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After prematurely publishing a video to their YouTube account nearly 2 weeks ago, Sprint is ready to stop beating around the bush and make the HTC One E8 official. The nation’s 3rd largest carrier has officially announced that the One E8 will be coming to their network later this year and provides the same One experience you’ve come to expect from devices like the One M8, only in a fresh new polycarbonate design. Yum.
The HTC One E8 features hardware specs eerily similar to the HTC One M8 only with one exceptions. HTC has dumped the 4MP UltraPixel camera in their flagship phone for a regular ‘ol 13MP shooter. While we haven’t seen any picture samples just yet, we’re sure that on paper, the higher number count will make a few of you happy, although we’ll reserve judgment until we can see a few comparisons.
Other One E8 specs include a 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, and a 2,600mAh battery — all running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Other key features include:
Motion Launch: Allows you to access your phone with just one swipe. Simply lift your phone to answer a call – no device unlocking needed.
Wi-Fi Calling: An included service that lets you use voice and messaging services over existing home, office and public Wi-Fi networks.
HTC Sense™ 6.0
3G/4G mobile hotspot, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices.
HD Voice enabled: Sprint HD Voice expands the normal voice call from a four-octave range to seven octaves to deliver crystal clear voice calls while helping to reduce unwanted background noise.
Sprint Spark enabled: Sprint Spark provides the capacity to greatly improve the performance of video and other bandwidth-intensive applications while opening the way for futuristic applications.
Sprint reminds us that HD Voice is now available nationwide and while Sprint Spark’s enhanced LTE service is currently available in 27 markets across the US, they plan to blanket 100 million customers by years end.
The HTC One E8 is available right now for $100 with a 2-year contract from either Sprint.com or through their telesales department in either “Polar White” or “Misty Gray.” Well qualified buyers can even put the phone on Easy Pay, paying off the phone over 2 years with monthly payments of $20.84 (or $500 outright).
That HTC logo is so ugly and wasteful.
Either put capacitive buttons there or get rid of it.
I think you’re the first person to ever mention that.
Yeah man, here you go. It was even mentioned on this site! http://phandroid.com/2014/04/02/htc-defends-one-m8-black-bezel/ and here’s the quote:
“In a public tweet from his Twitter profile, Gordon addresses comments that HTC could have simply removed the black bezel, making the overall height of the device smaller by saying:
That black area with the HTC logo on M8? Underneath is a huge amount of circuitry, antennae, etc. It’s not “empty” by any means.
— Jeff Gordon (@urbanstrata) April 1, 2014”
The guy is an HTC executive.
HTC has said time and time again that it’s not wasted space. There is electronics there. Likely the amplifier for the Boomsound speaker.
Why not release this on all carriers? Looks like a good phone!
A lot of people didn’t think we’d even see it here in the states. Kudos to Sprint for picking it up but I’d love to see this on T-Mobile. Would buy it in a heartbeat.
AT&T would be nice as well. Honestly, I think the Moto X+1 will be my next phone….I’m hoping to hear some good stuff next week!
Ditto on that. I’ll personally have a chance to do ungodly things to the Moto X+1 next. So hyped! :D
Please keep us posted! I look forward to your in depth review!