For consumers, we're always waiting for the next big thing. The greatest phone since the last greatest phone. I mean, let's face it, when a high-end device lands on the market and we finally get our hands on it, we're quick to say, "This is the best thing ever!" Or something similar, anyway. That usually lasts, what, a couple months? And then there's that next thing, then the next thing. . . And so on, and so forth.
And since we're all accustomed to yearly upgrades, we've learned to compare them to the last model released under a sharp, pinpointed light. We don't mess around with this stuff, do we? Just look at the Galaxy Note 3, or the iPhone 5s, or Samsung's Galaxy S4. We put them under the microscope and see how they compare to the previous year's model. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn't.
The most difficult part of it all, believe it or not, isn't that we get better devices every year (or sometimes worse). The worst part has to be the fact that sometimes, just sometimes, these manufacturers make such a good device that making something *better* a year later seems almost impossible. Finding that feature, or hardware design, or something else entirely that makes people want to upgrade from the previous model can be ridiculously tricky.
Next year, probably in the early go of it, we'll see HTC unveil a successor to the One. At least, that's what we're all expecting. Nothing's been confirmed quite yet. But the device that's supposed to fill that spot is reportedly called the M8 right now, and there are already some rumors beginning to swirl about what we should expect from the unconfirmed device.
The specs are few and far between right now, and there's simply not a lot to go on, but it got me thinking nonetheless. As far as what's been discussed, it looks like the general belief is that the M8 will feature a 5-inch display, and feature a 1080p HD panel. Under the hood, rumors have it that the M8 will boast a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, but at what speed it'll be clocked at is still up in the air.
Other than that, it's all pretty empty. HTC's One successor is supposedly going to be running Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, though, so that's something that many people should be excited about. Plus, HTC's said to be already hard at work on Sense 6, which would probably see an unveiling at the same time as the M8.
The reason this has me thinking, is because I don't remember loving an Android-based device, or a phone in general, as much as I loved the One. I've had a lot of favorite phones in the past, but the One is still on a pedestal all its own. HTC really went above and beyond the call of duty with their premiere flagship device for 2013, and it has to be a daunting thought to realize that next year, they'll be expected to do better.
I love that the new device is rumored to have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor, because that should help with the overall speed and performance in the long run (not that the One is slow, or that Android 4.4 needs that kind of power -- technically). However, does making a 1080p display bigger, up to 5-inches from 4.7-inches, really make it better? I'm sure to some people it might, but I'm not so convinced.
One of the reasons I loved the One so much was that 4.7-inch display. I can't help but wonder if I'd like it the same with a bigger display, even if it is as beautiful as the original.
I think the one area that HTC really needs to improve, so that it can really match the marketing that will obviously follow suit next year, is the camera. While the 4 UltraPixel camera in the One is definitely worth taking photos, and the low-light images tend to be pretty great, it could use some work. Especially compared to devices like the Lumia lineup from Nokia.
If they add a bit more RAM, and make the new camera in the One's successor really stand out, then I think they could definitely be on the right path to making a true follow-up worth having for the One. It would be nice to see a new design, too, just so that we don't get a, "That looks like the One!" streaming through the internet during its announcement and subsequent launch. I still want aluminum and glass, though. Oh yes, I do.
So my question to you, is what would you like to see HTC do to make a device that's truly better than the original One? How can they outdo themselves? How can they get all the people who picked up a One (like me) want to upgrade to the newest device? Will a lot of it be up to the software, and Sense 6? Or can HTC sell the masses by the hardware alone, or even just the new camera? Let me know what you think!
