Spec for spec: iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus take on HTC’s finest Androids
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac.
Many have called the HTC One M8 the best smartphone of 2014. It has pretty much everything you could want — including a 1080p display, a super-speedy processor, expandable storage, those awesome BoomSound speakers, and of course, an incredible aluminum form factor. But will it now be overshadowed by new and improved competition from Apple?
The Cupertino company today announced its highly-anticipated iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and they’re packing larger displays, faster processors, and new features like NFC and a built-in barometer. So which one should be your next smartphone? Our comparison below will help you decide between the latest flagships from Apple and HTC.
Please scroll the table left and right to see all of its contents
| iPhone 6 | iPhone 6 Plus | One M8 | One mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OS | iOS 8 | iOS 8 | Android 4.4.4 | Android 4.4.4 |
| Display | 4.7-in (1334×750) | 5.5-in (1920×1080) | 5-in (1920×1080) | 4.5-in (1280×720) |
| PPI | 326 | 401 | 441 | 326 |
| CPU | 2.4GHz A8 (64-bit) | 2.4GHz A8 (64-bit) | 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 | 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 |
| RAM | 1GB (TBC) | 1GB (TBC) | 2GB | 1GB |
| Storage | 16GB, 64GB, 128GB | 16GB, 64GB, 128GB | 16GB + microSD (up to 128GB) | 16GB + microSD (up to 128GB) |
| Cameras | 8MP (rear) + 1.2MP (front) | 8MP (rear) + 1.2MP (front) | 4MP and 5MP (rear) + 2MP (front) | 13MP (rear) + 5MP (front) |
| Fingerprint | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Other | NFC, M8 motion processor, barometer | NFC, M8 motion processor, barometer | IR blaster, NFC, BoomSound | NFC, BoomSound |
| Size | 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm | 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1mm | 146.3 x 70.9 x 9.3mm | 137.4 x 65 x 10.6mm |
| Weight | 129g | 172g | 160g | 137g |
| Battery | TBC | TBC | 2,600mAh | 2,110mAh |
The One mini 2 is one of the nicest midrange smartphones you can buy right now, but if you’re looking for a high-end device, you might as well cross it off your list. Its 720p display pales in comparison to its bigger brother’s 1080p screen and the new Retina displays on the iPhones, and its aging Snapdragon 400 processor doesn’t provide anywhere near as much power as the others.
If you care about smartphone design, that’s going to make your choice between the One M8 and the iPhones even more difficult. All three are beautiful devices made out of quality materials, but we’d have to say the iPhones edge it thanks to their smaller bezels and thinner form factors.
The new iPhones are incredibly thin. Photo: Apple.
Both iPhones also have a Touch ID fingerprint scanner, which is incredibly cool (and practical), but then the One M8 has a built-in IR blaster to control your TV and BoomSound speakers. If you like listening to music on your smartphone and you’re not too impressed by a fingerprint scanner, then this might give the One M8 the advantage for you.
The One M8’s biggest weakness, however, is a big one: Its camera. HTC carried forward the same 4-megapixel sensor from the One M7, and although it’s combined with a second 5-megapixel module this time around, it’s still inconsistent. Photos in low light are good but noisy, but most other half-decent smartphone cameras beat it for just about everything else — and as we know, Apple makes excellent smartphone cameras.
