HTC One E8 officially announced: Trades One M8's metal body, keeps high-end hardware

After a string of rumours, HTC has announced the plastic-built variant of its HTC One M8, dubbed the One E8.  The company calls it a ‘Dual Curve’ design that easily fits in a person’s palm in virtually any position. The polycarbonate-body isn’t the only differentiating factor, as the One E8 will also support dual SIM functionality. It sports a 5-inch Full HD display, along with dual stereo BoomSound speakers. The One E8 comes powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, coupled with 2GB RAM. It has 16GB onboard storage  that is expandable via microSD card slot, up to 128GB. The One E8 gets the latest Android KitKat flavor along with a layer of the Sense 6 UI. One will also find support for 'Motion Launch' gestures also seen in the One M8. It also lacks the Duo camera in lieu of a 13-megapixel rear snapper and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It is also fueled by a 2600mAh battery. [caption id="attachment_225069" align="alignnone" width="640"]

Just what we needed: A more affordable M8[/caption] The One E8 comes dipped in four colours namely, Polar white, Electric crimson, Maldives blue, and Misty grey. The phone is expected to be launched in several markets including China.  In fact, a Chinese website had given a sneak peek into the device. As the leaked specs and launch date are accurate, the device could be called One Ace in China.   HTC had recently  teased ‘more beautiful cures coming soon’, and if reports circulating the web are to be believed then this new variant may be named One Ace Vogue in the US. There is no word if the device would reach Indian shores or its pricing. However, it is rumoured to be priced around CNY 3,000, that translates to approximately Rs 28,300. Samsung’s S5 is loaded with top-notch features, with a stunning camera and display, but the company is facing criticism again for going with a plastic body. And even though M8 is getting all the praise in the design department, HTC is looking to emulate the Samsung way. The reasoning is simple:  the low cost to mid-range segment is the fastest growing, which Samsung has tapped in to well for some time. But given the huge size of the market, HTC also want its share of the lucrative pie.