI, an excellent display and speakers, a really very capable and easy-to-use camera, microSD support, good battery life...the list goes on. The HTC One M8 is every bit the high-end, premium flagship model even without the stylish bodyshell. It’s a big improvement on its predecessor and can stand toe-to-toe with most of its contemporaries. Taking all these features into account I find it difficult to imagine myself being deterred purely on the basis of fragility.
For one thing, I’m used to treating phones like some kind of ancient heirloom because I know they have to go back to the manufacturer in one piece and actively being as careful as possible can indeed work (don’t put your phone in the same pocket as your keys, for example). But aside from that, there are other far more expensive things which you could, potentially, damage very easily – and yet people still buy these things. We’ve all heard of people driving a new car out of the showroom straight into a truck, but would that stop you from buying a new car? Ultimately you’ll have to decide yourself on whether it’s worth the risk (you could always grab some insurance), or whether you’re happy simply covering up all that lovely curved metal with a rubber or plastic casing.
But either way, the rest of the phone is top-notch and well worth a look, it's simply a really enjoyable device to use on a daily basis.