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Yes, the HTC M8 is expected to also have a durable premium aluminum body, a 4-megapixel “UltraPixel” camera and dual stereo speakers. However, it would also grow in size adopting a much larger, 5-inch 1080 x 1920 pixel display (some even speculate HTC might include a 5.2” one), adopt a new more intense metal texture and get the latest Android 4.4 KitKat with a brand new HTC Sense 6.0 skin.
It’s also expected to feature the Snapdragon 800 system chip, but in a more powerful than the currently used one variation - the MSM8974AB. That AB add-on is what signifies the upgrade and it results in higher clocks, faster memory bandwidth and more capable graphics.
An early February release could be HTC's key advantage over Samsung
Most excitingly, though, HTC might finally be able to pull its long-chased goal to release their flagship months before Samsung releases its Galaxy S5. After going through issues with manufacturing and production in the past two years and especially after the excruciating delay of the HTC One, this year the Taiwanese company seems to finally have all its logistics set. A judge in one of HTC's lawsuits seems to have even mentioned a possible February release date for the HTC One 2.
Last year, it was delayed by manufacturers having issues making the first run of the HTC-exclusive UltraPixel camera and some even said the aluminum unibody was also a problem. Now, those issues seem perfectly ironed out, and if HTC gets its act together it should be able to outpace Samsung and have its HTC One 2 or M8 earlier to market.
Some questions still linger on - the Galaxy S5 is expected to feature a much sharper 2560 x 1440-pixel display (even though any further bumps from 1080p would hardly make for any practical benefit) and a newer and more powerful Snapdragon 805 system chip. HTC seems unlikely to be able to match these technologies with its earlier launch, but instead it will likely downplay their importance.
Keep in mind that none of the information is final - it’s all rumors and leaks, so take it with a grain of salt. In either case, it really seems like we’re in for a treat with the HTC One 2. Hopes are high that the sequel will be just more refined. Right below is our dirty rumor dozen: an HTC One 2, or HTC M8, round-up with specs, benchmarks and all other info available right now.
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The original HTC One.
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Some questions still linger on - the Galaxy S5 is expected to feature a much sharper 2560 x 1440-pixel display (even though any further bumps from 1080p would hardly make for any practical benefit) and a newer and more powerful Snapdragon 805 system chip. HTC seems unlikely to be able to match these technologies with its earlier launch, but instead it will likely downplay their importance.
Keep in mind that none of the information is final - it’s all rumors and leaks, so take it with a grain of salt. In either case, it really seems like we’re in for a treat with the HTC One 2. Hopes are high that the sequel will be just more refined. Right below is our dirty rumor dozen: an HTC One 2, or HTC M8, round-up with specs, benchmarks and all other info available right now.
HTC M8 rumor round-up
1. HTC One 2 has so far surfaced under HTC M8 and HTC 0P6B120 codenames
Why do we think those devices are the successor to the HTC One that we here call HTC One 2 (no official name has been announced yet, obviously)? Simple, the original HTC One came as the HTC M7 so the M8 is the logical successor name, plus the specs all point towards a sequel.
2. Slightly larger 5” (possibly even 5.2”) 1080p display
The original HTC One launched with a 4.7” display whereas other flagships nearly all had bigger displays. This year, the HTC One 2 is expected to fix that coming with a bigger, likely 5-inch screen.
3. HTC One 2 to keep its premium aluminum build with more intense metal
Leaks suggest the One 2 will keep the strategical advantage of aluminum built and even improve on that with a “more intense metal”.
4. HTC One 2 will inherit stereo speakers
The HTC One brought a small revolution in speaker quality and its successor is expected to inherit that with front stereo speakers as well. This time around the Beats Audio optimization that kicks in adding an extra bass oomph is gone, though.
5. (Sadly) HTC One 2 is also expected to still feature only a 4-megapixel (sorry, UltraPixel) camera
HTC One’s UltraPixel camera was a bold experiment, but our tests have concluded it was not a very successful one. Some improvements in night photography are there, but they come at the expense of very low detail and this will likely continue to bug us in the HTC One 2. Hopefully, HTC fixes the unnaturally cold tonality of shots, though!
6. It will be more powerful: a better Snapdragon 800 inside
The One 2 is expected to become the first HTC device with a Snapdragon 800 system chip inside. And not just a simple Snapdragon 800, but the improved quad-core MSM8974AB.
7. Faster 2GB of RAM and up-clocked Adreno 330 graphics
The AB in MSM8974AB stands for faster memory bandwidth and higher clock for the graphical card, all things that would contribute hugely to general performance and gaming.
8. Launching with latest Android 4.4 KitKat with HTC Sense 6.0 on top
The HTC One 2 is expected to launch with the latest Android 4.4 KitKat on board. It will also be the vessel to first show us the new HTC Sense 6.0 skin.
9. First surprise: it might get a fingerprint scanner right above the camera
A mysterious hole right above the camera in early leaks has puzzled us. It’s not a usual location for a fingerprint scanner, and some have even speculated it might be an opening for a second rear camera. However that seems more like science fiction that a real possibility, so we’d still bet on this being a fingerprint scanner in a strange place. What’s your bet?
10. Second surprise: an unexpected downgrade in storage, down to 16GB at base
What has really surprised us, though, is that early leaks suggest the HTC One 2 might get half the amount of internal storage of the original HTC One. Instead of having 32 gigs on board, it will only feature 16GB if true. That’s a strange downgrade and something HTC will have a hard time explaining to its prospect customers.
11. Could this mean storage would be expandable via microSD?
However, the lower amount of internal storage could still be justified if the HTC One 2 ships with expandable storage. If it has a microSD card slot, many would be willing to forgive HTC that it shipped its flagship with less storage.
12. The big advantage: HTC One 2 to outpace Galaxy S5 with an early release date
The biggest advantage the HTC One 2 holds right now - as per rumors - is that it could launch earlier than the Galaxy S5. If HTC pulls its act together, it could be launch the One 2 a few months earlier than the Galaxy S5 and that would be a key advantage.
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