HTC's latest video focuses on Ultrapixels

A year later, HTC finally defines the Ultrapixel. Sort of.

HTC has released yet another Techincal Translation short, and this time they want to talk about pixels.

Not just any pixels, but the Ultra (as in big) versions found on the HTC One and the [redacted]. We get the technical version, which gets broken down into one thing by our non-technical narrator: low light performance.

We also get to see a [redacted] and hear more about [redacted]. This video does little to explain the two [redacted] on the [redacted], but we hope to know more about [redacted] [blurry] on March 25.

Source: Youtube

Jerry Hildenbrand
Senior Editor — Google Ecosystem

Jerry is an amateur woodworker and struggling shade tree mechanic. There's nothing he can't take apart, but many things he can't reassemble. You'll find him writing and speaking his loud opinion on Android Central and occasionally on Twitter.

135 Comments
  • Why are the video not playing in the app anymore? Posted via Android Central App
  • redacted?
  • I wish this whole serious of videos were redacted, they are AWFUL!!!!
  • You have to hit the title of the video at the top of the flash player box Posted via Android Central App
  • Thanks. I never had that issue before. Posted via Android Central App
  • Yea haha the new Android central layout switch over caused this and I was like wtf at first too Posted via Android Central App
  • Was the article redacted too? Posted via Android Central App
  • Can't wait for this launch!
  • Dude these commercials are getting anooying they aren't telling us anything about the phone its just stupid lol clever though I guess Posted via Android Central App
  • I agree, stop with the nonsense already HTC, your videos have never been funny or thought provoking.
    Just going to retire to my 'sensory depriving unit' and not leave until 25th March. I do hate the buildup to these releases.
  • You can always NOT watch the video.
    Nobody is forcing you to watch them Posted via Android Central App
  • I didn't think it was going to be the same as the other 2 they put out bleeping everything smart a$$. Everyone's always got a smart and intellectual comment over the Internet no one would say anything in person Posted via Android Central App
  • You can always not comment on anything you read on the internet. No one is forcing you to.
  • The video played fine for me. The anticipation is building. I'm pretty excited as this will probably be my next phone when I make my move back to AT&T soon. Posted via Android Central App
  • How valid is the ultrapixel argument? I understand that if you have 2 sensors of the same resolution but one with larger pixels, the one with larger pixels will perform better because the sensor itself is larger. But at least for the original HTC one, that's confounded by the fact that the resolution is smaller. So if the the overall size of the sensors are the same, does it matter that the pixels are bigger? I've seen sample shots from the HTC one, and while they definitely excel in low light, you also have the confounding variable that they've added OIS, allowing them to decrease shutter speed.
    How do low light shots between say the G2 and the HTC one compare?
  • The Ultrapixel thing is a big SCAM! I had the ONE and the S4 and did many comparison shots. The ONE was always a little better in lowlight - but because the exposure time was always longer then on the S4! If you compensate for that - the ONE is NOT better in lowlight! Should theoretical be - but isnt!!! Same with video: Brighter Videos then the S4 - but while the S4 did deliver stable 30FPS - the FPS of the ONE videos were at the same time between 15 and 25 with an average of 19! Unusable stutter. Again: take that into account - and the ONE is NOT better in lowlight then the S4. Should be because of the Ultrapixel - but isnt! So: Ultrapixel SHMULTRAPIXEL!!!
  • +9000000 -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • Sorry your experience was bad. You're the only person that has ever argued that the S4 could perform as well as the One in low light, though. The OIS is why it could have a longer exposure. Compensate for that on the S4 and you get blurry shots. You can't have a longer exposure with no OIS and get sharp pictures. Unless you use a tripod for all your pictures.
  • My point exactly: The ONE is better in lowlight because of the OIS and NOT because of the "Ultrapixel". So the ultrapixel bring no benefits - but low resolution and crappy dynamic range. Just a marketing gag.... BTW: Why do i argue that the S4 is in low light equal to the ONE? Because i did the tests. Have a little sample... https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3775237/Foren/ONE20S4C3%A...
  • Nope I think you're misunderstanding. To deny that a physically larger pixel will capture more light is just wrong. It's physics. You can't argue that. All this was discussed at length in the forums last year. Combine larger physical sensors with OIS and you get the ability capture more light AND get a sharper image as a result. I gotta wonder, would you even give a crap about dynamic range had you not read about it in reviews? Nobody I know has ever looked at a pic that I took with the One and said "man, that pic has terrible dynamic range." Not once, ever. EDIT: Now take those pics facing away from the lights.
  • It's very true that larger pixels will capture more light and that is why full frame cameras can take such stunning shots but here the pixels on the one isn't all that bigger than on the S4. Posted via Android Central App
  • (2.0 µm, 1/3") vs (1.12µm, 1/3.06") Pretty significant difference. Almost double the physical size, actually.
  • Physics bitch! ಠ益ಠ
  • +1 lol Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • Actually - it's about 3x the size. MATH BITCH! Posted via Android Central App
  • +2 PMSL
  • Of course i can argue that. A larger pixel gets HIT with more light. True. But how many light a pixel CAPTURES - and in what quality - depends on the size AND the QUALITY of the pixel (sensor). Size alone is useless... And yes - i know a shitty dynamic range if i see one. Its not that hard: if you take a pic in daylight and the sky is just white - you know you probably bought some shit... Look here:
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3775237/Foren/ONE20S4204.2... Look at series "1" what the ONE´s dynamic range did to the house on the right.
    Look at series "5" what the ONE´s dynamic range did to the construction crane. You don´t need a review to see that...
  • Seems like a result of the resolution difference, not dynamic. The S4 also completely blew out the sky in series 1, but did better on the house yes. The amount of light the sensor captures is related to the shutter speed, not quality of the sensor. The resulting image has more to do with software. Anyway, all that aside, because we can go back and forth all day long (I never had issues with the One, and no one ever complained about the pics it took), you can't judge the new One on the old one since the setup is completely different. Just like you can't judge the S5 based on the S4 or Note 3. Different setups.
  • In the video where they pissed me off with the comment about the dynamic range, they are still talking about the 2013 ONE - not the new phone. Thats why i got mad. Because its BS. If they had said "the NEW ultrapixel...." - different story. But they didn´t.
  • Calm down bro Jesus there's worst things in life Posted via Android Central App
  • So basically what you're saying is the One is the best phone for people who work or spend lots of times down in caves and mines. Otherwise, get a device that can take better photos in decent light because the One is only superior in a mine shaft where there's little to no light.
  • I question your IQ if that's what you got from this Posted via Android Central App
  • Sharper images my ass the ONE had no detail in its pics at all. For the amount of time you take a pic in low light the S4 IMO is the better choice for camera as the depth and detail is great and was ahead of all the competition in Android at the time it was released.
    I've had both phones and don't know how anyone can say the one takes better pics other than in low light which isn't a huge difference if you use night shot mode on the S4.
    That said I really hope the M8 is better as its the only phone to excite me in the slightest this year and only phone that will take primary device spot away from my Nexus 5.
  • +1.000.000.000.000 Posted via Android Central App
  • I've not done any comparisons myself but have seen a few comparisons done by GSMArena.com and PhoneArena where the s4 photos in low light looked better overall as a picture. Your also right about the ois and Longer exposer which GSMArena basically said the one will get the best photo in low light it can get straight away as long it's static image but the s4 in low ligjt due to lack of ois will probably have to take multiple shots to get the best it can but they came to the conclusion that the s4 best low light overall is better than the HTC one low light but the HTC is more consistent in not getting blurry shots. Ps ive seen the terrible low light the s4 takes but turn on its low light mode it actually does a good job. Many online reviews basically just test the camera on auto mode without using it properly. As I said I'm not not going to say which is better as I have not done comparisons myself though I should as my brother has the one but just can't be asked lol.
    Posted via Android Central App on nexus 7 (2nd gen)
  • Yeah - i have seen this tests. Idiots. On the S3 - you MAYBE could argue that you only test in "auto" and not use a special night mode. But on the S4 - the default setting is that the night mode kicks in automatically in lowlight! So - no argument here... BTW: my comparison shots like
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3775237/Foren/ONE20S4C3%A...
    of course are made with S4 in full auto mode (= lowlight mode on auto too)
  • The S4 is trash in low light. Posted via Android Central App
  • It's called a flash, little invention to make low light pics better. Posted via Android Central App
  • Let me know when a phone comes with a flash that can light up an entire street.
  • Let me know when a phone comes with a camera lens that can capture detail crisply down an entire street.
  • Anyone who looks at the gsmarena test that said the S4 does better in low light and believes it, is gullible. See my evidence here posted by me: http://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=268063 Posted via Android Central App
  • Ta - ta - TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ;-)
  • I might agree with you if you said Galaxy Note3 does better in the low light, not the GS4. I have the three devices on my accounts.
  • +1 -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • Lol everybody has "evidence" Posted via Android Central App
  • -1 the flash was created for low light pics. HTC can't and will never make a decent camera. Posted via Android Central App
  • You can predict the future? Color me jealous, lol. Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • Even better is that somehow a phone flash (or any flash for that matter) is supposed to be able to illuminate an entire street, or anything larger than a room.
  • Yep, lol. Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • +1.000.000.000.000 Posted via Android Central App
  • That was hard to read. You should really learn the difference between "then" and "than." Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm telling you, it is a new brand of stupidity that has swept the nation.
  • +1 Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 or iPhone 5
  • The videos won't play for me either. Any of them. I'm using a note 3. Posted via Android Central App
  • Played fine on mine, tap the title and not the video itself -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • Interesting,played fine on my HTC HA Posted via Android Central App
  • After seeing this video i am very mad at HTC! We all know - and every review showed that - that the ONE camera has a bad (below average at best) dynamic range. And in the video they are saying ultra pixel give you BETTER dynamic range then other smart phones??? Lying dicks....
  • Your only option is to not buy the phone then.
  • But they talk about ultrapixel in general. And i bought the 2013 ONE already...
  • HTC One owner here. The camera was the biggest disappointment on this phone. Not only do pictures not look that great, but I ended up getting that stupid purple tint issue. Otherwise, the rest of the hardware and software worked flawlessly.
  • I'm in purple/pink camera hell. Has become totally useless indoors and I'm not parting with it to have camera module replaced. They will never get my $ again.
  • I hear you. Had the purple OUTSIDE! Take a look here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3775237/Foren/ONE20S4204.2...
  • We might as well have started the purple tint club. I think I know how and why it happened. Using the GPS and charging the phone at the same time. This caused my phone to get extremely warm.
  • You know that you can get your camera sensor replaced under warranty, correct? You send in your phone and it's a recognized defect that's fixed free of charge. I had the same issue and was going to send mine in when I got back to the States from travel abroad but my One was stolen before I could do it. Posted via Android Central App
  • Have you seen my purple pictures above? It came back from HTC support with "no defect was found"...
  • I just got HTC to send me a refurbished One with fixed camera module with their Advanced Exchange program. Gets here tomorrow with a return shipping label for my defective One. They do require a pricey temp hold on a credit card until they receive the defective unit back. I didn't want the 1-2 weeks without a phone option. I asked the rep I spoke with if he had helped anyone else with this issue. He said yes and that replacing the camera works every time. But of course he would not say that HTC recognizes it's a problem because then they'd have to do THE RIGHT THING: RECALL. That would end them as a company even sooner. Can't exactly recall the flagship phone because the very camera that they touted as one of the things that set their phone apart is defective. It set them apart alright.
  • Third worst camera of all last year, just above the moto x and the Nexus. It is one of the things that I hope they improve. Getting rid of the scratch and dent metal is another, but that isn't happening -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • I'm offended! Not because of your honesty but because you won't post the crap we can't see!
  • Haha +2 Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • I will email you the uncensored version -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • If it is supposedly slightly worse than the Nexus, than great, I'll take one. The Nexus 5 takes better shots than most will admit, most people people are so stuck in the 'high price = better value' rut. If the One camera is just slightly worse than the N5, then I'll be happy to get the new One because it will be even improved than the old one was. I've taken a hell of a lot of amazing pictures on my Nexus 5, even so more than anyone I know with a S4. Posted via Android Central App
  • He said the HTC One camera was better than the Moto X and Nexus. Nevertheless, we all know NoNsense is full of himself.
  • +900,000,000,000 Posted via Android Central App
  • No this year I am full of hands on experience -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • Hard to believe you devote the necessary time.
  • Part of my job in a way, also I do it for fun
  • Jimbo was right, but overall compared to the Sony, the s4 and g2, are you really gonna put the One above any of them? Overall -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • Too broad a statement. "Overall" Mega pixels? Low light scenes and places without using unnatural flash effect? Rapid response to take subsequent photo? Optical Image Stabilization? Front facing for the ever more popular selfies? Burst mode? Ability to remove objects? Motion multiples in a single shot? Ability to change focal point after the shot? HDR? Sony, LG, HTC, and Samsung more than adequately satisfy the needs of those who prefer select aspects and features. When an individual, such yourself, pronounces an "overall" hierarchy it's purely self aggrandizing B.S.
  • Overall means to take all situations and factors into account and make a decision based on all the information available.
  • I had a Nexus 5 and an HTC One. The HTc destroyed the N5 camera, it wasn't even close.
  • That's nice to know since I will possibly upgrade to the new One. Posted from my Nexus 5
  • Video played fine. And the ultra pixel camera on the HTC one wasn't really that good. So not sure why they don't just put a better camera in there high end flagship device. Hmmmm Posted via Android Central App Sony Xperia Z2.
  • Redaculous! Posted via Android Central App
  • Anyone else get from this video a practical confirmation that the [redacted] will feature the second camera for the purpose of taking HDR photos in one shot? just sayin'! his redacted words could easily be "The New HTC One has added a second ultrapixel camera sensor on the back of the device. The second camera allows you to take one photo with 2 separate sensors set at different exposure levels, creating an HDR image without having the delay of having one sensor taking two separate images sequentially and having the software create the image." *makes whoosh noise*
  • This i a pure marketing video. They knew exactly what stays in and what not. I bet he just says BLA BLA BLA...
  • Um, of course it's a pure marketing video. It worked. Just look at how much we're talking about it now.
  • Tech types talking about it on a tech blog doesn't really amount to much though. It's great marketing for most of that demographic (not me, I tuned out at 20 secs), but not so much for the average person. I showed this video to a few non-tech family members and they all tuned out around 15 secs. That's why HTC struggles, they don't know the proper demographic and how to market to them to sell a lot of product. In comparison, look at Samsung and Apple; huge difference!
  • Did good in the low light but overexposed in the midday outdoors. 4mp was way too bad in details - "no replacement for displacement".
    This time around they better make it 8mp + and fix that processing
    Posted via Android Central App
    VZW Moto X Oh btw
    Nothing beats iPhone 5s camera , period .
    :)
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 beats your puny iPhone 5S. Posted via Android Central App
  • +1
    The Nokia L920 beats the iPhone 5S. The Nokia L1020 beats every other phone camera in the market. Specially the 5S.
  • I don't have one, neither planing to get it ;)
    Nevertheless I referred to it bc of it's superb image processing . can't really compare it with Lumia since it has 10 times bigger sensor. Btw lumia could have done a better job in software department (for camera). If apple had the same hardware it would have been better for sure. Posted via Android Central App
    VZW Moto X
  • What a dumb videos. Posted via Android Central App
  • I am not (redacted) if I (redacted) going (redacted) this (redacted). Posted via Android Central App
  • The HTC One camera is why I don't own the phone any more. It distorts anything nearby with some weird ultra-wide lens. Pictures look like they were taken in a carnival mirror. These "tease" ads are just stupid.
  • True. But thats the limitation of a tiny smart phone lens. Wide but distorted vs not so wide and not distorted is a choice. Can´t have both. The wide angle was actually something i liked on the ONE...
  • Same here. Couldn't use the thing to help me see in lectures when I get a bad seat.
  • S4 was the worst in low light of the last generation. HTC was arguably the best along with the Droid MAXX. Posted via Android Central App
  • Riiiiiiiiight..... So they are lying
    http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Camera-comparison-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-vs... My pictures are lying
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3775237/Foren/ONE20S4C3%A... EVERYBODY is lying. Good talk.
  • Yep, EVERYBODY is lying, including you. Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • Actually yes PhoneArena was lying: http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/268063-phone-arena-camera-compa...
  • Yikes. Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • Everybody has no idea what they're talking about except you buddy. You're doing a great job keep on keep in on Posted via Android Central App
  • Yes you are, the One was much better in low-light overall still poor -------------------------------------------
    You really should see the crap I don't post. Sorry if honesty offends you
  • The best camera on a phone is the Nokia 1020 camera. Not even a question. Posted via Android Central App Sony Xperia Z2.
  • This. Plain and simple. Period. And, second to that is Sony. Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • Nokia is both first and second. :P
  • I can agree with that. Posted from my "Gift from God" Note 3, my "God-Given" iPad Mini 2, or my "Risen" Samsung Chromebook.
  • Third is the G2 Posted via Android Central App
  • Third is the Sony
  • The redacted words are redacted because they're redacted. Sent via my Verizon Moto X
  • Kevin i Don't have a degree in photography and I don't know crap about all this photo lingo. However I do know a crapy photo when I see one. I traded my htc one after 3 months for an s4 and pictures were night and day. My wife had and iphone 5 and pictures were also better than the htc one. I loved the htc one I just hate their shity csmera and im disappointed with the new one bc its camera looks to be the same. Posted via Android Central App
  • Literally no one knows anything about the cameras on the new HTC One and no photos have been leaked. Stop being melodramatic.
  • It has TWO cameras!!!! Posted via Android Central App
  • If they keep the camera that is on the One, I would not but this phone, or another phone with this camera again. The camera on the One (had for 7 months now) has been my biggest disappointment... Posted via Android Central App
  • All pictures taken with a phone look the same on any social network. I can't imagine anyone who isn't a photographer to actually complain and make decisions on top phones based on how much the camera is slightly better on one phone than on the other, because they all go on Facebook or Instagram anyway. I'll never choose a better camera over better software or battery performance on a major phone decision. Just one dudes opinion I guess. Posted via Android Central App from my Moto X
  • Some people take smartphone cameras really seriously I'm not sure why. You're right Facebook and instagram etc will always mess with the quality and resolution and it's not going to look the same so why care seriously. Software and phone performance are much more important to me at least then a camera I use every so often. Posted via Android Central App
  • Because if something awesome/interesting/beautiful happens in your everyday life - your smartphone camera decides how you capture that moment for the rest of your life - not your DSLR at home. Its not important how the pictures look on instagram today - but how they are stored in your picture collection when you watch them in 10 or 20 years on your wall to wall 8K TV...
  • I'm pretty sure that any pictures taken with any smartphone ever made are going to look like shit on a nice big 8K screen in 10 years. Posted via Android Central App
  • Just simulate it with your FullHD monitor. Show a S4 picture (widescreen 8MP) - then zoom in by factor 4x. Now repeat the same with a picture taken by a ONE but zoom in factor 8x. Or better: Here - just show this pics full screen on a FullHD TV/monitor: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3775237/Foren/ONE20S4/12...
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3775237/Foren/ONE20S4/1... There is a difference between shit and SUPERITSSOBADITHURTSMYEYES-shit...
  • since I have bad vision I use my phone to take pictures of the board in classes if I happen to get a bad seat that day. I had the HTC one and had to get rid of it because it took such terrible pictures. It was just as bad as my vision when I looked at the pictures I took. I sold it for an optimus G pro and made $100, got more storage in every way, longer battery life, removable battery and kept the Infrared blaster and a got a better camera. how is that for better performance? Just lost the front firing speakers. I don't even use Facebook.
  • And that's a particular situation. But most people use the camera on their phone now a days for social networking like Facebook Twitter etc Posted via Android Central App
  • I have HTC one and the only thing I hate about it is the Fake camera they call ultrapixel, it's just a tweak of low cost low pixel cameras and that's the reason I'm changing my mobile. I would go for real 13-20 MP camera phone. Posted via Android Central App
  • That was the dumbest (redacted) video I've ever seen. What they should've done was taken some video and picture shots to show that the new phone has an extremely better camera than the HTC1 & then they could've tried explaining what makes an ultrapixel better than a pixel. Posted via Android Central App
  • I really hope the ultrapixel will be a higher resolution. My one took pretty sharp pictures and they looked decent. Most all of them, day or night. But try zooming in even a hair and it immediately turns to shit. I think they may have really stepped up the camera deal quite a bit. I can't wait for this.
  • Yeah. Make a 8MP sensor with twice the size - and you can STILL call it Ultrapixel!
    Ultrapixel is nothing technical - it's just a term for "big Pixel" invented by marketing. Like retina. Posted via Android Central App
  • Those ultrapixels make my bar selfies look like crap, someone kill me!
  • I had great shots out of my HTC One. The only issue is lack of resolution if you zoom, in which case you frame your shots better so you dont need to.
    I never replicated the poor results that some reviewers got, I always had great shots, clear, good dynamic range, great colour reproduction (no tint), excellent in low light and most importantly, in focus. 13MP+ is no good if its not focused, which most of my friends seemed to suffer from when using their cameras. Lower resolution or not, theoretical low dynamic range or not it still took better pictures than anything i saw from any of the other phones out at the time.
  • Back in June when I got the ONE, I had the theory that there are 2 series of one cameras: a good one and a bad one. Because on all the boards half of the ONE owners were saying the camera is good - and the other half the camera is the worst. And I thought mine was a bad one. But again: came back from HTC support with "no problems found"...
  • Possibly, mine was a launch device, got it on launch day. Never had any issues with the purple tint. It did take me a while to appreciate the One camera, i didnt like the low resolution initially, but I spent a week taking pictures with it, another phone (S3) and a point and shoot lumix camera, and most of the time the One gave me the best shots. I have a G2 now and while its sharp and high res, the images arent as well balanced and need more 'fixing' in post process. When i got the N5 i was shocked how awful the pictures looked, even after the update that improved the camera it was still pretty poor in comparison. The thread on XDA about the Ones camera has some stunning shots
  • What a lot of wasted money they don't have to throw around. HTC makes a quality product, but this commercial was a waste.
  • Yep. Because it takes a lot of money to make a YouTube video.
    Posted via Android Central App
  • Too much focus on the camera in these new phones.
  • Ha..nice pun
  • My wife has the s4 and I have the one. Camera wise the htc one is faster and way better in low light but her pictures show a lot more detail especially in the bright day light. Every phone is going to have its trade offs but personally I'm taking more pics inside at events like birthdays and weddings and having the better low light performance is a huge plus to me. Again that's personal preference though. I'm really excited to see the improvements in the new one. Posted via Android Central App
  • This might win me over as an HTC one fan boy for another year! :-P Sent from my HTC One