HTC might have ONE me over

[JRDroid]

I went to AT&T yesterday and played with their demo unit of the One. Wow, that is a nice piece of hardware, and Sense 5 looks much better in person than in pictures and videos IMO. Before yesterday I was fairly certain I was going to get either a Galaxy S4 or an Optimus G Pro, now there is some doubt. I think the feel of the One is second to none. My wife has an iPhone 5, which while not my cup of tea was the king of premium feel until now. The one feels better than the iPhone 5. I love the burst camera mode. having a one year old daughter, being able to take 18 pictures rapidly and pic the one that is best is a definite plus to me. OIS is also a killer feature. Also, I didn't hate blinkfeed. I use Flipboard and Stumbleupon. The flipboard widget is useless IMO and Stumbleupon isn't the most stable app on Android, so I could see myself trying Blinkfeed.

However, I do have some reservations about the One. I have had 4.7" screen phones before and I did not like that screen size at all. Hated would be an appropriate word I think. It is too big to use with one hand, but isn't amazingly big either. I like phones that are 4-4.3" or 5"+. I find the middle ground of the HTC One (and One X and GSIII before it) an awkward tweener size.

Also, I do look at pictures take on my phone at fairly large sizes from time to time (slide shows on my TV), and I don't know that the 4 MP Ultrapixle camera is up to that task.

Are there any major positives for this phone I am overlooking that could help me look past its two biggest (in my uses) short comings?

 

[JRDroid]

S4 and G Pro is same size / bigger than the ONE.

Maybe just wait til the S4 is out before you pull the trigger.

Don't forget BoomSound. Most reviewers say it has changed the way they use their phone i.e. conference calls are better, watch and listen to more media / music content on the phone.

Sent from my HTC One S using Android Central Forums

Being bigger than the One isn't really an issue since I have to use two hands with the One anyways (I have fairly short fingers). I'm not overly excited about BoomSound, though it could come in handy every once in a while. I have a Bluetooth speaker I use for listening to media at home and Bluetooth built into my car stereo, so the instances where the enhanced speakers would be helpful would be fewer, but they do admittedly exist.

 

[Ulairi]

If your TV is 1080p your pictures will look fine. Where the photos break down is when people zoom and crop but looking at the photos on your screen/tv they'll be fine for a camera phone.

 

[madlaw1071]

I went to AT&T yesterday and played with their demo unit of the One. Wow, that is a nice piece of hardware, and Sense 5 looks much better in person than in pictures and videos IMO. Before yesterday I was fairly certain I was going to get either a Galaxy S4 or an Optimus G Pro, now there is some doubt. I think the feel of the One is second to none. My wife has an iPhone 5, which while not my cup of tea was the king of premium feel until now. The one feels better than the iPhone 5. I love the burst camera mode. having a one year old daughter, being able to take 18 pictures rapidly and pic the one that is best is a definite plus to me. OIS is also a killer feature. Also, I didn't hate blinkfeed. I use Flipboard and Stumbleupon. The flipboard widget is useless IMO and Stumbleupon isn't the most stable app on Android, so I could see myself trying Blinkfeed.

However, I do have some reservations about the One. I have had 4.7" screen phones before and I did not like that screen size at all. Hated would be an appropriate word I think. It is too big to use with one hand, but isn't amazingly big either. I like phones that are 4-4.3" or 5"+. I find the middle ground of the HTC One (and One X and GSIII before it) an awkward tweener size.

Also, I do look at pictures take on my phone at fairly large sizes from time to time (slide shows on my TV), and I don't know that the 4 MP Ultrapixle camera is up to that task.

Are there any major positives for this phone I am overlooking that could help me look past its two biggest (in my uses) short comings?

I'm pretty much in the same boat. However, I will test drive the One for 14 days and if not satisfied get the S4, which I'm sure I will like.

 

[silverthornne]

Also, I do look at pictures take on my phone at fairly large sizes from time to time (slide shows on my TV), and I don't know that the 4 MP Ultrapixle camera is up to that task.

Are there any major positives for this phone I am overlooking that could help me look past its two biggest (in my uses) short comings?

Unless you own a 4k TV or try to always crop your photos too tight, it won't really look bad on your TV. Heck, 4MP is more than enough for a 5*7 print of a photo. I think the marketing machine has done a terrific job selling us on the megapixel myth.

Just check out the very top camera bodies from companies such as Nikon or Canon. They have less MP than their enthusiast models but have much better low light performance. Granted, I have not used the One yet, but I can tell you that pixel peeping on a smartphone is too easy and that distorts our perspective on the value of megapixels. We're usually used to seeing the noise from tiny smartphone camera sensors which is actually made worse by cramming so many megapixels into such a small space. In theory, a lower megapixel count in that same space should yield much higher quality results.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[JRDroid]

Ya, no 4K tv here so I should be fine on that front. And I totally understand that megapixels aren't everything, I was actually excited when HTC said they were focusing on quality of pixels, not number. I had just hoped that meant they'd be at 6 or 8 mp while everyone else was up at 12 and 13. I may do the 14 day test drive ansd see if I still hate the 4.7" screen size or if the One's other strengths make up for it.

 

[Suda]

S4 and G Pro is same size / bigger than the ONE.

This is false. The G Pro has a 5.5" screen while the S4 has a 5" one. Despite the S4's 5" display it is smaller than the One in height and depth.

HTC One: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm (5.41 x 2.69 x 0.37 in)
GS4: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in)

 

[JRDroid]

Yeah, I like 4.3" myself. Just perfect for one hand usage.

Problem is that you can't get flagship devices in that form factor anymore.

There is always some compromise it seems.

Sent from my HTC One S using Android Central Forums

Me too. I guess my philosophy is that if I'm going to have to use two hands anyway, I want as big a screen as possible. I've actually had an easier time using my Galaxy Note in one hand than I had my 4.7" phones because things like the dialer and keyboard can be optimized for one handed use (they get smaller and slide to one side of the screen instead of spanning the whole width).

 

[adriandb]

Can you give me the volume of S4 vs ONE?

Dip them both in water and measure the displacement.

This should be a standard item in any review.

 

[Suda]

Can you give me the volume of S4 vs ONE?

Submerge them both in water and measure the displacement.

(Now I understand what the Xperia Z is all about!)

Sent from my HTC One S using Android Central Forums

I sure can.

Xperia Z > Doesn't matter

 

[JRDroid]

The volume displacement measurement should be taken in a controlled environment of 1 atmospheric pressure @ 25 degrees centrigrade.
Units should be provided in cubic millimetres.

Yes, we (rest of the world) use the metric system!

Sent from my HTC One S using Android Central Forums

I prefer the metric system because its based on logic and reason instead of arbitrary numbers.

 

[adriandb]

The volume displacement measurement should be taken in a controlled environment of 1 atmospheric pressure @ 25 degrees centrigrade.
Units should be provided in cubic millimetres.

Yes, we (rest of the world) use the metric system!

Sent from my HTC One S using Android Central Forums

While I prefer measurements based on the length of a monarch's thumb and other completely made up increments. I have an app to do conversion to your simplified and completely logical metric system.

 

[htowngator]

The phone's physical size is almost the same as the S4 due to the speakers taking up a lot of front bezel. The S4 is basically buttons and screen.

- - - Updated - - -

The phone's physical size is almost the same as the S4 due to the speakers taking up a lot of front bezel. The S4 is basically buttons and screen.

 

[Suda]

The phone's physical size is almost the same as the S4 due to the speakers taking up a lot of front bezel. The S4 is basically buttons and screen.

- - - Updated - - -

The phone's physical size is almost the same as the S4 due to the speakers taking up a lot of front bezel. The S4 is basically buttons and screen.

I can't tell but I think you're arguing against the One in this case.

 

[htowngator]

I can't tell but I think you're arguing against the One in this case.

I am in a way. I like the look of the one but understand that the same physical size holds a smaller screen and less battery life.

 

[Suda]

I went to AT&T yesterday and played with their demo unit of the One. Wow, that is a nice piece of hardware, and Sense 5 looks much better in person than in pictures and videos IMO. Before yesterday I was fairly certain I was going to get either a Galaxy S4 or an Optimus G Pro, now there is some doubt. I think the feel of the One is second to none. My wife has an iPhone 5, which while not my cup of tea was the king of premium feel until now. The one feels better than the iPhone 5. I love the burst camera mode. having a one year old daughter, being able to take 18 pictures rapidly and pic the one that is best is a definite plus to me. OIS is also a killer feature. Also, I didn't hate blinkfeed. I use Flipboard and Stumbleupon. The flipboard widget is useless IMO and Stumbleupon isn't the most stable app on Android, so I could see myself trying Blinkfeed.

However, I do have some reservations about the One. I have had 4.7" screen phones before and I did not like that screen size at all. Hated would be an appropriate word I think. It is too big to use with one hand, but isn't amazingly big either. I like phones that are 4-4.3" or 5"+. I find the middle ground of the HTC One (and One X and GSIII before it) an awkward tweener size.

Also, I do look at pictures take on my phone at fairly large sizes from time to time (slide shows on my TV), and I don't know that the 4 MP Ultrapixle camera is up to that task.

Are there any major positives for this phone I am overlooking that could help me look past its two biggest (in my uses) short comings?

The One is more for social media, if you plan on taking pictures and blowing them up to the size of a slide show then 4MP isn't going to cut it.

I'd probably check out some examples of blown up One pics and make a decision off that. That is if the camera would be important enough for you to drop consideration of it if it doesn't meet your standards.

 

[JRDroid]

The One is more for social media, if you plan on taking pictures and blowing them up to the size of a slide show then 4MP isn't going to cut it.

I'd probably check out some examples of blown up One pics and make a decision off that. That is if the camera would be important enough for you to drop consideration of it if it doesn't meet your standards.

A camera really can make or break a phone for me. I have a one year old, an I like to take pictures of her. I have a dedicated point and shoot, but it isn't with me when she starts doing the silly little things that one year olds do. Like they say, the best camera is the one you have with you, so I like to make sure the one I have with me is the best it can be.

 

[htowngator]

A camera really can make or break a phone for me. I have a one year old, an I like to take pictures of her. I have a dedicated point and shoot, but it isn't with me when she starts doing the silly little things that one year olds do. Like they say, the best camera is the one you have with you, so I like to make sure the one I have with me is the best it can be.

Same here, but I have a 3 year old. Most of his pics in the house are with average or low light. If I'm outside in the sun then there won't be much difference anyway.

 

[Suda]

A camera really can make or break a phone for me. I have a one year old, an I like to take pictures of her. I have a dedicated point and shoot, but it isn't with me when she starts doing the silly little things that one year olds do. Like they say, the best camera is the one you have with you, so I like to make sure the one I have with me is the best it can be.

I'd probably look elsewhere then. Both the S4 and the Optimus G Pro have 13MP shooters which should serve you fine, or if you like Apple, they're rumored to be including a 12MP camera in their upcoming phone if you can stand the wait.

 

[JRDroid]

I've had iPhones before. They aren't for me. I'm interested to see comparisons between the S4 and the one