Connect with us

HTC One M8 vs HTC One Mini 2: Does Size Matter?

TechGreatest

HTC One M8 vs HTC One Mini 2: Does Size Matter?


Vs

Paul Briden

18:06, 15 May 2014

HTC’s miniaturised its One M8 flagship – how does the new model compare to its namesake?

The original HTC One gained HTC plenty of praise for its slick and stylish metal build, even though it didn’t sell that well. The company has gone on to continue down this avenue in the hope of it paying off, so we now have the HTC One M8 flagship and with HTC’s latest announcement that’s been joined (as its predecessor was) by a mini version – the HTC One Mini 2.

Aside from the obvious subject of scale, what are the main differences between these two devices? Let’s take a look.

Design

Design is probably the area where these phones differ least, apart from the size, but that’s because the whole point of the One range is to offer that cohesive, premium appearance and build with a metal body. As a result, the One Mini 2 looks nearly identical to the HTC One M8, right down to the curvature of the back panel and HTC’s distinctive “capped” design, with the punched front-facing speakers at either end of the display. Once again it looks pretty sharp, clean, and modern. The main distinguishing difference is the lack of the second depth-sensor port on the HTC One Mini 2; on the HTC One M8 this is present above the camera lens. The One Mini 2 also has a bit more curvature at its corners.

Of course the HTC One Mini 2 is much smaller in the hand, with a 4.5-inch display rather than the One M8’s 5-inch setup. Both phones feature the same brushed metallic finish for their aluminium unibody shells, and come in gold, silver, or grey colour options. Each also has the same level of high quality construction; the metal lends a solid feel and there’s no flex in the chassis.

Display

HTC usually delivers the goods when it comes to display tech. The HTC One M8 has a 5-inch Super LCD3 screen with a full HD 1080p resolution at 440 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and the results are glorious. Colour is incredibly rich, and it has excellent contrast and white purity. While brightness is great (and an improvement on the HTC One) visibility in bright sunlight even at maximum levels does trail off somewhat and viewing angles, which are relatively robust in normal conditions, go out the window. Still, it’s an extremely capable screen and razor sharp in terms of picture quality too.

The One Mini 2 uses the slightly older, but still formidable, SLCD2 technology at a lower 720p HD resolution, but as it’s a smaller 4.5-inch panel this is a perfectly acceptable downscaling as it still keeps the pixel density at 326ppi and things are nice and sharp as a result. Colour and brightness are still good but expect a similar set of sunshine related setbacks as its larger brother.

Hardware, Connectivity & Storage

Both devices are pretty chock full of connectivity capabilities, including all the stuff you might typically expect from premium-grade handsets – 4G LTE and 3G mobile data, dual-band Wi-Fi with Hotspot and Direct, DLNA, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, MHL TV-Out and microUSB. The One M8 also has an infrared blaster for controlling your TV.

Both handsets feature 16GB of onboard storage plus microSD support for cards up to 128GB. There is a 32GB onboard storage model of the One M8 but it’s not available in all regions and so far the UK doesn’t have it.

Processor

The HTC One M8 is equipped with a powerhouse of a processor in the form of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801. It’s a quad-core chip using Qualcomm’s Krait 400 architecture clocked at 2.3GHz, with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 graphics processing unit (GPU). This thing is lightning fast, particularly as HTC has optimised its Sense UI and the Android KitKat software so all the animations and screen transitions operate smoothly. High-end gaming presents no problem for the One M8 and multitasking is a doddle.

The HTC One Mini 2 doesn’t boast quite the same muscle but it’s still capable enough for most smartphone tasks thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core chip clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM and an Adreno 305. This puts it on a par with Motorola’s Moto G and means it can deliver similarly fast performance thanks once again to HTC’s careful tuning. It will lack the One M8’s future-proofing as apps and games evolve, however.

Software

Android 4.4 KitKat is present on both devices along with HTC’s latest UI layer – Sense 6.0. Sense offers a very different look compared to regular Android but it’s a cohesive one and also neatly minimalist, enough that it actually feels like it’s in the spirit of Google’s original design. Sense takes advantage of Google’s changes like the transparent UI elements and HTC has even added some extra customisation options for things like font styles and themes. In all, it’s a really enjoyable user experience and it runs very well indeed. 

Vs Paul Briden 18:06, 15 Might 2014

HTC's miniaturised its One M8 flagship - how does the brand new mannequin examine to its namesake?

The unique HTC One gained HTC loads of reward for its slick and classy metallic construct, regardless that it didn’t promote that properly. The corporate has gone on to proceed down this avenue within the hope of it paying off, so we now have the HTC One M8 flagship and with HTC’s newest announcement that’s been joined (as its predecessor was) by a mini model – the HTC One Mini 2.

Apart from the apparent topic of scale, what are the primary variations between these two units? Let’s have a look.

Design

Design might be the world the place these telephones differ least, aside from the dimensions, however that’s as a result of the entire level of the One vary is to supply that cohesive, premium look and construct with a metallic physique. Consequently, the One Mini 2 appears almost equivalent to the HTC One M8, proper right down to the curvature of the again panel and HTC’s distinctive “capped” design, with the punched entrance-dealing with audio system at both finish of the show. As soon as once more it seems fairly sharp, clear, and trendy. The primary distinguishing distinction is the shortage of the second depth-sensor port on the HTC One Mini 2; on the HTC One M8 that is current above the digital camera lens. The One Mini 2 additionally has a bit extra curvature at its corners.

In fact the HTC One Mini 2 is far smaller within the hand, with a four.5-inch show relatively than the One M8’s 5-inch setup. Each telephones function the identical brushed metallic end for his or her aluminium unibody shells, and are available gold, silver, or gray color choices. Every additionally has the identical degree of top of the range development; the metallic lends a strong really feel and there’s no flex within the chassis.

Show

HTC often delivers the products on the subject of show tech. The HTC One M8 has a 5-inch Tremendous LCD3 display with a full HD 1080p decision at 440 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and the outcomes are superb. Color is extremely wealthy, and it has wonderful distinction and white purity. Whereas brightness is nice (and an enchancment on the HTC One) visibility in shiny daylight even at most ranges does path off considerably and viewing angles, that are comparatively strong in regular circumstances, exit the window. Nonetheless, it’s a particularly succesful display and razor sharp when it comes to image high quality too.

The One Mini 2 makes use of the marginally older, however nonetheless formidable, SLCD2 know-how at a decrease 720p HD decision, however because it’s a smaller four.5-inch panel this can be a completely acceptable downscaling because it nonetheless retains the pixel density at 326ppi and issues are good and sharp consequently. Color and brightness are nonetheless good however anticipate an identical set of sunshine associated setbacks as its bigger brother.

Hardware, Connectivity & Storage

Each units are fairly chock filled with connectivity capabilities, together with all of the stuff you may sometimes anticipate from premium-grade handsets – 4G LTE and 3G cellular knowledge, dual-band Wi-Fi with Hotspot and Direct, DLNA, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, MHL TV-Out and microUSB. The One M8 additionally has an infrared blaster for controlling your TV.

Each handsets function 16GB of onboard storage plus microSD help for playing cards as much as 128GB. There's a 32GB onboard storage mannequin of the One M8 however it’s not out there in all areas and thus far the UK doesn’t have it.

Processor

The HTC One M8 is provided with a powerhouse of a processor within the type of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801. It’s a quad-core chip utilizing Qualcomm’s Krait four hundred structure clocked at 2.3GHz, with 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 graphics processing unit (GPU). This factor is lightning quick, notably as HTC has optimised its Sense UI and the Android KitKat software program so all of the animations and display transitions function easily. Excessive-finish gaming presents no drawback for the One M8 and multitasking is a doddle.

The HTC One Mini 2 doesn’t boast fairly the identical muscle however it’s nonetheless succesful sufficient for many smartphone duties because of a Qualcomm Snapdragon four hundred quad-core chip clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM and an Adreno 305. This places it on a par with Motorola’s Moto G and means it may ship equally quick efficiency thanks as soon as once more to HTC’s cautious tuning. It's going to lack the One M8’s future-proofing as apps and video games evolve, nevertheless.

Software program

Android four.four KitKat is current on each units together with HTC’s newest UI layer – Sense 6.zero. Sense presents a really totally different look in comparison with common Android however it’s a cohesive one and in addition neatly minimalist, sufficient that it truly feels prefer it’s within the spirit of Google’s unique design. Sense takes benefit of Google’s modifications just like the clear UI parts and HTC has even added some additional customisation choices for issues like font types and themes. In all, it’s a very pleasant consumer expertise and it runs very nicely certainly. 

Comments

More in TechGreatest

Popular

Featured

Advertisement
To Top