Mobile Technology

HTC 10 vs. iPhone 6s

HTC 10 vs. iPhone 6s
HTC has thrown everything it's got into making the HTC 10, but how does it hold up against Apple's flagship?
HTC has thrown everything it's got into making the HTC 10, but how does it hold up against Apple's flagship?
View 25 Images
HTC has thrown everything it's got into making the HTC 10, but how does it hold up against Apple's flagship?
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HTC has thrown everything it's got into making the HTC 10, but how does it hold up against Apple's flagship?
Size
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Size
Build
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Build
Colors
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Colors
Display size
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Display size
Display resolution
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Display resolution
Display type
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Display type
Pressure-sensitive display
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Pressure-sensitive display
Processor
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Processor
RAM
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RAM
Storage
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Storage
MicroSD
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MicroSD
Camera megapixels
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Camera megapixels
Camera aperture (rear)
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Camera aperture (rear)
Camera pixel size (rear)
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Camera pixel size (rear)
OIS
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OIS
Laser focus
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Laser focus
Battery
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Battery
Quick charging
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Quick charging
Fingerprint sensor
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Fingerprint sensor
Charging/data port
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Charging/data port
Software
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Software
Release
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Release
Starting price (full retail)
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Starting price (full retail)
Weight
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Weight
View gallery - 25 images

From what we've seen of the HTC 10, this is a phone capable of getting Apple and Samsung looking worriedly over their shoulders, in terms of specs, design, features and overall experience. Here's everything that makes the HTC 10 such a seriously good flagship, compared with Apple's most recent 4.7-inch iPhone.

Size

Size
Size

The iPhone 6s is a few millimeters smaller than the HTC 10 and 21 percent thinner. HTC has managed to shave off 0.6 mm from the thickness of last year's HTC One M9, however, and it is rocking a larger screen than Apple's phone (more on that in a minute).

Weight

Weight
Weight

The iPhone wins in the lightness stakes too, coming in 21 percent lighter than the HTC flagship. The latter phone still feels well-built and premium in the hand though, and does have a bigger display and battery to carry.

Build

Build
Build

Both HTC and Apple have stuck with aluminum as the chassis material for several successive models now, and there are no big surprises with the latest flagships.

The HTC 10 does have a revamped front, though, ditching the front-facing speakers from the last three models. This clears the way for a fingerprint sensor flanked by two capacitive buttons (similar to Samsung's flagships).

Colors

Colors
Colors

We have four choices each, though it appears that in the US the HTC 10 will only be available in gray and silver for the time being.

Display size

Display size
Display size

The HTC 10 has ditched the front speakers and replaced them with a recessed/capacitive home (fingerprint sensor) button, and as a result the forehead and chin bezels have shrunk down. And those capacitive buttons mean the HTC 10 now makes full use of its screen real estate, no longer using up space on virtual navigation keys.

The iPhone 6s display is a full 18 percent smaller, though in terms of chassis size it's only 5 percent shorter and 7 percent narrower.

Display resolution

Display resolution
Display resolution

This year HTC finally makes the jump to QHD but Apple has shown little interest in keeping up with the pixel density race happening between Android handsets. Even at a lower resolution the iPhone screens can hold their own (things like color accuracy, brightness and viewing angles are stellar on the iPhone), but they're lagging behind in terms of pure pixel count.

Display type

Display type
Display type

We have IPS LCDs across the board here, with both manufacturers continuing to shun AMOLED in favor of the alternative technology.

Pressure-sensitive display

Pressure-sensitive display
Pressure-sensitive display

Android doesn't have anything to compete with 3D Touch at the moment, but maybe Apple isn't even fully sold on it yet, as it's missing from the iPhone SE and the latest iPads.

Processor

Processor
Processor

Apple's mobile chips often seem inferior on paper but thanks to their internal hardware and software optimizations, the iPhones usually end up matching the Android flagships for speed. With that said, the Snapdragon 820 – found in most 2016 Google-powered handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the LG G5 – is blazing fast.

RAM

RAM
RAM

Another win for HTC, but again be wary of assuming the HTC 10 trounces the iPhone 6s as much as the raw specs might suggest. More RAM is definitely preferable, but Apple typically bridges the gap with the quality of its all-around engineering and iOS' memory management.

Storage

Storage
Storage

More options for iPhone owners, especially considering the 64 GB HTC 10 is unlikely to ever be available in the US, but the Android handset a) starts at a higher tier and b) has an ace up its sleeve...

MicroSD

MicroSD
MicroSD

External memory cards are supported by the HTC 10 (up to 2 TB in size) as is Android Marshmallow's Adoptable Storage that treats microSD cards as internal memory. Perhaps our biggest gripe with the iPhone 6s is that in 2016 Apple continues to sell the 16 GB configuration without any option to expand it.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels
Camera megapixels

On pure pixel counts, these two are neck-and-neck, though HTC has brought back its Ultrapixel tech where bigger pixels are used to let in more light (see below). Based on our early impressions, the HTC 10 has a camera that's capable of beating the excellent snapper on the iPhone 6s and matching the one in the previously leading Galaxy S7.

Camera aperture (rear)

Camera aperture (rear)
Camera aperture (rear)

Aperture is only one factor in a camera's quality, but it's an important one, and the HTC 10 has a significant advantage in this department.

Camera pixel size (rear)

Camera pixel size (rear)
Camera pixel size (rear)

The bigger pixel size on the HTC 10 means more light can be captured (at least in theory), and that should lead to better photos, particularly in low light.

OIS

OIS
OIS

HTC has added Optical Image Stabilization to the back and – in a first – front cameras (to improve your selfies) but it's missing all-around from the iPhone 6s. If you want IOS on an iPhone you need the iPhone 6 Plus or the iPhone 6s Plus.

Laser focus

Laser focus
Laser focus

Another improvement HTC has made to the camera in its 2016 flagship is laser-based autofocus, which should lead to faster shots.

Battery

Battery
Battery

We'll have to wait for our full HTC 10 review to put the battery through its paces, but it's impressive on paper and matches the capacity of the one inside the Galaxy S7.

Quick charging

Quick charging
Quick charging

Like most Android flagships, the HTC 10 features fast charging technology, in this case the latest Quick Charge 3.0 standard from Qualcomm. As yet the iPhone doesn't offer anything similar.

Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensor
Fingerprint sensor

Following on from the A9 mid-ranger, HTC brings fingerprint sensor technology to its flagship line at last. Of course Apple has included Touch ID on its handsets since the iPhone 5s appeared in 2013.

Charging/data port

Charging/data port
Charging/data port

The HTC 10 adopts the newest USB-C standard while Apple sticks with its familiar Lightning connector and port. Both are reversible, so you don't have to fumble around, trying to find the right direction.

Software

Software
Software

Android Marshmallow is on board the HTC 10, and HTC has cut down on the bloatware and the extra bells and whistles in its Sense UI so it's almost like using a Nexus. As for the iPhone 6s, it has the latest iOS 9 software.

Release

Release
Release

The HTC 10 pre-orders are open now with shipping expected in May. The iPhone 6s launched last September, and it's worth factoring in the eight-month gap, because the iPhone 7 (assuming that's what it's called) will provide the HTC flagship with some fresh competition later this year.

Starting price (full retail)

Starting price (full retail)
Starting price (full retail)

You will pay slightly more for the entry-level HTC handset, although remember you do get double the internal storage – plus expandable storage – for that price.

After even more detail on these two powerhouses? We've got a hands-on look at the HTC 10 (full review coming soon) and a detailed review of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

View gallery - 25 images
5 comments
5 comments
SkipJames
I would love to go with HTC. But after two years with Android I had to go back. My phone turned into a bloated, often frozen piece of junk with terrible battery life. There's something wrong with process management in Android and I'm not sure what it is. But iOS is much more solid, especially from a security and update perspective.
I wanted to believe. But I'm back on iPhone now.
Knut
Keep up the good work Gizmag - the mobile technology is based on standards and head on competition. Apple has to change and learn this quickly or will fail badly with huge consequences. If you cannot win a fair fight, you can always try cheating ("marketing"). Your work is to disclose the unfair fighting as rumours and hearsay, three letter acronyms set out with no other purpose than to give us a wrong impression of technology.
TrentLarson
Apple's IP6s has a terrible screen to body ratio at only 65%. HTC is at 71%, But there are phones that go as high as 78 percent. IMO, Apple stresses too much emphasis on thinness. Ergonomically, I feel a bit thicker body is easier to hold. What makes a phone more portable to hold and carry is a decent screen/body ratio and in this the IP comes in dead last. The new SE being terrible at only 60 percent screen/body. The Note 5 is about the same size as a 6s plus but has a bigger screen. My LG G4 has the same size 5.5" screen as the 6s plus but is noticeably smaller since it has a 72.5% screen to body ratio over the plus's 67 percent which is Iphone's best screen/body ratio device which is not saying much. Jonathan Ive's obsession with thickness produces less functional devices. Just look at the Mac Book. They made it so thin they could not put any cooling system on it and had to use a shitty core M processor. Plus only one USB C port. And for a stupid amount of money at that. Off topic but HP will introduce an even thinner notebook with full i7 processor and 3 USB C ports. So they were able to innovate cooling into a thin chassis and still offer ports. Apple has outdated designs to say the least.
MarkHeuchert
After using android phones from HTC and others, and also using the five and then six from Apple, I have to say the overall sophistication of Apple software is unbeatable. Even in this comparison, they mentioned several times that Apple overcomes hardware issues in terms of speed through better software. How the phone works with the computers and tablets and now cars is also unbeatable. It's more simple, it crashes Less, and is easier to use. The apps also work easier and crash less on the iOS platform.
GreggRice
Lol @ SkipJames and MarkHuechert comments...anyways, if u want quality, ingenuity, cutting edge tech that gives u the option to turn (root) ur phone into the most customizeable capable electronic device on earth, go android. I like the G5, S7(though the body and feel are too similar to the s6) or go with THIS HTC 10.....IF U like to keep up with the Kardashians, PRETEND like u have better security features in any manner, like limited memory, fewer options, paying for everything, and have the knowledge to jail break ur phone only to LIMIT battery life and run the possibilty of voiding ur warranty, go apple. Dont get me wrong, the iphone is a good phone, if ur older and/or not phone literate with a tiny desire to be even on a basic level, and just want a phone as a phone with good camera capabilty and listen to music with no hastle, iphone is it. The crashing is somewhat true granted, but not like how these gentlemen described it, they clearly haven't operated an android and read there pro iphone propaganda pamphlets all too scripted, get an android. The iphone is barely worth a few glances, and IS STILL the champ for the least durable phone. Drop it once, from about 4-5 feet, uh OH! lol my sisters got the 6s plus, a minor fender bender at DEADLY speeds of 15mph, IN AN OTTER BOX, lol phone has two screen chips and a crack that runs thru it about AN INCH long at a 45 degree angle in the lower left corner.....iphones are a garbage inferior product that are made popular by HOLLYWOOD for their simplicity and folklorish, old wives tales type fiction. U want security? Get a brick or a flip. Other than that, go android, cheaper repair costs too.