Exclusive Hands On : HTC One M9

HTC’s latest flagship has arrived and it might just live up to expectations. HTC has made a more mature incremental upgrade to an already promising product. The new HTC One M9 highlights everything that was good about the M8 and M7 and fixes what was horribly bad about them.

Big major fixes include a bumped up camera, a 20 MP shooter with a sapphire lens cover. The camera now not only looks good, but also shoots 4k video. However we are majorly missing the OIS found in the Korean rival’s handset.

Last year’s main camera the Ultrapixel snapped, is now the front facing camera, improving low light selfies and it looks really good. The camera adds a lot of details and  pictures are actually very visible in low light. HTC claims that the camera sees more light than the human eye, our tests confirm that.

The M9 is powered by an all new Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, a 64 bit SOC, with an Octa core 2.0 GHz CPU and Adreno 430 GPU. 3GB of RAM and 32 GB storage makes the memory part complete, but, you do get a 128 GB card support and 115 GB of Google Drive.

The two tone color of the Silver One M9 looks fantastic and will be an instant hit, with anyone who appreciates quality handsets. However the new Samsung Galaxy S6 looks too fancy to ignore. HTC has found inspiration from luxury watches, and the minute  we look at the M9 we see Hublot.

Everything runs on a highly optimized 2800 mAh battery, bundled with Android Lollipop 5.0.2 out of the box and HTC’s new Sense 7 promises a major improvement in the battery life, and out of experience there is a big difference. The quick charge also improves the charge times and you will be on the go in just a few.

HTC has included a new flurry of covers, none of which come with the device. The new rugged cover will make the device IP 67 and it honestly feels great on the phone and does not add much bulk. The DOT case has been improved quite a lot, adding more functionality. Including Dot-breaker (a cool game) and custom wallpapers that you can sketch, see below.

5 upcoming Android phones that are worth waiting for:

Samsung Galaxy S6

Samsung didn’t see the kind of response it wanted from the Galaxy S5. In fact, some reports claim its sales were 40% below expectations. The Korean company knows it needs to win back the fickle consumer, and that should make for a very interesting Galaxy S6 announcement at MWC 2015 in a few weeks.

There have been a few leaks of supposed specs for this device, but the most plausible relate to a Samsung device with the model number SM-G925F. According to benchmarks for this device, the Galaxy S6 will have Android 5.0, a 2560×1440 AMOLED screen (possibly 5.1-inches again), a 64-bit octa-core Exynos ARM chip, 3GB of RAM, 20MP camera, and 32GB of storage. There has been speculation that the Exynos will stand in for the Snapdragon 810, which would usually be used in the US.

Samsung is rumored to be stripping out a number of its own Samsung apps and services to slim down the TouchWiz Android ROM is uses on the Galaxy S6. Instead of some junk you’ll never use, the Galaxy S6 will ship with some included Microsoft apps that you actually might use. I suppose that’s still bloatware of a sort, but at least it’s useful bloat.

The true test of Samsung’s resolve will come in the build quality, which was one of the knocks on the Galaxy S5. It’s not that it was a fragile phone, but the fully plastic frame didn’t feel very premium. The Galaxy Alpha and Note 4 have provided a hint of where Samsung is going, but it needs to get there fast. The speculative render above comes from designer Martin Hajek.

HTC One M9:

A lot of details on the upcoming HTC One refresh have percolated to the surface in recent weeks, including a believable render of the device in two different flavors. There will be a device of around 5-5.2-inches that is the replacement for the HTC One M8, and a larger device that will either be One branded or could be grouped into the Desire family. The smaller one is what everyone will be clamoring for, so let’s see what we know.

The M9 will be recognizable as an HTC phone, but it looks to be more of a hybrid of the M7 and M8 approach to unibody metal design. The device will lose some of the extra bezel that made the M98 so tall and the edges are a little more angular. On the back will allegedly be a single 20MP camera instead of a Duo Camera setup, which never really caught on anyway.

HTC will probably be sticking with a 1080p LCD instead of going to 1440p. The reason for this is simply that LCD technology is still struggling with the problem of brightness vs. power usage at higher than 1080p resolution on phones. The M9 should, however, get awesome battery life thanks to the continuing use of 1080p. Internally, the M9 has been rumored to pack an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. HTC has only recently returned to profitability, so this is a crucial phone.

LG G4:

LG has been on a roll the last few years after being a mediocre Android OEM. The 2014 G3 flagship was a fantastic phone that started the trend of putting 1440p screens on phones. LG also managed to make a phone out of plastic with a removable back that doesn’t feel cheap. That certainly puts them one step ahead of Samsung in the design department. In a few months, LG is expected to unveil the G4, but it won’t be going up against the Galaxy S6 directly.

In order to make the biggest impact possible, LG probably won’t announce the G4 until April. The rumors on specs are still quite sketchy, but it’s a safe bet that LG will stick with the rear-mounted buttons and laser auto-focus camera. Both those features worked well in the G3. The screen might be slimmed down from 5.5 to 5.3-inches, but there’s also a rumor that the screen resolution is going up to 2880 x 1620 resolution. That sounds crazy to me and I’d be surprised if it happened.

Inside we’ll probably be treated to 3GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 810, just like the newly released G Flex 2. Everything else is anyone’s guess.

Google Project Ara:

Yes, Project Ara seemed like an elaborate joke when it was first announced. Was it April 1st? No? Huh. The Ara modular phone was inherited by Google when it took over Motorola’s ATAP group before selling the rest of the company off to Lenovo, and it’s not hard to see why it held onto this division. Ara is one of those moonshot things Google loves so much, but Google has been talking about Ara becoming a real product in early 2015.I don’t know about that, but it’s almost certainly making an appearance at Google I/O 2015 in May.

The core of Ara will have a screen attached to a frame which accommodates a variety of hardware modules for RAM, storage, batteries, cameras, and more. Even wacky niche stuff like projectors could be attached. You will be able to build the phone you want, and upgrade it as new modules come out. To make this work, Google is developing a special branch of Android 5.0 that will support hot-swapping most of these components.

Project Ara will come in several sizes, including small form factors that could cost as little as $15 (before modules). This could be the next big thing.

OnePlus Two:

The CyanogenMod-powered OnePlus One was a good phone. It had solid hardware and excellent software without all the carrier and OEM bloat. It’s still not easy to buy one, but OnePlus is working on a new version that will (hopefully) not be in such short supply. OnePlus reps have said the sequel is happening, and it’s currently targeted for Q2-Q3 next year. That’s about a year after the first one came out, so no surprise there.

The CyanogenMod deal is probably coming to an end after a nasty fallout in India, but OnePlus is building its own ROM called OxygenOS. This ROM will be based on stock Android 5.0, but it’s not going to be a community project like CyanogenMod (Cyanogen OS when it comes from Cyanogen Inc.) OnePlus’ ROM team has indicated this will be a closed operation more akin to Samsung’s TouchWiz or HTC Sense. This will either be the salvation of OnePlus or the beginning of the end.

The OnePlus Two (or whatever they call it, and I hope not that) will probably keep a similar body configuration and bump the specs slightly. It’s likely going to include a Snapdragon 810, 3-4GB of RAM, and a 5.5-inch screen. Sources are split on whether OnePlus will stick with 1080p or move to 1440p. I’d bet on the latter. One thing we can say, OnePlus will probably continue pushing low prices.

Lets Start the Countdown-

Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the world UK, USA and India-

10. Motorola Moto G

Quick verdict

9. HTC One

Quick Verdict

8. iPhone 5S

Quick verdict

7. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact

Hey Sony...what's this? A phone without a 1080p screen? A smaller battery? Are you MAD?
Wait, we get it. This is the mildly-nonplussing Xperia Z1 shoved into a smaller frame, with almost nothing compromised (the above two points aside).
With a 4.3-inch screen it's one of the most easy to use devices in the hand, coming in next to the iPhone 5S, but it does it with a much lower cost and a great battery life to boot.
On top of that it's waterproof and has expandable memory, plus a superb screen. It's been usurped in some ways by the Xperia Z2 insofar that if you want that Bravia-powered IPS screen, the G Lens camera or just general access to Sony's tight band of media apps, this is no longer the best Sony phone on the market and has dropped a few places as a result.
However, if you're more about size then this is still the best of the mid-range players... check it out if you want to save a bit of cash over the bigger brother flagship too.

Quick verdict

Want a great phone that's just a little bit smaller without losing all the power? If so, then we've found your ideal device. Strong CPU, great battery and expandable memory are traits we love to see.
It's not got the same screen sharpness as some of the others on show here, and the camera can oddly throw in a little noise here and there, but these are minor gripes indeed.
It's been launched with a palatable price tag as well - so head on down to your local emporium and throw it in some water. Because it's waterproof too, not because you're a vandal.

• Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review
• See the best Sony Xperia Z1 Compact deals

6. Google Nexus 5

So we've updated our review with the new phone software, and thankfully things are a lot better now. The battery is improved, the camera a little more stable, and the low cost is still in place.
You already know we like Android 4.4, the clever implementation and the £299 price tag. We love the high power CPU, the quality screen; even the rubberised outer shell.
You can get the LG G2 for around the same price now though, and that offers a far superior camera, better battery life and a huge slew of extra features - it really depends if you're a fan of the stripped-down experience.

Quick verdict

We're glad to put this smartphone higher up in the rankings, as it's one of the cheapest out there in terms of bang for buck.
It's a great phone that hits the marks well - it lacks something in terms of innovation, but that's not a problem for those that want to be able to run all manner of apps and games at a decent price. It doesn't come in at the same price point as previous Nexii, but it's still jolly cheap.

• Google Nexus 5 review
• See the best Nexus 5 deals

5. LG G2

Wait, an LG phone in the top rankings? Believe it people; LG has made a phone that not only impressed us but ran the HTC One very, very close for the top spot in 2013 - and holds a strong place into 2014 too.
We don't know where to start in terms of extolling the virtues of this new handset from the South Korean firm: it's got an insanely good screen, quality camera, the best audio pumping out from its speakers and headphone jack... the list goes on.
We even came to tolerate, then love, the power and volume buttons being placed on the rear. These aren't ideal, but the ability to knock on the screen makes it really easy to interact with this impressive device.
The LG G3 is here now, and is going to blow this out of the water in terms of price and power (it's even got a next-gen QHD screen) but given the lower cost the G2 is still an excellent choice.

Verdict

There's so much on offer here that we can't help but recommend it to anyone looking for a cheaper smartphone powerhouse.
The only things that we dislike are the cluttered UI (pull down the notifications bar and you'll see why) and the plastic casing, which drops the premium feel of the phone a lot, especially compared to the handset that sits one place above.
But launching at £400 on PAYG (and even cheaper with a few third party retailers), along with comparable contracts older phones, is a really nice touch from LG, and we reckon it's going to pay dividends.

• LG G2 review
• See the best LG G2 deals

4. Samsung Galaxy S5

2014 is turning out to be a stellar year for the prospective smartphone user, as the HTC One (M8) was joined by the Samsung Galaxy S5 in our 'best smartphone' list, and now the Xperia Z2 enters the fray too.
There was a lot of hype around the new Galaxy, and rightly s it's by far the best phone Samsung has ever produced, with a blazing fast core, a strong result in the benchmarks and a larger 5.1-inch screen.
Then there's the fact that with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU the Galaxy S5 is one of the best phones on the market when it comes to battery life, besting the already impressive One M8 in the power stakes.
Samsung has also dropped the 'innovation' of the air gestures from last year (well, they are in there but not the main focus) and improved the hardware with a better camera, fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor too.
The last addition is pretty pointless... but hey, it's fun for down the pub.

Quick verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a good phone, apart from the design. It's something that needs to be updated sorely, and while it doesn't have to be an all-metal shell, it needs to evolve.
The next generation of smartphones is a cut above last year's models - that said, the LG G2 still impresses even with a few miles on the clock - and if you're looking for a new phone, you should check out one of the top four first.
The S5 has a clear UI, powerful innards and is also waterproof... the rivals might edge it slightly overall, but it's very, very tight at the top and whichever handset you end up with won't disappoint.

• Samsung Galaxy S5 review
• See the best Samsung Galaxy S5 deals

3. OnePlus One

You've probably never heard of OnePlus... but if you have, you'll know why this unknown brand is suddenly sitting at number three of our list of best smartphones in the world.
The reason is simple: it's a phone that has all the power, specs and functionality of the top dogs, adds in super-customisable software and does it at nearly half the price. We're talking big savings on cost (£229 for the 16GB version and £269 for the 64GB variant) without much in the way of compromise.
In fact, the only things it's really missing are a microSD slot and removable battery, and those are elements more for the purists that absolutely necessary.
If we're being super picky, it's not got the greatest camera set up and the design is a bit... efficient, but at this price point it really doesn't matter. And given the target audience is those that care about raw power over style, it makes sense that this is where the costs could be saved.

Quick verdict

We love the fact that a new contender can come in at number three in the ranking of the best phones in the world - it means that it's not just a case of 'big budget means best phone'.
We were debating whether the OnePlus could even have gone higher, but there's one big problem that you'll have if you want to get your hands on one: they're pretty scarce. Numbers won't ramp up for a while, and probably never to the level of availability of the better-known names.
But if you want a phone that offers supreme power at a really low cost: the OnePlus One is it. It's what the Nexus range used to be, and if Google ditches that program, then thankfully the likes of OnePlus have shown there will be brands to pick up the slack.

• OnePlus One review

2. Sony Xperia Z2

Sony has something of a slump last year, following up the impressive Xperia Z with the lacklustre Xperia Z1 just a few months later.
The camera, which was supposed to be the headline feature, didn't impress as much as we'd hoped, and the screen was still lacking the IPS clout that the Xperia Z Ultra managed - meaning muted colours and poor viewing angles.
Anyway, enough about last year - Sony's back in 2014 and comes with an excellent phone in the shape of the Xperia Z2. Tipped to be the third of the stellar smartphone triumverate, alongside the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One (M8) we were intrigued to see how it shaped up.
And the good news is it's impressive. Really impressive. The industrial design is a little chunky but oozes premium quality in a way that Samsung's plastic shell doesn't, and it's a little more robust than its Galactical and Primary rivals thanks to being IP58 rated.
Great battery life, strong power and a good camera all are present and correct with our new top three phones, but Sony steals second simply by being a great all-rounder.
It doesn't have the polish of the HTC One M8, nor the more functional UI, but it does what's asked with top-end specs. That's what we like.

Quick verdict

What did Sony need to do to impress? Not a lot, but that screen and camera needed a fix as well as adding in some other features.
Front facing speakers, a new screen with better colour reproduction, 4K video recording and inbuilt noise cancellation all make a great device that should be right on your possible upgrade list.
Make sure you check it out in-store before purchase, as some won't like the larger build, but for a good all-round experience the Xperia Z2 excels.

• Sony Xperia Z2 review
• See the best Xperia Z2 deals

1. HTC One M8

Quick Verdict

That's all Folks!!!