The New HTC One M8 Is Official With Duo Camera, Sense 6 & Better BoomSound

new-htc-one

After months of speculation and many, many leaks, today finally saw the official unveiling of the new HTC One M8. It looks a lot like its predecessor at first glance, but the new flagships sports a much-improved aluminum form factor, and all new internals.

In addition to its larger 5-inch display, the new HTC One M8 features Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 801 processor, dual rear-facing cameras, and HTC’s latest Sense 6 user interface.

While last year’s One wasn’t enough to turn HTC’s financial problems around, it was an incredibly well-received smartphone that earned heaps of praise for its attractive design and excellent specifications. In fact, 12 months on, it’s still one of the finest Android-powered smartphones on the market, and the best-selling handset in HTC history.

But its successor is even better.

It maintains that award-winning aluminum form factor, but it has been lovingly refined to become even thinner. It combines the latest and greatest specifications with trademark HTC features like BoomSound, Sense, and an UltraPixel camera — all of which have been greatly improved this time around.

“It takes the best smartphone in the world and makes it better in every way,” said HTC CEO Peter Chou during today’s event.

The new HTC One M8 is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, and up to 32GB of internal storage. It has a 2,600mAh battery, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 5-inch 1080p display protected by Gorilla Glass 3.

The new flagship also addresses some of the biggest complaints about its predecessor. In addition to a microSD card slot, it has a “Duo Camera” — two rear-facing camera sensors that combine to deliver advanced photography features and what HTC promises will be the best pictures you’ve ever taken on a smartphone.

The main sensor a 4-megapixel “UltraPixel” camera — like the original One’s — with an f/2.0 aperture. The second sensor is used to capture depth, allowing you to refocus images after they’ve been taken and add 3D effects. They also offer 1080p video recording and HDR video.

BoomSound, one of biggest advantages about buying an HTC One, has also been improved. It’s 25% louder than before, and it boasts a new amplifier, redesigned speaker champers, and a tailored audio profile for a “truly high definition experience.”

The HTC One M8 runs Android 4.4 KitKat with HTC’s new Sense 6 user interface, which offers a more intuitive BlinkFeed with continuous scrolling, adaptable tiles, and a new layout. Sense TV has also been redesigned to become an interactive second screen, with Facebook and Twitter integration, and support for more content.

AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon will all offer the HTC One M8 in the United States, and it’s available from today. Those in the U.K. can purchase the device now from select Carphone Warehouse stores.