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SPECS
| Main display size | 4.7in |
|---|---|
| Native resolution | 1,920x1,080 |
| CCD effective megapixels | 4.1-megapixel |
| GPS |  |
| Internal memory | 32768MB |
| Memory card support | none |
| Memory card included | 0MB |
| Operating frequencies | GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G 850/900/1900/2100, LTE 800/1800/2600 |
| Wireless data | LTE |
| Size | 137x68x9mm |
| Weight | 143g |
| Operating system | Android 4.1 (JellyBean) |
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REVIEW
We were also seriously impressed with the screen. It's a 4.7in model with a Full HD 1,920x1,080 resolution, leading to a huge pixel density figure of 468ppi. When compared side-by-side with the Xperia Z's display, we preferred the HTC One's screen, thanks to its superb contrast. It has incredibly deep blacks (for an LCD at least), and our test photos showed rich, vibrant colours and plenty of shadow detail.
The Xperia Z had the advantage when it came to looking at web pages, however; its slightly larger 5in display meant text was ever-so-slightly larger and easier to read when web pages were fully zoomed out, helped by brilliant white backgrounds, compared to the very slight grey tinge on the HTC One.
The HTC One wins out when it comes to web browsing performance. It has a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, and completed our Sunspider JavaScript benchmark in a super-fast 1,123ms. This is far faster than the 1,890ms we saw from the Xperia Z, but we think much of this is down to the speed of the Xperia Z's browser. For comparison, we ran the same test using the fast Dolphin browser, and the HTC One remained ahead of the Xperia Z with a score of 1,120ms compared to 1,357ms.
This difference was borne out in our subjective web browsing tests. Both phones rendered graphics heavy web pages at a similar speed, but when zoomed in and panning around a web page, the Xperia Z would stutter when coming across a large image – a problem we didn’t have with the HTC One.
Luckily, HTC has provided a huge 2,300mAh battery to power the fast processor and bright screen. The handset managed 8h 32m in our continuous video playback test, which is a strong result and bodes well for all-day battery life.
SENSE 5.0
An Android smartphone can be beautifully designed and have an amazing screen and top-notch chipset, but none of this will make any difference if the software is rubbish. HTC sails closer to the wind than most on this front, as it heavily customises Android with its latest Sense interface.
Sense has always divided opinion, but this time HTC has really pushed the boat out. Running on top of Android 4.1.2 is Sense 5.0, and with it comes the end of the traditional Android homescreen, with its mix of widgets and icons.
ULTRAPIXELS ARE THE NEW MEGAPIXELS
As if replacing the Android homescreen wasn't radical enough, HTC has also gone against popular convention with the One's camera. Instead of racing to fit as many megapixels as possible on a tiny sensor, which is normally a recipe for huge amounts of noise, HTC has made a sensor using what it calls Ultrapixels. These are larger-than-average pixels, which means that instead of having 12 or more megapixels on a small sensor, the HTC One only has four megapixels.
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| Indoor Photos are pretty good |
When taking photos indoors, the HTC One's camera excels. It managed camera-shake free shots under poor indoor lighting, with little visible noise or noise reduction. However, we did find colours rather muted. The Sony Xperia Z's camera captured shots with more vibrant colours, but they didn't have the same level of detail as those from the HTC One.
When we went outside, the One's camera was again impressive in some ways and less so in others. The camera captured plenty of detail in the medium distance, and shots were much sharper than on the Sony Xperia Z. However, once again we found the One's colours to be rather muted, and shots from the Xperia Z were both more vibrant and with more true-to-life colours.
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| (LEFT) HTC One give sharper image; (RIGHT) Sony Xperia Z give more accurate colors |
When we went outside, the One's camera was again impressive in some ways and less so in others. The camera captured plenty of detail in the medium distance, and shots were much sharper than on the Sony Xperia Z. However, once again we found the One's colours to be rather muted, and shots from the Xperia Z were both more vibrant and with more true-to-life colours.
VERDICT
HTC has pulled off a blinder with the HTC One. It’s a gorgeous phone with a beautiful screen, and we think it's a more desirable handset than the Sony Xperia Z.
Given you can move BlinkFeed out of view, the HTC should appeal to everyone. It will be especially tempting to those who crave the low-light capabilities of its camera. Its metal chassis is also a big selling point - and one, based on past models, that is unlikely to appear on the Samsung Galaxy S4.
Most will be tempted to see that handset before making a choice, but with the HTC One, HTC has a huge contender for handset of the year. It's an amazing phone and deservedly wins our Ultimate award.
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