Heads up, folks! You can now order “developer” and “unlocked” versions of the HTC One M8. Both run $649. You can get the SIM-unlocked model in gunmetal gray (the sweet brushed finish), silver or gold. The developer version comes in gray or gold. Overnight shipping is currently free, but they won’t actually ship for a week or two.
Why would want either of these models? For one, they lack the carrier bloatware that you’ll get from Sprint or AT&T or Verizon or T-Mobile. That’s good if you like things lean. The developer version makes it easy to unlock the bootloader. And the SIM-unlocked model is, well, SIM-unlocked, making it easier to work on multiple networks.
And speaking of networks, HTC has confirmed to us that the developer and unlocked versions are based off the AT&T SKU, meaning the bands line up in the following manner:
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- 3G WCDMA: 850/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 21 Mbps
- 4G LTE: 700/850/AWS/1800/1900/2600 MHz
For more, be sure to check out our complete HTC One M8 review!