Once upon a time, the HTC One was the best smartphone an Android fan could own.
The metal body design was a joy, the camera features were a marvel, the interface was stunning. The tech industry threw awards at it with alarming abandon. Even Apple got a bit worried.
HTC followed up on their major smartphone success with the underwhelming M8 and downright woeful M9, leaving many to wonder if the original One was a... well, a One off.
Having had a play with their new flagship model, the HTC 10, we're happy to report the Taiwanese tech giant is back on track.
It's a very good looking phone
Sure, it's another metal slab with 5.2 inches of screen. The HTC 10 doesn't 'change the game' - it's a slicker, flashier version of everything you love about Android handsets.
But rest assured that in the flesh, the HTC 10 is a seriously attractive piece of metal. The case has 'chamfered' edges - which in addition to giving it a pleasing shimmer in the right light, also make it a very comfy handset to hold. No bar-of-soap moments as you move your thumb to an awkward button.
Available in four colours - Carbon Grey (our favourite), Glacier Silver, Topaz Gold and Camellia Red - we hope you don't pick your handset based on how it matches your shoes, but rest assured there's bound to be one version that sits well with your current wardrobe selection.
The numbers are very impressive
If you select your phone based on the grunt of its processor, RAM and camera, here's everything you need to know:
Screen: 5.2 inch, Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels, 564 pixels per inch) Super LCD 5
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. Quad-core, 64-bit, up to 2.2Ghz
Storage: 32GB or 64GB, microSD expansion supports additional memory cards up to 2TB with Flex Storage
Back camera: 12MP HTC UltraPixel
Audio: Hi-Res Audio, with hi-res audio headphones included
An incredible camera
This is the feature that HTC will be pushing hardest, like a bragging mum at a sports day event - and rightly so. The HTC 10 has a much better camera than what's currently in your pocket - even an iPhone 6S.
The first smartphone to feature an in-built optically stabilized larger aperture f/1.8 lenses, 12 million ultra pixels and a bloody quick laser autofocus - this camera can capture a decent image in 0.6 seconds of launching.
Trust us, it's impressive.
It's 'properly' customisable
Android users have always enjoyed more customisation than the average smartphone OS, but HTC is pushing things even further with a feature they're calling 'Freestyle Layout'.
Gone is the grid layout, allowing you to attach app functions to 'stickers' rather than normal icons. You can either customise your own screen layout, or pick from several thousand 'Themes'.
A 'proper' case
Previous iterations of the HTC One employed a neat 'dot' case - a screen-protecting flip-cover that still allowed you to view your notifications without having to open things up.
The HTC 10 has switched things up a gear with Ice View - a semi-transparent case that allows you to answer calls or take photos without having to open it up. Neat, smart and bloody useful.
When can you get it?
There's no exact release date yet, but it should later this month for around £569.
