HTC One M8 review: Not worth it in 2018

HTC One M8 review: Accessories 

HTC launched a set of official cases and covers for the M8 alongside the phone itself. The first is the Dot View case, a flip cover made from rubberised plastic with an entirely perforated front. It protects the phone’s four corners with hard plastic bumpers and keeps the screen free of scratches when in a pocket or bag. The cover sits flat on the screen and flops closed under its own weight when opened flat on a table.

The really clever bit is how the screen adapts once the phone recognises you’re using the case. Whereas a double tap would wake the phone by itself, here it shines the time, weather and any notifications through the perforated front cover to save you having to open it. You can also use the power button, which has the same effect as a double tap.

When you get a call you can swipe up to answer or swipe down to ignore. If you pick up, another swipe when you’ve finished the call will hang up. You can also dismiss alarms by swiping down, without having to open the cover or unlock the phone.

Text messages, missed calls and emails are all represented by Lite Brite-style icons. The screen is bright enough that it’s easy to read in the daylight, and it switches off automatically after a few seconds to save battery power.

It’s a useful feature if you’re constantly checking your phone for missed messages or the time, but the front cover can get in the way when taking pictures; if you’ll primarily be using the phone for photos you may want to find a bumper case or gel cover instead.

The Dot View case is available in black, blue, green, orange and red. You can buy one from MobiCity, although it costs a whopping £35. That’s a lot to ask for a plastic case with no internal electronics, however much protection it provides.

HTC One M8 review: Verdict

HTC has played it safe with the HTC One M8; it isn’t a radical departure from the HTC One, but it made all the necessary upgrades in order to compete with other flagship handsets in 2014. It improves on the original in every.

It improves on the original in every way, and is right up there with the Samsung Galaxy S5, but now you’d be better off buying the OnePlus 2 for £249 rather than saddling yourself with an old handset. The OnePlus 2 not only has a faster, more powerful processor, but it also has a vastly superior camera and double the amount of storage, making it a much better use of your money when buying SIM-free.