As of yesterday, I now have a shiny new HTC One M8 to play with thanks to HTC’s PR department. They were kind enough to send one over for evaluation and with it came their new HTC Dot View Case made specifically for this device. At first glance, the Dot View Case just looks like your standard hard shell case with a cover on it that flaps over the screen. However, once you start using it, you’ll soon discover that it does a lot more than just protect.

First, I’ll just start with the build of the case. It’s basically a polycarbonate hard shell case that snaps on to the HTC One M8. It covers the entire rear of the device with openings for the dual cameras and flash. The top, bottom, and one side is exposed to allow access to all the ports and buttons but there is still corner protection built in.

Attached to the hard shell is a rigid, rubbery cover flap with a bunch of holes in it. The holes don’t go all the way through as it seems like there is just the thinnest layer of rubber left behind. This is probably to keep dirt and dust from going all the way through to where the screen is. There is also a cutout on the cover for the front facing camera and what I’m assuming is the light/proximity sensor. Towards the middle of the cover, on the left is a solid area with the HTC logo on it. This appears to be where the magnet is placed so that the cover can function with the HTC One M8 which I’ll talk about now.

What makes the HTC Dot View Case different from most cover cases is that this one is actually a smart cover. I would say it’s a bit similar to Samsung’s own S-View cover but does it in a completely different manner. If you check out the video below from HTC, you’ll see just exactly what the Dot View Case can do.

After using it for about a day, I can tell you that it is pretty neat. There are a few things you should be aware of though. The notifications as shown in the video only seem to work with certain apps, mainly the built in weather, calendar, email, phone, messages, and voice mail apps. Third party apps won’t show notifications. Another slight annoyance with the Dot View Case is that it doesn’t seem to fold all the way back. This makes it a bit awkward to use at times. You also have to keep the cover hanging off to the side or bottom if you want to take photos.

Aside from the minor annoyances, it’s a neat case when closed. Being able to double tap on the cover to quickly check on the time and weather is interesting as well as being able to answer or decline phone calls with a simple swipe on the cover itself. I also think it’s interesting how you can talk on your phone while the cover is in place.

Overall, the HTC Dot View Case is an interesting case for those who want something different and functional. The case itself is certainly a talking point when you show it to people and they seem genuinely amazed by it when they see it. It does offer pretty decent protection for both the body and screen though the main downside I see to it is that it makes using the HTC One M8 a tad bit more difficult to use because now you have a flappy cover that sometimes gets in the way. It’s also costs around $50 which might be a bit pricey for some. However, despite some minor issues, I really like this case. I like what it does and I like how it functions.