Mobile Technology

HTC One M9 vs. iPhone 6

HTC One M9 vs. iPhone 6
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the HTC One M9 (left) and Apple iPhone 6
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the HTC One M9 (left) and Apple iPhone 6
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Build
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Build
Camera aperture
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Camera aperture
Colors
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Colors
Processor
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Processor
Display (resolution)
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Display (resolution)
Dual LED flash
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Dual LED flash
Extreme Power Saving Mode
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Extreme Power Saving Mode
Fast charging
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Fast charging
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the HTC One M9 (left) and Apple iPhone 6
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Gizmag compares the features and specs of the HTC One M9 (left) and Apple iPhone 6
Infrared
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Infrared
MicroSD
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MicroSD
Navigation buttons location
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Navigation buttons location
Removable battery
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Removable battery
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Software
Storage
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Storage
Camera megapixels (front)
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Camera megapixels (front)
Camera megapixels (rear)
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Camera megapixels (rear)
Dimensions
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Dimensions
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Display (size)
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Display (type)
Fingerprint sensor
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Fingerprint sensor
Starting price (full retail)
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Starting price (full retail)
Starting price (on-contract)
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Starting price (on-contract)
RAM
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RAM
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Release
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Weight
Battery
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Battery
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Is the HTC One M9 one of the biggest disappointments in mobile, or does its experience transcend its less than cutting-edge specs? We'll have to wait for our review to answer that, but in the meantime we can compare its features and specs to those of one of the best smartphones you can buy, the iPhone 6.

Size

Dimensions
Dimensions

The HTC One M9 is about 5 percent taller and 4.5 percent wider than the iPhone 6.

The One M9 is much beefier, with the iPhone measuring 28 percent thinner. That comes off a bit more exaggerated than it is, though, because the One has a rounded back (this measurement only counts its thickest point) vs. the iPhone's almost completely uniform backside.

Weight

Weight
Weight

See what we mean about the One M9's specs not exactly setting the world on fire? It's 22 percent heavier than the iPhone. In fairness the One M9 is a bigger handset, but there's no mistaking the fact that it has the worse size-to-weight ratio.

Build

Build
Build

Both phones get an A+ in this class, sporting different – but equally stunning – aluminum unibody builds.

The only asterisk to add here is that, while Apple comes up with beautiful new exteriors every two years, HTC has been iterating on the same basic design for three generations now.

Colors

Colors
Colors

These are the color options that HTC and Apple lets you choose from.

Display (size)

Display (size)
Display (size)

The iPhone 6's 4.7-in display is about 88 percent as big as the HTC One M9's 5-incher.

Navigation buttons

Navigation buttons location
Navigation buttons location

But in many places, your available area on the M9 is going to be close to the same as it is on the iPhone. That's because HTC's phone has persistent navigation keys that live on the bottom row of its screen (the iPhone doesn't have these).

The exception is Android's Immersive Mode (often seen in video, photo or e-reading apps), where the M9 will fade out those nav keys, letting you use its full 5 inches.

Display (resolution)

Display (resolution)
Display (resolution)

Neither phone has mind-blowing resolution by today's standards (Quad HD is the new high-end in phone displays), but the One M9's 1080p display is about 35 percent sharper than the iPhone's.

Display (type)

Display (type)
Display (type)

No AMOLED here, as both handsets use IPS panels.

Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensor
Fingerprint sensor

The iPhone 6's Touch ID may get some competition from the new touch-based sensors in the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, but HTC didn't put any biometric sensors in the M9.

Camera megapixels (rear)

Camera megapixels (rear)
Camera megapixels (rear)

As is always the case when talking about megapixels, you'll want to take this with a few grains of salt: the iPhone 6's camera is still one of the best in the (smartphone) business.

Camera megapixels (front)

Camera megapixels (front)
Camera megapixels (front)

The 4 MP front sensor in the M9, though, will certainly snap some higher-res selfies than the iPhone will.

Camera aperture

Camera aperture
Camera aperture

Both phones' rear cameras have ƒ/2.2 aperture.

Dual LED flash

Dual LED flash
Dual LED flash

The HTC One M9 and iPhone 6 both have dual LED flashes on their backsides, making your flash shots look ... well, a bit less like flash shots (not as whitewashed and more evenly lit).

Battery

Battery
Battery

We throw these battery specs up here for information purposes, but this means little until we put the M9 through a battery test. The iPhone's battery life is solid enough, but off the pace of phones like the Galaxy Note 4.

Fast charging

Fast charging
Fast charging

Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 is back in the One lineup for a second straight year, letting you quickly get your battery back to a respectable state when it's almost dead.

Extreme Power Saving Mode

Extreme Power Saving Mode
Extreme Power Saving Mode

… and if you're almost out of juice without a charger in sight, HTC's Extreme Power Saving Mode is back too, temporarily turning your handset into a glorified feature phone so you can stay on the grid.

Removable battery

Removable battery
Removable battery

As you might expect from two unibody phones, both batteries are sealed shut.

Storage

Storage
Storage

HTC simplified its pricing model this year, only offering one storage tier for the One M9.

MicroSD

MicroSD
MicroSD

That's complemented, though, by the One M9's microSD slot – something no iPhone has ever had.

Processor

Processor
Processor

The Snapdragon 810 in the One M9 should be quite the beast, but don't underestimate Apple's A8 chip in the iPhone – it far outperforms what this visual might suggest.

RAM

RAM
RAM

The One M9 does, however, triple the RAM count in the latest iPhones.

Infrared

Infrared
Infrared

This feature never gets much attention, but the M9 does have an infrared blaster, letting you use your phone as a remote control for your TV.

Software

Software
Software

We're looking at Android 5.0 Lollipop with HTC's Sense UI on top (one of our favorite Android OEM skins), next to iOS 8.

Release

Release
Release

HTC still hasn't announced US release info, but the One M9 will start rolling out in Taiwan this month. The iPhone has been around for almost six months already.

Starting price (full retail)

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

Also no word on pricing for the One M9. For what it's worth, the last two HTC One flagships cost the same as the iPhone.

Starting price (on-contract)

Starting price (on-contract)
Starting price (on-contract)

The last two Ones also rang up for $200 on-contract. It will be interesting to see if HTC sticks with that, or tries to make its handset stand out by dropping that down a little bit.

For more, you can check out Gizmag's HTC One M9 review and our iPhone 6 review from last September.

View gallery - 27 images
4 comments
4 comments
leroyb
"Is the HTC One M9 one of the biggest disappointments in mobile, or does its experience transcend its less than cutting-edge specs?" Starting the article with this statement... Did you actually read the article you wrote? The HTC has better specs on almost all of the points mentioned in this article. The iPhone practically only wins in terms of thickness and weight, but that isn't strange for a phone with a battery that is substantially smaller
Michael LaPray
This article is clearly the furthest thing from an unbiased review. The M8 was already a better phone in every category, with the exception of the camera. The M9 is far superior in every aspect. If you are died-in -the-wool iPhone user who can't face the reality that Apple cannot release iPhones nearly fast enough to keep up with the HTCs and Samsungs, then you might enjoy this. If you want an honest comparison, look elsewhere.
Tim Turner
Nice comparison, although a somewhat biased title... I much prefer the HTC. I don't need to be a status symbol, I want the better of the two.
sweetlemon
A lot of where the iphone "wins" is totally subjective. Some people prefer the larger screen and heavier weight of the HTC, like me. Phone weight seems like such an irrelevant feature these days, but I guess some want the lightest ever? I don't know, but I like having sturdiness and weight to my phone.
Also, the iPhone has looked the same for the past 6 years. HTC one m7 was only released TWO years ago, and they tweaked the design as not to ruin a great phone. How is that negative at all...?
And less than cutting-edge specs? Really? 20MP camera (I agree, not necessarily a bonus if used wrong, but pretty cutting edge for a smart phone regardless), a brand new processor, a high capacity battery, brand new lollipop with sense 7 (sorry but iOS has hardly changed in the last 9 years), 3 GB RAM, fabulous front facing camera...
And the only place that mentions the navigation buttons is when contrasting them to the screen size? What about the fact that iPhone STILL only has one home button? Some people may prefer that but I certainly don't and I think HTC (whose navigation buttons are customizable btw) or any android deserve props for expanding this.
Anyway, this article could have been a million times better.