ACMD GADGETS: HTC ONE M8

If the HTC One M8 is too rich for your blood on Sprint, its plastic-bodied sibling with half the storageis now available from the pin drop network. Meant for Asia and Eastern Europe, the HTC One E8 is now available in the USA, but just through Sprint. The E8 brings nearly the same specs and experience as the M8, though in a less expensive form.

The HTC One E8 has the same processor, speakers, RAM, battery, 5-inch 1080p display, and more as its metallic M8 brother. But that plastic shell also only has one camera opening on the rear, this time housing a 13-megapixel shooter versus the M8's twin-sensor 4-megapixel Duo Camera. Inside the E8 only comes with 16GB of storage, but as it too sports a microSD expansion slot, you don't have to be hurting for storage.

The E8 is retailing full price from Sprint for $499.99 in white or gray, though you can get it for $0 down and $20.84/month for 24 months through Sprint Easy Pay, or $99.99 upfront for a 2-year contract. Compare that to the M8, where you get a metal body, double the storage, and a crazy-but-compromised camera setup for $649.99 retail, $27.09 monthly, or $199.99 on contract.

Sprint's been on a roll with the interesting phone releases recently. First the stunning Sharp Aquos Crystal with its minimal bezels, then just this morning a report that they might carry a new flagship Sony smartphone, and now the E8. These are phones that aren't typically carried in the US, and we have to wonder if Japanese Softbank's ownership of Sprint is influencing the devices they can import.

What do you think?