HTC is releasing a plastic version of its flagship smartphone

HTC China has unveiled a plastic version of the company’s newest flagship smartphone. The HTC One (E8) is almost identical to the impressive, metallic One (M8), although there are a few changes beyond just build material. The One (E8) utilizes a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor and HTC’s signature BoomSound front-facing stereo speakers, although the M8’s Duo Camera and dual LED flash set up is not included. Instead, the plastic One uses a single 13-megapixel camera and one LED, not unlike the One Mini 2.

After several weeks of rumors and leaks, the cheaper plastic version of the HTC One M8 also known as the “Ace” has surfaced on HTC’s website. Aptly named the E8, this budget-friendly take on the company’s current flagship smartphone appears to retain its high-end counterpart’s BoomSound speakers, but it lacks the Duo Camera setup offered by the M8. Since this is HTC’s Chinese site, there’s no guarantee that the E8 will ever make its way to the US, but at least we know for sure that this device is the real deal. While we’re pretty fond of the M8, the idea of a competitively priced alternative doesn’t sound like a bad idea. However, we’ll have to see what kind of hardware this handset is packing before making a final judgement.