I am returning my HTC One (M8). Are you?

[Lynx]

My thoughts on the phone boil down to great phone that is not for me. I found the camera to entirely adequate. I think HTC is on the right track; they just picked the wrong mega pixel count. If they took the same approach with an 8 mega pixel sensor and added back the optical image stabilization then they would be on to something. The screen was beautiful. The speakers were awesome. Sense is very good and adds something to the experience. All that is great, but this thing is freaking huge. Anyone who takes this to the gym will look like a giant tool. I didn't think I was a small phone guy, but the Moto X has spoiled me. Are you giving up on the M8 and why are you?

Posted via Android Central App

Just to let you know doubling the mp will only increase the linear resolution by about 40% which is nearly invisible to the naked eye.

4mp = 2,464x1,632
8mp = 3,264x2,448

The ONLY things mp are great for are large prints, crops, details when zooming or pixel peeping. And in terms of portrait photography alot of photographers (myself included) will cut the resolution way down because we dont need them.

 

[Sluffs]

The reason why I gave up on HTC is because Apple (with the help of the US government) strong-armed them into some shady deal.
Now, with every HTC mobile sold, an undisclosed (but certainly not insignificant) amount of money goes to the patent trolling fruit company.

 

[bgstewar]

I'm torn. I bought the phone the day it came out because I loved the M7 so much. At first I really like it. But after a few days, it's suuuuper slippery, it's top heavy, too tall, and the pictures are indeed washed out. Plus, I have the gunmetal and it already scratched on the back just by laying it on my table, whereas I never had a case on my M7 and the back is perfect.

I love HTC but this is kind of a disappointment. I love the gestures (double tap to wake up, etc.) and it's slicker and faster than the M7 (though not by much), but I can't get past the size and the picture quality. And I'm an HTC fan.

Due to the slippery, delicate feel, I put it in an Otterbox Commuter case. Now the phone is ginormous (almost phablet size) and heavy. It certainly won't fit in a front pocket of your jeans easily.

I'm torn between giving it more time, or returning and trying the S5 or Z2 or G3. They're all going to be huge phones, but at least they'll be lighter. I love the metal body, but if you have to cover it in a plastic case because it scratches so easily, then what's the point? Now you just have a heavier, plastic looking phone.

Problem is this was BOGO, so my wife and I took advantage. I'm sure if we return and wait for the S5 (or others), none of them will be BOGO. What to do...

 

[clevin]

here is what I do, I always put a screen protector on the back of the phone, it will protect it from scratch, but won't add to bulky-ness. This also solve the slippery issue.

It may not be perfect looking, but it is transparent, so would preserve some metal texture beneath.

Its BOGO, I can't come up with a better deal, even if I do agree its too tall.

 

[madlaw1071]

I'm torn. I bought the phone the day it came out because I loved the M7 so much. At first I really like it. But after a few days, it's suuuuper slippery, it's top heavy, too tall, and the pictures are indeed washed out. Plus, I have the gunmetal and it already scratched on the back just by laying it on my table, whereas I never had a case on my M7 and the back is perfect.

I love HTC but this is kind of a disappointment. I love the gestures (double tap to wake up, etc.) and it's slicker and faster than the M7 (though not by much), but I can't get past the size and the picture quality. And I'm an HTC fan.

Due to the slippery, delicate feel, I put it in an Otterbox Commuter case. Now the phone is ginormous (almost phablet size) and heavy. It certainly won't fit in a front pocket of your jeans easily.

I'm torn between giving it more time, or returning and trying the S5 or Z2 or G3. They're all going to be huge phones, but at least they'll be lighter. I love the metal body, but if you have to cover it in a plastic case because it scratches so easily, then what's the point? Now you just have a heavier, plastic looking phone.

Problem is this was BOGO, so my wife and I took advantage. I'm sure if we return and wait for the S5 (or others), none of them will be BOGO. What to do...

Unfortunately the size, weight and camera seems to be turning a lot of folks off.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Cool Jeff]

Well S5 is not so smaller too, flagships are reaching their max size now which is 5 and 5.2'', I doubt we will have flagships with bigger screens than 5.3''.
The G2 is the perfect example that we can put a 5.2'' on a body as big as 5'' S4.
Though HTC made the same ''error'' Sony made with the Z1,using too much space under and above the screen, understandably more on HTC because of the speakers.
Hopefully HTC will release like the Sony Z2 now, a 5.2'' on the exact same body or a 5'' screen with a shorter body next year.
The only thing I worry about is if the M8 is usable single handed, what's your experience?

 

[freddyttt]

Due to the slippery, delicate feel, I put it in an Otterbox Commuter case. Now the phone is ginormous (almost phablet size) and heavy.

you could have not picked a worst case for your phone imho.
I went with this and it adds just enough bulk to grab the phone. sold at the Verizion store-.
HTC One (M8) Hard Shell Case with Impact Absorbing Core | Incipio DualPro? | Incipio

 

[Adiliyo]

Unfortunately the size, weight and camera seems to be turning a lot of folks off.

Posted via Android Central App

15g more than an S5 doesn't seem like anything to complain about when you get great stereo speakers and a metal build. but to each their own

 

[nj1266]

My thoughts on the phone boil down to great phone that is not for me. I found the camera to entirely adequate. I think HTC is on the right track; they just picked the wrong mega pixel count. If they took the same approach with an 8 mega pixel sensor and added back the optical image stabilization then they would be on to something. The screen was beautiful. The speakers were awesome. Sense is very good and adds something to the experience. All that is great, but this thing is freaking huge. Anyone who takes this to the gym will look like a giant tool. I didn't think I was a small phone guy, but the Moto X has spoiled me. Are you giving up on the M8 and why are you?

Posted via Android Central App

HTC cannot take the same approach with an 8 megapixel sensor. The more megapixels the smaller the microns. The larger the microns, the fewer the the megapixels. HTC used a 2 micron megapixel hence the name ultra pixel. It is huge and that is why the HTC shines in low light situations. The 2 micron size allows a lot of light to come in in low light situations. Had HTC gone with 8 megapixels, then they would have had poor results in low light situation because the size of the pixel would have been smaller around 1.2 micron would be my guess.

HTC should have done an in between approach, ie, increase the number of pixels to 6 and make the pixel size smaller around 1.5-1.6. This way you get good daylight pictures and very decent low light pics.


Sent from my 64 gig Retina IPad Mini

 

[aokusman]

Returning mine due to the camera.


Sent from my Galaxy S5 using tapatalk.

 

[jspring86]

The picture shows a more significant problem.

Not only note 3 in the pic has a big bulky case, situated closer to the camera, the lightening in that picture darkens the non-screen portion of the phone, and draws attention to the fact that M8 screen is not even close the size of Noe 3's.still

But that's the screen size. If you pay attention to the physical size, I am attaching a drawing below, you will notice, M8 is a big phone without a big screen. This is not a good way to design things.

View attachment 109982

I respectfully disagree that my Neo Hybrid case is "bulky", but your other points are valid.

The M8 is longer than it should be for the size of the screen, but it still has more manageable width, which makes it easier for people to use with one hand. I think we are all aware the M8 has a smaller screen than the Note 3. I was pointing out that it is still more convenient than the Note 3 for most people to use with one hand. I never said the phone wasn't long, I agree with that.

 

[BBSeattle]

Here is a pic to support your post (M7 on the left, smaller M8 screen on the right).

Yea the phone is just way too big for the amount of screen real estate you get. Sorry there is no silver lining to this. That wasted HTC logo space doesn't help at all.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Skyway]

If you put the m7 and m8 screen to screen then you will notice that the m8 is wider than the m7. The amount of screen real estate you're losing with the on screen buttons is made up by the fact that it is indeed wider

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ErnstMach]

If you put the m7 and m8 screen to screen then you will notice that the m8 is wider than the m7. The amount of screen real estate you're losing with the on screen buttons is made up by the fact that it is indeed wider

Posted via Android Central App

Also, even the minor difference in top bezel adds to the size of the m8. With the on screen buttons, the difference between the screens is negligible

Posted via Android Central App

 

[bgstewar]

The only thing I worry about is if the M8 is usable single handed, what's your experience?

You can use it with one hand, but it's more awkward than the M7. I'd recommend trying it in the store and seeing what you think.

 

[chilledbeer]

Re: I am returning my M8. Are you?

It is long, but if you have used a Note 3 the size doesn't even come close. I think it depends on what phone you are just coming from to the M8. To me the fact that it is as heavy as the Note 3 was a bit surprising, but it is metal and not plastic so that is understandable.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/29/pe7e8uta.jpg

I don't think it is that big. But having used multiple phone sizes and phablets in the recent past, I might have lost track.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Zabigayle]

Re: I am returning my M8. Are you?

I ended up returning mine this morning. The reception didn't seem very good on it. I normally get 3-4 bars at home and on the M8 I was getting 1 and it was just about unusable without Wi-Fi. It may seem strange but after using the phone for a few hours the black bar with the HTC logo on the front got annoying. With the onscreen buttons on top of that black bar it just seemed like wasted screen space.

 

[Vsweety]

Well its not going backward by any means, at worst its sideways

But forward going it is not!

It almost looks like steam punk to me. Or a sci-fi gadget from a fifties comic.

 

[kronosqq]

I'm torn. I bought the phone the day it came out because I loved the M7 so much. At first I really like it. But after a few days, it's suuuuper slippery, it's top heavy, too tall, and the pictures are indeed washed out. Plus, I have the gunmetal and it already scratched on the back just by laying it on my table, whereas I never had a case on my M7 and the back is perfect.

I love HTC but this is kind of a disappointment. I love the gestures (double tap to wake up, etc.) and it's slicker and faster than the M7 (though not by much), but I can't get past the size and the picture quality. And I'm an HTC fan.

Due to the slippery, delicate feel, I put it in an Otterbox Commuter case. Now the phone is ginormous (almost phablet size) and heavy. It certainly won't fit in a front pocket of your jeans easily.

I'm torn between giving it more time, or returning and trying the S5 or Z2 or G3. They're all going to be huge phones, but at least they'll be lighter. I love the metal body, but if you have to cover it in a plastic case because it scratches so easily, then what's the point? Now you just have a heavier, plastic looking phone.

Problem is this was BOGO, so my wife and I took advantage. I'm sure if we return and wait for the S5 (or others), none of them will be BOGO. What to do...

Could always exchange it for a glacial silver version to solve the scratching problem.

Sent from my EVO using AC Forums mobile app

 

[kilofoxtrot]

Here is a pic to support your post (M7 on the left, smaller M8 screen on the right).
[url]http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd501/Seatttle/M7ampM8_zpsfa80e909.jpg[/URL]

Based on your pictures, I absolutely know the M8's minor tradeoff, if it is indeed a tradeoff, is well worth it in exchange for having a display that is more vibrant and more color accurate, better color temperature, better viewing angles and superior brightness. Not to mention a battery life that blows away the M7.

Thanks for showing us what we are giving up. :