HTC One M9 vs Galaxy S5: What We Know So Far

In 2015 two of the most highly anticipated and sought after Android smartphones will be Samsung’s new Galaxy S6, and of course the upcoming HTC One M9. Both devices have been rumored for months, but here we want to look at how HTC’s upcoming phone compares to Samsung’s Galaxy S5 from last year, based on rumors, for those considering an upgrade.

Last year the Samsung Galaxy S5 was announced at the end of February and released in April for those in the United States, and the HTC One M8 arrived on March 27th for some and eventually in April for most carriers stateside. And while we don’t know exactly what each company has planned for its devices in 2015, we know they’re coming soon and will both be on top of their game.

Read: HTC One M9 vs HTC One M8: What We Know So Far

This past week all the HTC One M9 rumors have been turned upside down after reports that leaks and images were all fake decoys, so now things are a little muddy. That said, it’s still coming soon and many of the leaked benchmarks are likely accurate. With that, lets see how the new One M9 will compare to last years flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone.

In 2014, the HTC One M8 was rumored for months leaked enough times that we knew exactly what to expect come the March 27th announcement date. There were no surprises. We heard HTC had plans to keep the new HTC One M9 under wraps, but that isn’t working out so well. Even though they had some decoy units out, we’re hearing these photos are the real HTC One M9.

We’ve already seen leaks of the specs as well as some potential confirmations of those, images surfaced recently, and Bloomberg has already learned a few small details about the One M9 and are sharing them with the public. We all know plenty about the Galaxy S5 from last year though, but below are a few details and comparisons for potential buyers, or those seeking an upgrade.

Display

First up is the display, since that is an extremely important aspect of both these devices and something all buyers look at. As for the HTC One M9, we’re hearing it could come with a larger 5.5-inch Quad-HD display to battle the competition, but we’re also hearing it will be a 5-inch screen like last year. The latest photos though, show an edge-to-edge glass display that could better showcase a 5.5-inch screen without making the device bigger than last year. So we’re leaning towards this being a 5.5-inch or 5.3-inch device.

Samsung’s Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch 1920 x 1080p HD display, one that received awards last year for being the best on the market. If the HTC One M9 is still 1080p it may not be able to match it, but all rumors are pointing to an improved 2k 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD display for the One M9. That will top last years Galaxy S5.

Of course these are all only rumors for now, but with strong evidence based on photos of the HTC One M9, it looks like they’ll keep the screen at a decent size for portability and not to alienate current HTC One fans.

All said and done we’ll just have to wait and see what HTC delivers when they announce the HTC One M9, but we have a feeling these will still be a closer match than many expected, even with the improved internals of the HTC One M9 which we’ll get to below.

Design

In 2014 the Samsung Galaxy S5 was rumored to have a major design change from previous years, but that didn’t happen. It was relatively the same as the Galaxy S4, only with a better design, a fingerprint scanner, and some small changes. It’s made almost entirely of plastic. Some love the aluminum of the HTC One M8, while others argue the lightweight and durable plastics used by Samsung are the best route. Everyone has a different preference, and this is key for some.

The HTC One M9 will reportedly look quite different from last year, which is both a good and bad thing. It’s one of the most elegant devices, but the render below shows something completely different. The big bezels have all been removed, the dual front speakers are smaller and pushed to the edges, and it just looks sharp. This will be a better looking device than the Galaxy S5 from last year, as long as the image below is the real deal.

If the above image is accurate HTC had addressed almost every major complaint buyers have had about the original. Many of which caused them to get a Galaxy S5 instead, so this year could finally be a year where HTC steals more of the Samsung and LG competition.

Specs

Again, everything here is based on rumors and hearsay, so we’re taking everything with a grain of salt. That being said, many of these leaks and details come from rather reliable and accurate sources. Things are subject to chance, but below are the raw hard numbers and spec sheets based on what we’ve heard thus far of the HTC One M9.

Either way it will be more powerful than the Galaxy S5 last year, but that’s to be expected. The info below could all be deadly accurate, or things could change by the time these phones arrive. Take them as you will, and we’ll know for sure soon enough.

HTC One M9 Specs (Rumored)

• 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD screen (Could be 5-inch 1080p)
• 2.3 GHz 8-core Snapdragon 810 processor (64-bit)
• 3GB of RAM
• 32GB of internal storage and a micro-SD slot for expansion
• 20 MP rear facing camera and 4 Ultrapixel front shooter
• Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and HTC Sense UI 7.0
• Dual HTC Boomsound Speakers with Dolby 5.1 Audio Technology
• 2,880 or 3,000 mAh battery
• more

Galaxy S5 Specs

• 5.1-inch 1920 x 1080p HD AMOLED display
• 2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801 with 2GB of RAM
• 16GB internal storage (Micro-SD expansion)
• 16 Megapixel camera and 2MP front shooter
• Android 4.4.2 KitKat with a new TouchWiz
• USB 3.0, infrared port for remote
• IP67 dust and water resistant
• Fingerprint and heart rate sensors
• 2.800 mAh battery

A few major things you’ll notice are the display, the camera, and of course the processor. The HTC One M9 will reportedly have the latest 8-core processor with 3GB of RAM, a huge camera, awesome dual front speakers, and a bigger battery to finally compete with Samsung, Apple, and the others.

Obviously numbers aren’t everything and both of these devices will perform great, but if you’re debating which to buy or want to upgrade, above are the numbers for those interested in the fine details.

Release Date

This is where things get interesting. Last year HTC struck first by announcing and releasing the HTC One M8 on March 27th, but most US carriers didn’t get it until April. That said, we knew about the Galaxy S5 before HTC made those announcements because the Galaxy S5 was announced in February at an event in NYC, but didn’t get released for US buyers until April.

In 2015, we’re hearing both the Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 will be revealed in March in an attempt to beat the others. HTC has already sent out invitations for a March 1st launch date, but we’re not sure if that will be the release date too. It makes sense given they did it the same day last year, so we’ll have to wait and see.

The decision here is if you should get the Galaxy S5 now, wait for the Galaxy S6, or wait and see what HTC has in store for the HTC One M9. It’s a little over a month away, and we might know details about the Galaxy S6 by then too, so we’d suggest waiting to see what they both have to offer.

If this year is anything like last year the Galaxy S6 will be revealed in late February, ahead of the HTC One M9, and they’ll both be released around the same time. Who knows though, HTC could announce and release the One M9 on March 1st, which would beat Samsung to market.

Camera

While we briefly mentioned this above, another thing many buyers consider when purchasing a smartphone is in regards to the camera. The HTC One M9 will finally be able to compete, after failing last year with the One M8 and its Duo Camera. The HTC One M9 will have a 20.7 megapixel rear camera, and a 4 Ultrapixel front shooter for selfies.

This will be much better than last year, and potentially better than the 16 megapixel camera inside of the Galaxy S5. Samsung’s S5 had one of the better cameras around, but HTC has put a lot of effort on that front, not to mention the 4 Ultrapixel front shooter. Add in the HTC Eye software tweaks, and these will still be two of the best Android camera phones.

Final Thoughts

In closing, we’re not really sure what to expect here. It looks and sounds like HTC is being rather sneaky with what they reveal, in hopes to shock the market and really shake things up with an impressive smartphone. If so, this could cause many to sell of their Galaxy S5’s, pass on the Galaxy S6, and get a new HTC One M9 instead.

One thing is clear though, and that is that both of these smartphones will be great devices for years to come, but with one advantage going to the HTC One M9 for simply being a year newer, and getting support and updates a year longer.

Are you sold on the rumors for the HTC One M9, or do you think something radically different will arrive? Drop a comment below with what you’re expecting, and if you think the HTC One M9 is worth an update over the Galaxy S5.