It seems like every marquee metal phone deserves a plastic understudy. The all-aluminum HTC One (M8) is getting a cheaper and more colorful clone in the shape of the new One (E8). Retaining almost everything about the original device, this new handset is geared toward more price-sensitive markets like China, where it will be available with a pair of SIM card slots from early June. Other than the switch to a lighter polycarbonate body, the E8 also replaces the One's UltraPixel camera with the 13-megapixel imager found on the Desire 816 and HTC One mini 2. That also means no secondary Duo camera for depth perception, but that's not a feature that too many users will miss. The infrared blaster used to turn the phone into a remote control is also absent in the new handset. In spite of those omissions, the essential elements of the HTC One experience do remain in place, including the BoomSound speakers, Sense 6, and the fast Snapdragon 801 processor. The One E8 is compatible with the well liked Dot View case for the One M8 and adds some color of its own with new red and blue colorways complementing the conventional black and white options. Update June 3rd 9:40AM:The HTC One E8 will be priced at ¥2,799 (roughly $450) in China, which is just over half the cost of the ¥5,299 ($850) One M8.
