I ordered this phone as soon as it was released and reviewed on CNET, and couldn't have been more satisfied after receiving it the next day. I upgraded from a Samsung Galaxy S3 and this was my first HTC device.
What is there not to love about this phone? It has a wonderful build quality that, in my opinion, is on par with Apple's iPhone or even surpasses it. It has an amazing, bright 1080p ISP display, which boasts true colors and sharp details in every webpage or photo. The built-in capacitive sensor feels great, and more "machine-like" than a Galaxy phone. The stereo speakers sound incredibly better than the M7 version of last year and the call quality is better than expected. Listening to music on these speakers is like hearing them on a tiny boombox; it's that good.
Now even though the camera is at only a 4MP, I tested it out against a coworker's Galaxy S3, and the default picture setting on this phone blew it out of the water in terms of natural color, clarity, and contrast. I suppose HTC's Ultra Pixel claims are very warranted once you get a chance to try it out yourself.
Battery life is another surprising thing. After activating the phone, I used it for over twelve hours, getting notifications and text messages, browsing the web, and it was already above 76 percent out of the box. I lost only 14 percent in a work shift's use, so I'm a firm believer that this phone can last you up to two or three days of moderate use before needing a full charge.
Now as far as the Android Kit Kat and HTC Sense UI goes, it's intuitive, simple to use, and I honestly appreciate its responsiveness over Samsung's TouchWiz interface. The keyboard on this one is a big improvement over what my old Galaxy had me dealing with--cramped QWERTY keys. I definitely type faster and more accurately on this version of Android than what was utilized in Gingerbread, Ice Cream sandwich, and etc.
The phone also comes with some nifty in-ear ear buds, a SIM removing tool, and all the usual flair.
So if you are an Android user, but want a premium phone that looks, feels, and outperforms an iPhone, then look no further. The HTC One M8 is a clear winner!