HTC One M9 vs LG G3: 6 Key Differences

Yesterday the brand new HTC One M9 smartphone was announced after months of rumors and speculation, and now that it’s official and coming soon buyers are likely weighing all of their options here in 2015. While a new LG G4 is coming at some point, those considering a phone in the near future may be looking at the LG G3 or the new HTC One M9, and here we compare a few key differences for prospective buyers.

The LG G3 was announced in May of last year but wasn’t released for well over a month, and most buyers didn’t get in until June or July, or they still haven’t and are now considering it as a new phone. While there’s plenty of options coming, like the Galaxy S6 or LG G4, the LG G3 is available now, and will face tough competition from HTC’s latest in the coming weeks.

Read: HTC One M9 vs iPhone 6: What You Need to Know

Here we take a look at how the flagship LG G3 compares to the all aluminum and stunning HTC One M9 that was just revealed, a device many consider the best-looking Android smartphone. We’ll go over what they both have to offer, how they differ, and explain everything buyers will need to know ahead of making a purchase in 2015.

It’s hard to say which device is actually “better” between the LG G3 or the HTC One M9 simply because we haven’t used the HTC One M9 yet. Not to mention each user has different needs, wants, budgets, and preferences. While we don’t have all the answers, nor know what every user needs, below are a few key features or differences that separate the two and may help consumers make the right choice.

Over the course of the next few weeks and the coming months we’ll see the HTC One M9 be released, followed by the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, a new LG G4, something from Motorola, and much more. However, if you need a phone now, or in the next few weeks, the HTC One M9 and LG G3 are two solid choices.

Design

LG and HTC couldn’t be any different when it comes to the design approach. LG has something that works great with the same overall look and feel as the previous generation, which is buttons being on the back for a sleek design, and lightweight (yet durable) cheap plastic for its smartphone build materials. They’ve used plastic for years, although the LG G3 actually looks like it’s made from aluminum. It has a brushed aluminum look to the plastic housing.

Read: LG G3 Review

HTC on the other hand, has continued to deliver some of the best looking and most premium feeling smartphones on the market. The original HTC One was wrapped in a single aluminum shell, and that’s continued for two years and is the same essential design in the new One M9. While it barely looks different than its predecessors, it’s a big upgrade and one of the most powerful devices around.

No one will argue which looks better. The HTC One M9 has brushed aluminum in a few different colors, the best speakers of any smartphone, ones that happen to be front facing (and we’re not sure why others haven’t offered the same) and overall just feel like a premium device. And with the new One M9 they have a two-tone color option, still in aluminum, that looks wonderful. Below is an image of the upcoming Verizon HTC One M9 in aluminum gold and silver.

At the same time, the LG G3 is one of the best looking plastic smartphones around, and looks much more stylish than the Galaxy S5. Looks aren’t everything, but it plays a role in many users purchase decision.

While we were huge fans of the HTC One M8 and it received an Editors’ Choice award, the new HTC One M9 is even better. The LG G3 is slightly wider, extremely lightweight, and nearly the same height yet has a much bigger and better overall display. The entire design of the G3 was to offer a sleek device that isn’t too large, yet pack a massive and beautiful screen inside, and LG succeeded. This brings us to our next point.

Display

The LG G3 has a beautiful 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD (or 2k) display. Compared to a 5-inch 1080p screen from the HTC One M9, there’s a big difference for buyers. Considering these phones are nearly the same size but one has a much bigger screen is quite a feat, and impressive to say the least. Many hoped the One M9 would have a bigger screen or higher resolution, but HTC kept the device size in check, and kept the resolution at 1080p to preserve battery life. Below is the LG G3 next to last years HTC One M8.

LG has slim bezels around its Quad-HD display, and this makes the device quite small even though the screen is massive. Nearing “phablet” size. However, it isn’t all good. The 5-inch IPS LCD3 screen on the HTC One M8 has better brightness, slightly better colors, and the viewing angles appear to be superior, but only by a hair. The same is likely to hold true on the new HTC One M9. It might not be as big, or as crisp, but it still looks excellent.

Either device will make buyers happy, but the LG G3 display could have better viewing angles and colors to match the HTC One M8 and the new HTC One M9. Surely some of those problems will be addressed by the new LG G4 later this year.

There’s no clear winner here. If you want a huge screen to view content, watch videos, play games, and more the LG G3 is great, but those seeking a great experience in a smaller package the One M9 will be a great option once it arrives.

Camera

These days the cameras on our phones are one of the most used apps, and an extremely important aspect of any purchase. As we all know, the HTC One M8 camera was lacking, but that was fixed here in 2015 with the new HTC One M9. They’ve increased it to a 20.7 megapixel camera, and put the rear 4 Ultrapixel on the front. It should technically have one of the best cameras on the market.

That said, the LG G3 is no slouch either. It’s only a 13 megapixel camera, but megapixels aren’t everything. The sensor is big, it has optical image stabilization+, and the laser auto-focus on the LG G3 is one of the best on the market. The auto focus is fast, it stabilizes images, and gets clear crisp images without effort. Both are great, and until we try the One M9 ourselves we can’t comment, but it technically should offer a better smartphone camera experience.

Specs

While specs aren’t as important as having a device that’s fast, fluid, and will work for years to come, it’s still something many consider while making a purchase. Below are the hard numbers for those interested, but it all boils down to these devices being nearly the same under the hood with a few small changes. That, and software will play the biggest role in how each device performs.

HTC One M9 Specs

• 5-inch 1920 x 1080p HD display
• 2.0 GHz 8-Core Snapdragon 810 with 3GB of RAM (4×4)
• 32GB internal storage (Micro-SD expansion)
• 20.7 Megapixel rear camera, and 4 Ultrapixel front shooter
• Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and HTC Sense 7
• WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G LTE, FM Radio Antenna, and Infrared laser for remote
• Brushed Aluminum design, new two-tone color options
• Dual front facing HTC Boomsound Speakers
• Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 Technology
• 2,900 mAh battery

LG G3 Specs

• 5.5-inch 2560 × 1440 display Quad-HD display
• 2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon processor with 3GB of RAM
• 32GB internal storage (Micro-SD expansion)
• 13-megapixel camera with OIS+, laser auto-focus, 2.1-megapixel front camera
• Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G LTE, FM Radio Antenna, and Infrared laser for remote
• DLNA and Miracast support
• 3,000 mAh removable battery with wireless charging
• more

The HTC One M9 is rather similar to the model last year, but they changed a few key things. Aside from the internals we now have the power button on the right side, under the volume buttons for ease of use, and the camera has been completely revamped. Without looking at the camera you’d barely be able to tell the two apart.

Both of these phones are excellent choices, but in the long run the new HTC One M9 is nearly one year newer, has the latest technology, a better camera, and will get software updates for a longer period than the aging LG G3.

Software

The LG G3 has been enjoying Android 4.4 KitKat for a long time, but this past month has started to receive updates to the latest Android 5.0.1 Lollipop released by Google. And while the update is causing some issues for owners, it’s a substantial upgrade and makes the experience much better.

Read: Android 5.0 vs Android 4.4 KitKat: What’s New in Lollipop

The HTC One M9 on the other hand, will launch with Android 5.0 Lollipop, but be covered in HTC’s own Sense UI. They are both radically different, but underlying features are the same. This is more of a user preference, and this time around with the One M9 HTC Sense is very customizable, something LG has offered for years.

Price

Last but certainly not least is the price. The HTC One M9 is a brand new flagship phone, and will cost you more money than the LG G3. No official details have been released on the One M9 price, but Best Buy leaked the AT&T off-contract price will be $649. We’re expecting $599-$649 from most, and $199 with a new 2-year contract.

The LG G3 though, has been available for a while, and can be found for $499 off contract and often-times free or $0.01 with a new 2-year contract. It’s the cheaper route, and will be moving forward. Unless we see some crazy release date deals on the HTC One M9, the LG G3 will be the cheaper choice outright or on contract, no matter how you look at it. If you’re on a budget the G3 is a good move, but most carriers offer payment plans that will put the HTC One M9 in reach for most.

As we said earlier, everyone has different needs, wants, and budget, so the choice is yours. The release date for the HTC One M9 is mid-March, with most US carriers saying “this spring” so it may not actually be available until late March or early April. Take this into consideration when deciding on your next smartphone.