The best-looking smartphone gets Windows Phone

Oct 27, 2014 16:31 GMT  ·  By

There’s no doubt about it, HTC One M8 is the best-looking smartphone available on the market. However, only those willing to use Android on their handsets were offered the option to purchase this good-looking device.

The good news is HTC and Microsoft decided to offer Windows Phone fans the option to have their favorite operating system running on the stunning One M8 smartphone.

HTC One M8 for Windows is one of the few smartphones that can really compete with Microsoft’s high-end Lumia handsets, such as the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 930, for example.

Unfortunately, for the time being, HTC One M8 for Windows is only available in the United States and chances are slim that the Taiwanese handset maker will bring it to other countries.

There are rumors claiming HTC will eventually release the One M8 for Windows in Europe, but these are just speculations for now. Anyway, here is hoping the HTC One M8 for Windows will be rolled out internationally sooner rather than later.

As mentioned earlier, the One M8 for Windows is now available for purchase at US-based carrier Verizon Wireless for $600 (€470) outright. It’s only available in Gunmetal Gray color option, but customers willing to commit to a new 2-year agreement can get the smartphone for only $200 (€155).

Design

Windows Phone users have few options in terms of brands when it comes to high-end tier. The most powerful smartphones powered by Microsoft’s operating system are all made by Nokia, and as many of you probably know by now, they all follow the same design pattern.

Obviously, not all Nokia Lumia smartphones look the same, but the rectangular reference design has been maintained in all high-end models, so some might feel the need for a change.

HTC One M8 for Windows is a breath of fresh air when it comes to design. Aside from the fact that the flagship smartphone received many awards for its design, the One M8 for Windows is a welcome change from the Nokia Lumia family.

Design is one of HTC One M8’s main selling points. Just like the Android version, the Windows Phone version features a unibody metal chassis and the same sizes: 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm. Both models have the same 160g (battery included) weight and exactly the same hardware.

The premium build quality of the HTC One M8 is undeniable. The handset maker made use of aluminum and polycarbonate to give its flagship smartphone a stylish look. The metallic curved edges are very well polished so you have a better feel when keeping the phone in hand.

HTC One M8 for Windows (front)
HTC One M8 for Windows (front)
The smartphone is entirely made of aluminum, but it features two polycarbonate stripes on the back side where HTC may have placed the antennas.

The only issue I have found a bit worrying would be the glossy back side of the smartphone, which might lower the grip on the device. Aside from that, HTC One M8 is a masterpiece, and if more handset makers started using premium materials for its flagship smartphones, we would certainly have more happy customers.

Currently, HTC, Motorola and Nokia are among the few companies that use premium materials like various metal alloys, Kevlar and polycarbonate, for its top tier products.

Anyway, the One M8 for Windows comes with two BoomSound speakers in the front, one above the display and another one at the bottom. There’s also a secondary 5-megapixel camera in the front, along with various sensors and the status LED.

The microSD card slot tray and the dual volume key have been placed on the right side on the smartphone, while the nanoSIM tray is on the left side.

The lock/unlock button and the Infrared port have been placed on top side, whereas the 3.5mm audio jack and the microUSB port are on the bottom side.

I would have preferred the lock/unlock button to be placed on either left or right sides of the smartphone, so you can reach it with your thumb without having to use both hands.

The good news is HTC One M8 for Windows supports double tap to wake feature, so you won’t really need to click on the lock/unlock button if you want to wake your phone up.

The back side of the device is where HTC put the 4-UltraPixel camera and the dual-LED (dual-tone) flash. The HTC and Windows Phone logos are etched right on the middle of the aluminum back side, while Verizon’s brand appears at the bottom.

Overall, HTC One M8 for Windows is quite the looker. Windows Phone fans will definitely love it for its build quality and the premium feel.

Display and Camera

HTC One M8 for Windows sports the same 5-inch Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution and features 441ppi (pixel per inch).

It provides great sunlight eligibility, but it can’t stand against AMOLED displays that come inside the Lumia smartphones, especially when it comes to brightness and contrast.

This is the good news. The bad news is that the One M8 for Windows does not come with glance feature, so you won’t be able to see any notifications on your display when the smartphone is in sleep mode.

However, HTC One M8 for Windows comes with double-tap to wake up feature, so you will be able to wake up the phone without having to click on the lock/unlock button on top side.

HTC One M8 for Windows photo sample
HTC One M8 for Windows photo sample
Another positive aspect would be the fact that it’s covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for extra protection against accidental drops and scratches.

Moving on to camera, HTC One M8 for Windows comes with the same camera configuration as the Android model. The 4-UltraPixel rear camera features a 1.3” sensor and a dual-LED flash with dual-tone, which provides both warm and cold light when needed.

HTC One M8 does not feature a dedicated camera key, so you will have to use the touch shutter that appears on the display in the camera UI.

You can take pictures with a resolution of up to 2688 x 1520 pixels, when the ratio is set to 16:9, but if you want to capture 4:3 aspect ratio photos, the maximum resolution will be limited to 2048 x 1520 pixels.

Although the smartphone comes with two cameras on the back, only one actually takes photos, the second one from the top. The first one acts like a rangefinder and allows users to add various effects while shooting pictures (like bokeh) or even afterwards.

When it comes to software, the camera UI is a carbon copy of the one on the Android version of HTC One M8. You’ll be able to access the main menu directly from the first window. The main menu allows you to switch to camera, video, lenses, panorama and selfie.

The Advanced menu contains lots of camera-related settings such as ISO, Exposure, Flash, HDR, Night scene, Macro and many more.

We’ve taken the One M8’s camera for a test and try to shoot pictures in perfect light conditions. Unfortunately, HTC One M8’s 4-UltraPixel camera is no match for Nokia Lumia cameras.

The pictures look sharp, but there are some color inaccuracies that appear in some of the photos we’ve taken with the One M8. The macro pictures are really beautiful, but when shooting landscapes, the camera doesn’t do too well.

HTC One M8 for Windows can also shoot full HD (1080p) resolution video at either 30fps or 60fps. All videos are saved in MP4 format, so you can watch them on any other device with ease.

Quality-wise, the video shot at 30fps looks much better and more natural that those shot at 60fps, due to the higher bitrate. Overall, the One M8’s camera does a slightly better job at capturing video than shooting pictures.

Menu and Software

This version of HTC One M8 comes with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 operating system out of the box, so there’s no need to wait for this particular update that introduces lots of new improvements and new features.

Obviously, don’t expect any Lumia exclusive apps to be included in HTC’s flagship smartphone. However, the Taiwanese handset maker added some of its own software into Windows Phone 8.1, such as the HTC Camera, Sense TV, Video Highlights, Photo Editor and Blinkfeed.

Aside from that, you will get all the new features brought in by Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, such as the option to create new folders and the possibility to select background images. Kid’s corners, data sense, battery saver, as well as Cortana and Quite Hours (Do not disturb mode) are included as well.

Windows Phone fans who previously used a Nokia Lumia smartphone will feel right at home on the HTC One M8, as the latter comes with the same interface.

The only slight difference might be the fact that HTC’s smartphone comes with on-screen touch controls which you can hide using the small down arrow that appears at the base of the screen. In order to make the on-screen controls appear on the display, you need to swipe from the base of the display upwards.

Another important selling point of the One M8 for Windows is the fact that it comes with Microsoft’s Office full package for free. In fact, the package is included in all Windows Phone handsets, not just the flagship ones.

Windows Phone 8.1 is a real game changer for Microsoft and the reason the platform has become competitive on the smartphone market, which is dominated by Android and iOS.

HTC One M8 for Windows display
HTC One M8 for Windows display

Communication

HTC One M8 for Windows is packed with exactly the same connectivity options as the Android version with a single exception. The Windows Phone model includes microUSB 2.0, but lacks USB on-the-go support.

Keep in mind, though, that this is not because HTC did not want to add it; it’s because Windows Phone does not support USB on-the-go yet. However, when Microsoft brings this feature to Windows Phone, all compatible smartphones will receive it as an update.

Aside from that, the One M8 for Windows provides a wide range of communication features, including Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, Wi-Fi, NFC (Near Field Communications), LTE Cat.4 (150Mbps download), Infrared port and GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS.

Software-wise, HTC One M8 for Windows comes with Internet Explorer 11 by default, but we recommend users to install another browser. Although Microsoft improved its mobile browser a lot, it still has issues rendering some webpages.

Keep in mind that, in order to use the Nokia HERE Maps, you will have to download the application from the Windows Phone Store. HTC One M8 for Windows comes with Verizon Navigator application by default, so if you don’t want to use the basic Maps app you should download HERE’s app for free.

It’s also worth mentioning that, in order to enjoy HERE Drive+ services, you will have to pay for the application, which is available for download through Windows Phone Store.

Processor and Memory

HTC One M8 for Windows has the same hardware as the Android version, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset that accommodates a 2.3GHz quad-core processor and an Adreno 330 graphics processing unit.

The smartphone packs no less than 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 128GB via microSD card slot.

The One M8’s chipset is one generation newer than Lumia 1520’s, but you won’t notice any differences in real life. Performance-wise, HTC One M8 for Windows is as fast as the Lumia 1520 or Lumia 930 and that’s mostly thanks to Microsoft’s mobile platform.

Windows Phone has been optimized to work smoothly even on the lowest hardware configuration, so the only way to differentiate the smartphones powered by this platform would be while running some apps and games.

Suffice it to say, the 2.3GHz quad-core processor powering both Android and Windows Phone versions of HTC One M8 is more than enough to fulfill any needs.

When it comes to storage, aside from the 32GB available by default, HTC One M8 for Windows will also receive 15GB of free cloud storage via Microsoft’s OneDrive service, which can be upped to 30GB if you decide to save your photos in the cloud.

Multimedia

Unlike Nokia Lumia smartphones, the HTC One M8 for Windows boasts two BoomSound speakers in the front side. They sound great when used for listening to music, but they aren’t as loud as you would expect from a pair of dedicated loudspeakers.

The default music player is Xbox Music, which doesn’t feature any equalizer options and it can’t run files like FLAC or WAV. The good news is HTC did a great job when it comes to audio quality, both with headphones and with attached external amplifiers.

The same goes for the FM Radio application, which only works when you plug in a pair of headphones that would act as antenna.

The included Video application that’s meant to run all video files has limited compatibility. This means that it won’t run MKV files and those that take advantage of the AC3 audio codec. The same goes for all Windows Phone handsets available on the market, so it must have something to do with the platform.

In case Microsoft introduced Mix Radio service in your country, then you will be able to use the equalizers option that has been integrated in the application.

Battery

HTC One M8 for Windows is powered by the same non-removable 2600 Li-Polymer battery that should provide more usage time than its Android counterpart.

In reality, we got two days of full use with around 30 minutes of talking each day, at least 1 hour of Internet browsing via 4G, Wi-Fi connectivity always online, several emails and photos per day. The brightness was set to auto, though you get more battery if you set it to medium.

We also recommend HTC One M8 for Windows to disable location services when they don’t need them, as they drain the phone’s battery most of the time.

Two days of use is quite decent for a flagship smartphone considering most Android handsets only offer a bit more than 24 hours.

We are rather content with the One M8’s battery life, especially that you can get even more than 2 days depending on the usage.

HTC One M8 for Windows retail box
HTC One M8 for Windows retail box

In the Box

HTC One M8 for Windows Non–removable 2600 mAH Lithium Ion Battery Pre–installed SIM Card (4FF NFC) Wall Adapter USB Cable Stereo Headset Quick Reference Guide Global Support Brochure Product Safety &Warranty Brochure Important Consumer Information RF Brochure.


The Good

The most appealing trait of the HTC One M8 for Windows is design. The smartphone is the best looking on the market and the fact that it’s made of aluminum is another plus.

Hardware-wise, HTC’s device should be the most powerful smartphone, at least on paper, running the Windows Phone platform.

There are so many key features that should be mentioned here, like the front-facing BoomSound speakers, microSD card slot, 32GB storage, 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU and 2GB of RAM.

The Windows Phone 8.1 is another positive aspect that should increase the smartphone’s desirability among consumers. Hopefully, Microsoft will continue to improve the experience with new features and enhancements.

The 2,600 mAh battery offers quite decent usage times, while the 5-megapixel front-facing camera should fulfil any thirst for selfies. Last but not least, the audio quality is exceptional, so those who are into listening to music while on the move should be more than content with what the One M8 for Windows has to offer.

The Bad

The HTC One M8 for Windows doesn’t have too many downsides. Despite the lack of USB on-the-go support and the slightly weak 4-UltraPixel camera on the back, HTC’s device is a very good Windows Phone smartphone.

The lack of some Nokia Lumia exclusive apps may prevent some fans from grabbing this one, but HTC provides users with more than decent alternatives.

Another downside would be the fact that it comes with some Verizon bloatware, but you can disable these services if you don’t want to use it. The carrier’s branding on the back side will remain though.

Conclusion

The most appealing trait of the HTC One M8 for Windows is design. The smartphone is the best looking on the market and the fact that it’s made of aluminum is another plus. Hardware-wise, HTC’s device should be the most powerful smartphone, at least on paper, running the Windows Phone platform.

There are so many key features that should be mentioned here, like the front-facing BoomSound speakers, microSD card slot, 32GB storage, 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU and 2GB of RAM. The Windows Phone 8.1 is another positive aspect that should increase the smartphone’s desirability among consumers. Hopefully, Microsoft will continue to improve the experience with new features and enhancements.

The 2,600 mAh battery offers quite decent usage times, while the 5-megapixel front-facing camera should fulfil any thirst for selfies. Last but not least, the audio quality is exceptional, so those who are into listening to music while on the move should be more than content with what the One M8 for Windows has to offer.

Our Rating

looks 5
build 5
speed 5
battery 4
calls 4
camera 2
video 4
apps 3
screen 4
signal4

final rating 4

HTC One M8 for Windows (112 Images)

HTC One M8 for Windows
HTC One M8 for Windows inside DotView case (front)HTC One M8 for Windows
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