HTC One M9 smartphone review: Why it's worth a closer look
Anand Ram | CBC News | Posted: April 17, 2015 9:00 AM | Last Updated: April 17, 2015
Company's latest flagship phone offers a premium feel and superior sound
As of today, you have a new smartphone option: the HTC One M9.
The new model of HTC's flagship Android phone goes on sale in Canada today, promising a premium feel, a luxury look and some unique features, including a camera designed for better selfies.
Can it set itself apart from dominant competitors like the iPhone 6 or Samsung Galaxy S6?
High-end look
When you first pick up the HTC One M9, you'll notice the sturdy aluminum body. It's scratch-resistant, with a non-removable brushed metal back, sapphire glass camera cover and a five-inch front screen made of Corning's tough Gorilla Glass.
The M9 comes in three colours, the most eye-catching being the dual-tone gold-on-silver variant. It has the high-end look you'd expect for a fashion accessory.
The body suffers from two minor problems. The edges feel a little sharp, which may be uncomfortable. Secondly, the power button is tiny and nearly flush on the right-hand side. This can get confusing, because the volume buttons are right above it.
Fortunately, the phone can be turned on with gesture controls. Tapping the screen twice shows you the lock screen or swiping up on the glass unlocks it from sleep.
Selfie star
Any smartphone camera can take great shots in good lighting and with a steady hand.
A better measure of a camera is how well it responds when shooting conditions are less ideal and its colour accuracy compared to what you see with your eyes.
In that regard, the M9 does not fare as well as an iPhone 6 camera. Its low-light photos soften the edges of objects and mess with the colour reproduction. Even with the two-tone flash, photos don't look quite right.
Oddly enough, the front-facing camera, which in most smartphones is an afterthought, is impressively good on the M9. Last year, HTC announced its "UltraPixel" technology, which promises fewer pixels, but bigger ones with higher quality. That's the technology in the front camera that allows you to take decent selfies in low light.
What will also impress the selfie crowd is the camera software itself. It's customizable and has fun modes like Bokeh, Photo Booth and Split Capture. The effects and filters the phone comes with can make an artist out of anyone. For example, double exposure lets you layer a photo on top of another, adjusting the finer points of each one. Power users can also adjust settings like shutter speed and ISO.
Superior sound
Much like front-facing cameras, speakers also tend to be an afterthought on most smartphones. Not the case here. The M9's BoomSound speakers are easily the best out there, with Dolby audio credibility behind them. The phone also tweaks the output to make your headphones sound better.
Compared to other flagship Android phones, there are nitpicks like screen resolution, battery life and processor speed. But all three don't disappoint. The screen is bright, the battery lasts a day and a half with normal use and the phone is quick.
Purists might balk at the software layer HTC has put on top of the latest version of Android, but it doesn't get in the way.
Again, the focus is on customization. With a swipe to the left, HTC Sense Home (formerly BlinkFeed) brings your social and news feeds into one endless scroll. The Themes app allows you to change sounds, fonts, wallpapers — all in a constantly updated catalog.
The bottom line: the phone is good. The dual-tone variant, thundering speakers and photo filters appeal to the vain teenager in all of us.
Samsung's Galaxy line has, for years, eclipsed all other Android smartphone makers. Once-recognizable HTC now sits below five per cent of worldwide smartphone market share, according to analytics firm comScore. But that's not for lack of a good product. HTC's One series, which debuted in 2013, has been praised for its design and quality in the past.
Premium materials set the HTC One M9 apart, but it's worth remembering that no fashionable accessory wins a popularity contest that's already decided.
Specifications
Operating System: Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
Size: 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.61 mm
Weight: 157 grams
Screen: Size: Five inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Memory: 32 GB expandable to 128 GB | RAM 3 GB
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
Battery life: Talk time: Up to 21 hours
Standby: Up to 16 days
Standby: Up to 16 days
Camera: 20.2 MP back, HTC UltraPixel front
Price: $199 on major carriers on a two-year plan; $699 to $799 unlocked