HTC One E8 vs M8 – what’s the difference, price, release date, specs

HTC has announced the One (e8), a plastic bodied version of its flagship handset, the One (m8). Previously known as both the One (m8) Ace and the One Vogue Edition prior to its official confirmation, the (e8) shares many of the same specs as the (m8) but is expected to be slightly cheaper once it launches worldwide.

So how does the (e8) stack up against the (m8)? We’ve been comparing each phone’s specifications to see just how different they really are.

DESIGN

One of the main differences between the (e8) and (m8) is its design. HTC says the (e8) will have a polycarbonate unibody frame and will come in four colors: polar white, electric crimson, Maldives blue, and misty gray. It will also have a “dual curve” design which HTC claims will be more comfortable to hold in your hand.

The One (m8) is made of brushed metal, giving it a much more premium look and feel. It still has a curved back, but the additional gold and silver colours for the (m8) have a matt finish.

Otherwise, both phones look very similar. Each one has a pair of Boomsound speakers either side of the display, and both cameras are located in the same place on the front and rear of each handset.

One of the (e8)’s main advantages is that it will have a dual-SIM card slot, but HTC has said this will only be available in selected regions.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

While the (e8) may not feel quite as nice to hold, its polycarbonate chassis is a lot lighter, weighing 145g compared to the (m8)’s hefty 160g. That said, the (e8) is slightly thicker, measuring 146.42×70.67×9.85mm compared to the 9.4mm thick (m8). This is unlikely to make a huge amount of difference in practice, though.

DISPLAY

One of the (e8)’s most attractive features is its large 5in 1,920×1,080 LCD display. This is same-sized panel and resolution as the (m8), meaning both phones will have a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch. This is sharper than both the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Sony Xperia Z2, giving the (e8) a top class screen for a fraction of the price. It’s still not as sharp as the forthcoming LG G3, though, as the G3’s huge 5.5in display and 2,560×1,440 resolution means it has a PPI of 538.

HARDWARE

The (e8)’s underlying hardware also has a lot in common with what’s inside the (m8). Like its big brother, the (e8) will be powered by a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM and will come with 16GB of internal storage. This can be expanded up to 128GB with a microSD card. This gives the (e8) plenty of power to run Android 4.4.2 and HTC’s Sense 6 UI.

CAMERA

The (e8) starts to deviate from the (m8) when it comes to the phone’s camera. In a similar move to the HTC One Mini 2 – the (m8)’s miniature successor – the (e8) will have a 13-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel sensor on the front. The rear sensor will have a f/2.2 aperture and a back-illuminated sensor, autofocus and an LED flash.

Meanwhile, the (m8) has HTC’s unique 4-megapixel Duo Camera with its Ultrapixel sensor. This has a generous 1/3in sensor and larger 2.0um pixels to capture more light information than other high-end phone cameras on the market

This means it’s unlikely that the (e8) will be able to offer the same number of fancy applications and extra camera functions as the (m8), but this may be a blessing in disguise for some users.

BATTERY

HTC has confirmed the (e8) will have a huge 2,600mAh battery, which is the same battery you’ll find in the (m8). Considering the (m8) managed an impressive 13 hours and 28 minutes in our video playback test, we’ll be very pleased indeed if the (e8) lasts the same length of time when we start testing it.

PRICE

So far, HTC has only announced the price of the (e8) in China, but it roughly equates to £267. The One (m8) still costs around £520 SIM free, so the (e8) is considerably cheaper than its premium counterpart. This will be great news for those looking for a phone under £300 with a high quality display and great performance, but it remains to be seen whether UK retailers will match this price or push it closer to the HTC One Mini 2’s price of £360 SIM free.

CONCLUSCION

So far, it looks like the (e8) will be a great value phone for those who don’t want to spend over £500 for an (m8). It has the same screen, hardware and battery as its more expensive big brother, but for almost half the price. However, until UK prices are confirmed and we’ve tested the device for ourselves, it will be difficult to tell just how much of a bargain the (e8) will turn out to be. We’ll be bringing you all the latest news as it’s confirmed, so watch this space for a final verdict.