HTC One unveiled: UltraPixel camera wonder coming in March

The HTC One is easily one of the most important devices HTC has ever released as it tries to regain its profitable positions and return it to positive dynamics, and now the One handset to help it achieve those goals has finally become official.

The HTC One brings big improvements in four key areas - camera quality with a new BSI camera with optical image stabilization and UltraPixel technology, a premium metal unibody design, a new simplified HTC Sense Android experience and enhanced stereo sound.

But first, here is a quick recap of the HTC One specs:

- 4.7-inch 1080p full HD screen with 468ppi
- Aluminum unibody, 9.3mm thin, 143 grams
- 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600
- HTC UltraPixel Camera with improved low-light performance
- 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, 2GB RAM
- Stereo front speakers, HDR microphone
- New simplified HTC Sense with BlinkFeed
- 4G LTE connectivity
- 2,300mAh battery

5.41 x 2.69 x 0.37 inches
137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm

HTC One

4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 inches
123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm

Apple iPhone 5

5.47 x 2.8 x 0.31 inches
139 x 71 x 7.9 mm

Sony Xperia Z

5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 inches
136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm

Samsung Galaxy S III

HTC One’s new design, new Sense

New HTC Sense

The HTC One comes with a brand new design, one that reminds us the HTC Droid DNA and the iPhone 5 of course. Dominated by a 4.7-inch 1080p full HD Super LCD3 display protected by Gorilla Glass 2 and with a pixel density of the whopping 468ppi, it features two speakers for stereo sound on the front.

Overall, it looks premium all-around with an aluminum unibody crafted with what would instantly remind you of Apple - starting from the material and down to the two distinct strips where the speakers are located and the rounded chamfered edges. Looking at it, we’re wondering whether Apple is not already gearing up for another lawsuit.

On the inside, the HTC one is running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with a brand new and simplified HTC Sense skin. It stands out with the BlinkFeed feature, a home panel filled with large tiles of your latest updates from social networks and apps.

Additionally, HTC has baked in Sense TV turning your HTC One into a TV remote (using an infrared blaster built in the power button). The Sense TV feature also acts as an interactive program guide.


HTC One: the processor and internals

Powered by Snapdragon 600

The HTC One is one of the first devices featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 with a quad-core 1.7GHz Krait 300 processor. The chip also known as the APQ8064T is the 2013 successor to the Snapdragon S4 Pro, and compared to it, the Snapdragon 600 is expected to improve performance by up to 40%. The Snapdragon 600 has actually already been confirmed to be in the LG Optimus G Pro, and we expect it to arrive in many more devices in the second quarter of the year.

The handset also features Adreno 320 graphics and 2GB of RAM, a powerful combination that will help for smooth rendering of the millions of pixels on the 4.7-inch 1080p display.

The HTC One comes in two versions with plentiful storage, one of 32GB capacty and a 64GB one. There is no microSD card slot to further expand on-board storage. 

In terms of connectivity, the HTC One, of course, supports 4G LTE, but it also has an NFC chip and Bluetooth 4.0, along with the standard Wi-Fi a/ac/b/g/n and GPS with Glonass.


HTC One: UltraPixel Camera and improved BoomSound

A new HTC UltraPixel Camera

Probably the biggest innovation in the HTC One however we saved for last - the HTC UltraPixel Camera. HTC does not name the official megapixel count, but what matters is not the pixels here, it is how HTC is using them.

With ultrapixels there are basically three layers of pixels which are then combined to create a single most accurate ultrapixel. The end result is drastically better low-light images as the new and larger ⅓” image sensor captures 300% more light than previously possible with conventional smartphone cameras. 

The sensor itself is a 4-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) with f/2.0 aperture and a 28mm wide-angle lens. The camera is also relying on a new dedicated HTC ImageChip 2 for fast image processing.

Additionally, HTC is bringing a ton of little tweaks to the camera with new features HTC Zoe that creates 3-second animated short clips making your memories come alive.

Finally, sound is also given a boot with HTC BoomSound, the dual front stereo speaker setup (the speakers come with built-in amps) and Beats Audio support. Recording in videos is clearer with an HDR microphone.


HTC One price and release date: is it the One?
HTC has really improved every important aspect of the phone’s experience with the HTC One. At first sight, it is an absolutely brilliant phone with a gorgeous design. But last year HTC had a similarly brilliant One X as its flagship (truth is it had sub-par battery life), with a best-in-class screen and a beautiful design, and it still couldn’t make a dent in the Samsung-Apple duopoly. 

The HTC One will be released in March on a whopping 185 carriers in over 80 markets. In the United States it will launch on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, with Verizon notably missing from that list. 

And this year, HTC will hopefully market the new One enough to give it a chance against Samsung and Apple. 

How do you like the new HTC One?