HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition Unboxing

The HTC One M8 Google Play Edition Box and Contents

Upon opening the box, one can see that it contains the HTC One M8 phone with no notable signifying factors aside from the actual device itself. The back of the device features the spec listing, which includes Android 4.4 KitKat as the operating system and a Snapdragon 801 processor clocking at 2.3 GHz. It's worth noting that this model is the same one launched on carriers but with different bands for unlocked usage across various US carriers. The internal memory of the device is 32 GB, while the RAM is 2 GB, which can be expanded using a micro USB card up to 128 GB.

Inside the box, aside from the phone itself, one finds marketing materials from HTC, including earbuds that differ slightly from those shipped with other units. These white and silver buds are an interesting feature compared to the black and red buds seen on other versions of the device. Additionally, there is a spare pair of earbuds included, along with a charger that does not have the Quick Charge accessory, which will be sold later this year. The USB cable is also present in the box, as well as a SIM card tool, Google Play edition documentation, and some stickers for the IMEI, etc.

Opening Up the Phone

When opening the phone, one can see the same 5-inch display that was previously mentioned. To power it on, simply follow the instructions provided by HTC to activate the device. The screen displays Android 4.4 KitKat under the hood, with a processor clocking at 2.3 GHz from the Snapdragon 801 chip.

The camera setup on the back of the phone is notable, featuring a four-lens UltraPixel camera and a depth sensor. This unique combination enables taking special photo shots that are not typically found in standard cameras. Google has announced its intention to provide support for this feature even though the device is running a pure version of Android 4.4 KitKat instead of Android 6.

Looking at the Rear

On the right-hand side of the phone, there is a micro SD card slot available for expansion of the internal memory from 32 GB to up to 128 GB. Below this is the volume control and the 3.5 mm headphone jack next to the micro USB port on the left side. The SIM tray slot is slightly larger and accommodates nano-SIM cards. Furthermore, HTC has utilized a lot of plastic around the top part of the device to ensure that antennas can broadcast effectively, which contrasts with the aluminum M7 model where most of the back was made of metal at 90%.

Upon Turning it On

After powering on the phone, one enters Android 4.4 KitKat, as per its spec listing. Unlike some other devices with HTC One M8 variants, this pure Google Play edition does not come pre-installed with any home screens. There is a welcome screen that can be skipped to dive into the interface.

Taking a Look at the Camera App

The camera app found on the device differs slightly from that of the HTC One M8 and other versions in terms of its software design. Unlike those versions, this one doesn't have custom software added by HTC for improved functionality or aesthetics. Instead, it follows the Google Play edition's standard approach to photography, allowing users to snap photos, change settings as they would with any other Google Play edition device.

However, there is an exception: when taking a quick picture, users can go into their gallery and then edit it using HTC Photo Editor, which allows access to features like UltraFocus for changing focus post-capture and Dimension Plus for 3D Parallax effects, along with various filters and frames available on the HTC One M8.