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The Bottom Line

If you like having the ability to compare apples to apples when trying to decide between two models of cameras, you're going to be disappointed in the HTC One (M7) smartphone camera. Not that you're going to be disappointed in the feature set of the HTC One (M7), but the HTC One's design is going to make it difficult to compare it against other smartphone camera models.

HTC has given the M7's image sensor what it calls UltraPixel technology, which means this model's image sensor has a physical size similar to that of other smartphone cameras at 1/3-inch.


However the UltraPixel technology means that the HTC One (M7) has larger individual pixels in terms of size, which theoretically means that it can create better quality images at a lower resolution count than other smartphone camera options. 

The HTC One (M7) does a nice job in terms of image quality, slightly better than what you'll find with other smartphone cameras. However it cannot match the image quality you'd get with an average point and shoot camera, and it certainly cannot come close to the quality of images you'll find with a DSLR model.

Still the HTC One's sharp and bright full HD touch screen is a great option, and this unit has quite a few fun features for photography. This model shoots high-quality full HD movies too. The HTC One (M7) is a nice smartphone camera, offering slightly above average capabilities versus similar options. 

(NOTE: Because smartphone cameras are beginning to replace point and shoot cameras in the digital camera market, you'll begin seeing reviews of smartphone cameras on the Cameras site on occasion. These reviews will focus solely on the smartphone's camera features, not on the smartphone's calling, texting, apps, or other features. And the star rating will be in relation to other digital cameras, not in relation to other smartphones or smartphone cameras alone.)

Specifications

• Resolution (primary camera): 4 megapixels (UltraPixels)
• Resolution (secondary camera): 2.1 megapixels
• Optical zoom: None
• Display: 4.7-inch touch screen, full HD 1920x1080 (468 pixels per inch density)
• Maximum image size: 2688 x 1520 pixels
• Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
• Dimensions: 5.41 x 2.69 x 0.37 inches
• Weight: 5.04 ounces
• Movie mode: Full HD 1080p

 

Pros

• Several interesting features not found on other smartphone cameras
• UltraPixel technology yields good image quality despite lower resolution
• Camera works very fast
• Display screen is sharp and offers full HD resolution
• Image quality is slightly above other smartphone cameras
• Plenty of fun special effect options to add to photos

 

Cons

• Images shot in tough lighting conditions have noise and other imperfections
• Low resolution count limits ability to crop
• Cannot surpass average point and shoot camera in terms of image quality
• Battery life could be better
• No optical zoom capability in lens

 

Image Quality

I mentioned earlier the UltraPixel technology included with the HTC One (M7), where the physical size of the pixels on the image sensor are around 50% to 75% larger than what's found on other smartphone camera image sensors. These larger individual pixels give the HTC M7 the ability to capture a usable image in low light conditions than what other smartphone cameras can capture. The LED flash that's built into the HTC One (M7) body also helps this model perform well in low light.

Because of this technology it's impossible to look at the M7's 4 megapixels of resolution and expect it to produce image quality like other 4-megapixel smartphone cameras. This model shoots images that compare more similarly to perhaps an 8MP to 10MP smartphone camera. Its images won't look very good if you try to print them at large sizes, but its images will be more than adequate for use on social networking sites.

The HTC One (M7) has images that look good when you're shooting in adequate lighting conditions. However once you move into a odd lighting arena such as a strong backlight, occasionally you'll have photos that are slightly out of focus. Blur from camera shake can be a problem from time to time with this model too.

Another area where the HTC One (M7) struggles a bit is in high contrast situations, such as where the sun is directly overhead. You'll find poor exposure problems in these situations, as well as the introduction of chromatic aberration and noise into the image. 

Performance

The HTC One (M7) works fast, thanks to a high-quality processor and 2GB of RAM. Its burst mode is one of the best on the market in a smartphone camera, allowing you to shoot 10 full resolution images in about a second and a half. Shutter lag and shot to shot delays are minimal with the HTC One (M7), as long as you turn off image review after each shot. It also has a variety of wireless connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, and GPS.

HTC gave the M7 a few manual control options, such as setting the ISO or the white balance manually, but this model's camera is primarily designed to be used as a fully automatic unit.

One area where you'll lose a bit of control over your images is in terms of the aspect ratio used. To shoot at 4MP of resolution you must shoot at a 16:9 aspect ratio. If you want to shoot at a 4:3 ratio that's more commonly found in digital camera photos, you'll be limited to 3MP of resolution, which is disappointing.

Battery life could be better with this model. If you're using the HD screen quite a bit to shoot photos or to watch videos, you may have a tough time working a full day without needing a recharge. 

Design

Full HD videos shot with the M7 look great on the 4.7-inch display screen, which is an impressive unit. It offers a higher pixel density than most other smartphone displays, and the HTC One (M7) screen offers bright images. This is one of the better display screens you'll find on a smartphone. Additionally HTC's designers included dual speaker grids on both ends of the unit, which gives the M7 really good audio quality compared to other smartphones.

The HTC One (M7) has a really nice f/2.0 lens, giving this smartphone camera a better option for shooting with a small depth of field versus other similar models. 

HTC included a still image/video hybrid mode with the M7, which it calls Zoe mode. With Zoe you can shoot a series of images over a 3-second interval, which makes it easy to find a good shot while recording action photos. However Zoe mode will fill the smartphone's memory relatively quickly, so you'll want to use it only when needed.