HTC has unveiled a high-end Android smartphone with a massive front-facing camera and specifications to rival its own flagship HTC One M8.
The HTC Desire Eye has a 13-megapixel lens above its screen -- and an identical one on the back. Dual LED flashes are included on both front- and rear-mounted cameras.
The focus is on "selfies", which are now seemingly as important to consumers as any photography captured on the rear-facing camera.
WIRED.co.uk took a look at the Desire Eye ahead of its official launch in New York and our first impressions were very positive.
Inside the sturdy-feeling multi-coloured phone, which has a 5.2-inch Full HD screen, is a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor from Qualcomm, 2GB of RAM and a minimum of 16GB of expandable internal storage. It includes 4G, NFC, the latest version of Android KitKat, 802.11n Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels (read: fast Wi-Fi at home), GPS and Bluetooth 4.0.
Both front- and rear-facing cameras have wide-angle 28mm lenses with a fast f/2.0 aperture, recording 1080p Full HD video and software features allow for picture-in-picture capture, meaning both cameras can be used simultaneously for videos, photo or even conference calling.
There's a 2,400mAh battery on the inside, which typically suggests a solid day of medium-intensity usage before needing to charge. It's an embedded battery however, meaning it cannot be swapped out for a full-charged spare.
Although part of HTC's Desire range -- which is typically a home for mid-range smartphones at lower prices than the company's flagships -- it's a competitive release. HTC's current flagship, the HTC One M8, features identical specs for the processor, RAM, storage and more. On most levels, this is, thus, an HTC One M8 with a different design, a larger screen and a better front-facing camera. All you really lack is the depth-shifting features of the One M8's twin rear-facing cameras, and its intended premium aesthetic. But who cares about that when you've got a 13-megapixel selfie? Just ask the nearest teenager.
WIRED.co.uk understands there will be a notable price difference between the HTC Desire Eye and its supposedly higher-end One M8 cousin, which could make this an extremely promising release at a time where Earth's narcissism and obsession with the "selfie" is arguably at the highest peak since the release of the first mirror.
The HTC Desire Eye will be released around the end of October or early Novemeber in the UK and will come in two colours. We will have a full and comprehensive hands-on report shortly and a full review to follow.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
