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Engadget's new buyer's guide picks: the MacBook Pro, Moto E and more!
It's been one busy month for reviews: Engadget has published seven in the past four weeks alone. That means we've got quite a few additions to our various buyer's guides. First up: the HTC One M9. No, we don't like the camera quite as much as the UltraPixel shooter on last year's M8, but on the whole, the M9 is still among the best Android handsets you can buy right now. We've also made a nod to the new and improved Moto E, which remains one of the best budget phones on the market. Meanwhile, we have not one, but several new favorite laptops. This includes the refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro (even despite its slightly less comfortable trackpad) and the much-improved Chromebook Pixel. Also, we'll soon be adding the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HP Spectre x360, both of which were still being testing as we were putting this latest guide together. Check back soon to find those listed, and stay tuned to see what else we might add -- we can tell you now we already have some more big reviews in the works.
Where to buy HTC's One M9 in the UK
This year's MWC trade show was unquestionably headlined by mobile heavyweight duo HTC and Samsung. Not only did they both have fresh VR headwear to show off, but they arrived in Barcelona with new Android flagships in hand, too. Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 edge make their way to the UK on April 10th, but we get those smartphones ain't gonna be everyone's cup of tea. And if you've been waiting on HTC's latest instead, then today's your lucky day, as the One M9 is now available in the UK. In our review of the device, we noted the display was actually better on last year's model, and the M9's 20-megapixel primary camera didn't exactly leave us swooning. But one thing's for certain: HTC knows how to build a gorgeous, workhorse of a phone, even if the M9 isn't leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor. So, first up, you need to decide whether you want one or not; then, you've just gotta figure out where you're going to get it from.
HTC One M9 review: Another year, another modest step forward
Let's say you're a smartphone maker and you cook up a formula for a beloved, game-changing device. The next year, you tweak that formula a bit to create a worthy, if slightly less exciting, follow-up of a phone. What do you do after another year has gone by? Try something completely different in hopes you'll catch lightning in a bottle again, or keep plugging away on the mobile DNA that made you such a worthy name in the first place? If you're HTC, the answer is obvious: You keep polishing and polishing that formula until you finally reach the ideal you've been working toward. That's what we have in the One M9. It's still a ways off from fulfilling the vision that HTC's design wonks had in mind, but in most ways it's a very thoughtful refinement of what made the One series so special. Your pleas and complaints haven't gone unheard. The thing is, when the One M9 does try new things -- be they software features or hardware changes -- it doesn't always stick the landing.
HTC's 'Uh Oh' program will replace your busted One M9 once for free
HTC's two-toned M9 hasn't landed in the US yet, but the company's already champing at the bit to give you more reasons to buy one. Just as earlier reports suggested, HTC is fleshing out its Advantage program with a little something called "Uh Oh Protection," and it's a little more impressive than that tongue-in-cheek name implies. Long story short, if you crack the phone's Gorilla Glass-swathed screen, take it for a swim in the Pacific or pledge allegiance to another carrier within your first year of ownership, HTC will overnight you precisely one replacement unit totally gratis. On the off-chance that your M9 survives that first year without incident, you'll get $100 to apply toward the purchase of a new One down the road.
HTC One M9 preview, Nintendo's indie relationships and other stories you might've missed!
Saturday is here and it's a great time to catch up on all the stories you might have missed this week. We take a look at the recently announced HTC One M9, meet Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 edge and dig into Nintendo's complicated relationship with indie game makers. All that and more can be found below.
The best smartphones from MWC
The 2015 edition of Mobile World Congress is coming to a close today and, as much as we'd like to stay longer in lovely Barcelona, it's time to say goodbye. While this year's event may have seemed a little underwhelming, we did see major announcements from HTC and Samsung -- two companies battling it out for Android smartphone supremacy. But that wasn't it: BlackBerry, Microsoft and Huawei also unveiled new handsets, though perhaps not as exciting as the One M9 or Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Regardless, let's take a look at the mobile devices that stood out at MWC. Don't miss out on all the latest news, photos and liveblogs from MWC 2015. Follow along at our events page.
This is the HTC One M9
Surprise! After months of speculation and leaks, HTC is finally ready to show the world its latest flagship, the One M9. Sorry to disappoint, but those leaks were, for the most part, spot on. As they suggested, there's no major change in terms of industrial design here; the M9 looks a lot like the M8, which in turn looked a look like the original One. That means you're getting an aluminium unibody design with a 5-inch 1080p display framed at the top and bottom by HTC's trademark BoomSound speakers. Sure, it's a bit narrower, a little shorter, and a shade thicker than the M8 it replaces, but you'd be hard-pressed to tell the handsets apart at first glance.
We're live from HTC's One M9 event at MWC!
The One M9 is, perhaps, HTC's worst kept secret of 2015. But maybe, just maybe, the Taiwanese company could surprise us all at its Mobile World Congress press conference -- after all, HTC is known for trying new things every now and then. Whatever happens, though, we're here in Barcelona to bring you the play-by-play from the company's event. So stay tuned to this post; we'll be flipping into liveblog mode at 10:00 AM ET.
Leaked HTC One M9 videos confirm new cameras and software tricks (updated)
If HTC was hoping to keep at least some of the One M9's details a secret, it's going to be sorely disappointed. Well-known tipster @Upleaks has posted three promo videos that reveal... well, just about everything. They confirm that the M9 will have a much higher-resolution 20-megapixel camera at the back, as well as an UltraPixel (likely 4MP) front cam for your low-light selfies. You'll also get Dolby surround sound from the One's signature BoomSound speakers. And that's just the hardware -- there's plenty on the software side, too.
HTC One M9 store images hint at an evolutionary phone design
HTC's plans for March 1st might just be out in the open. MobileGeeks has spotted German store listings for a new One phone whose images bear an uncanny resemblance to the One M9 spy photos from last month, complete with an oversized camera space and a flashy silver-and-gold color scheme for one model. The claimed 2GHz Snapdragon 810 chip, 20-megapixel rear camera and 4-megapixel front shooter will all sound familiar if you've been following rumors, but there are a few new twists here. The BlinkFeed news stream is different enough to suggest new software, and the body is a tad thicker than its predecessor -- possibly to offer space for the new camera, a bigger battery (supposedly 2,900mAh) or both. It's hard to say for sure that this is what you'll see in a week's time given contrasting reports, but it's at least plausible.
Leak hints that HTC's next flagship phone comes in two sizes
You'd be forgiven for not knowing what to expect from HTC's next flagship smartphone. The images that have emerged are frequently dodgy, and there are even claims that the company is seeding decoys to throw people off the scent. However, you might finally be looking at the real thing... or rather, things. Well-known leaker Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) has posted a supposed product shot displaying a pair of differently-sized, previously unseen devices that he believes to be HTC's successors to the One M8. Both have edge-mounted front speakers, a large front camera (UltraPixel?) and the super-thin bezels that many have been asking for. The designs are feasible, although that Galaxy S5-style home button on the larger version gives us reason for pause -- either this is sketchy, or HTC's lawyers have decided that Samsung won't get angry. You'll likely know more at HTC's media event on March 1st.
