Nowadays, tech companies are doing what they could to narrow the gap between launch and release dates. While both terms may seem like one and the same, they are actually different in tech parlance – the former term refers to when a phone is debuted in public, the latter refers to when the device is actually available in stores, or ready to ship. That quick semantics refresher out of the way, the “All New HTC One”, or the HTC One M8 as many people are now calling it, has just gotten launched and released on the same day, March 25, allowing the Taiwanese company to get a three-week head start over Samsung, whose flagship Galaxy S5 is expected to be released in the second week of April.
At the moment, the HTC One M8’s release date doesn’t cover too many stores or carriers, but the bottom line is that it’s currently available in several parts of the world. So what makes it different from its predecessor, the original HTC One? For starters, the device comes with some enhanced fundamentals, including a new powertrain that consist of a 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor (clocked at 2.5 GHz for Asian versions) mated to 2 GB RAM.
The phone has a larger display at 5 inches, up from 4.7 inches on the original HTC One, but resolution is still the same at 1920 x 1080. Internal memory options are set at 16 GB and 32 GB, and HTC has now introduced microSD support to its new flagship. The front camera is now rated at 5 megapixels, while the rear camera retains the same 4 Ultrapixel technology, but with a new Duo Camera system.
Aside from the Duo Camera system on the back of the phone, the HTC One M8 also has a few other selling features worth mentioning. These include improved BoomSound stereo speakers in front, and a new-look HTC Sense user experience. The UX still comes with BlinkFeed and HTC TV, as well as other apps that have gotten a noticeable makeover on the new HTC One M8.
Other selling features include the Sensor Hub, which tracks the steps a user takes, as well as several unique gestures that allow for additional functionality even when the display is turned off. One example would be the ability to wake the HTC One M8 up simply by tapping on the screen twice. Extreme Power Saving Mode is similar to the ultra-power saving mode on Samsung devices, in the sense that it only allows for the bare essentials – texting, calling, and email access – once the battery is low.
The HTC One M8’s release date was yesterday, and the phone is currently available on Verizon Wireless in the United States, with other major carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular) to follow suit soon. The phone sells for $199.99 on a two-year contract, and comes in three flavors, or color options, namely Glacial Silver, Amber Gold, and Gunmetal Gray.