Google-ized HTC One Gains, Loses in Translation: Rich Jaroslovsky

The HTC Corp. HTC J One HTL22 smartphone with Android Jelly Bean, is displayed during the unveiling event in Tokyo, Japan, on May 20, 2013. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Rich Jaroslovsky

July 19, 2013 at 5:06 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

I like the pure-Android interface Google puts on its Nexus and Google Play Edition smartphones. And I like the HTC One, which is arguably the best of the current crop of Android devices.

By rights, then, I should be delighted with the new Google Play Edition HTC One. But I'm just mild about it. While the Google-ized One has a lot to praise, it also loses something in the translation, particularly in its camera functions.