Mobile Technology

HTC One (M8) vs. iPhone 5s: A closer look

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Gizmag goes hands-on to compare the HTC One (M8) and iPhone 5s
The iPhone 5s continues Apple trend of aluminum unibody designs
... though you could argue that the One M8 also continues Apple's trend of aluminum unibody designs
The iPhone is a much smaller phone, more easily sliding into one's palm
The iPhone 5s is very thin, at just 7.6 mm (0.3-in) thick
iPhone 5s on top of the HTC One M8
The HTC One (M8) is 18 percent longer, 20 percent wider and 24 percent thicker than the iPhone 5s
The One has a sloped back, with a solid aluminum finish
The One M8 is 9.4 mm (0.37-in) thick, next to the iPhone's 7.6 mm (0.3-in)
Gizmag goes hands-on to compare the HTC One (M8) and iPhone 5s
You'll be hard-pressed to find two phones that better combine beauty and brains than these two
The iPhone only gives you 64 percent as much screen real estate
The One's 1080p screen is much sharper, but your eyes probably won't notice a huge difference
The One M8 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, with HTC Sense 6 pasted on top, while the iPhone runs iOS 7
The One's UFocus camera feature, which blurs backgrounds, in action
The iPhone 5's Touch ID sensor lets you unlock your passcode-protected phone with your fingerprint
Both phones have dual-LED flashes, which help to add color and more even lighting to flash shots
The One M8 has a second rear camera devoted to sensing depth
The One includes a series of motion sensor-based shortcuts, collectively known as Motion Launch
HTC may be standing on the shoulders of Apple's design history, but that doesn't take away from what a fantastic phone the One M8 is
The One's front-facing BoomSound speakers are the best in the business
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Are you looking for a smartphone that's all power on the inside, with sexy good looks on the outside? Well, then it's going to be hard to beat these two. Join Gizmag, as we take a hands-on look at two phones that have beauty and brains, the HTC One (M8) and Apple iPhone 5s.

We've had both of these phones in-house for a while, and have a few thoughts to add to our specs breakdown from back in April. It's one thing to look at hardware and features, drawing conclusions about what you might expect. But what's it like to actually use the dang things for at least a couple of months?

The HTC One (M8) is 18 percent longer, 20 percent wider and 24 percent thicker than the iPhone 5s

Well, the first thing you'll notice is a huge size difference. Apple will likely launch a bigger iPhone later this year, but, for right now, the One M8 is a much bigger phone. To be exact, the HTC One (M8) is 18 percent longer, 20 percent wider and 24 percent thicker (okay, so maybe we won't leave those specs completely behind).

The iPhone is a much smaller phone, more easily sliding into one's palm

On an experience level, that breaks down to a phone that easily slips into the meat of your hand (iPhone) vs. one that makes its presence felt a bit more in your hand or pocket. As we say every time we compare large and small phones, the iPhone's advantage is that it feels extremely light in hand (it's 30 percent lighter) and practically disappears in your pocket. The One's advantage is that its screen gives you a much larger window into your apps and media.

The iPhone only gives you 64 percent as much screen real estate

To be precise, the iPhone only gives you 64 percent as much screen real estate as the One M8. Let's say there are two properties for sale: one of them has one acre of land, the other has less than 7/10 of an acre. If the quality of land is similar and they cost the same price, you'd probably go with the full acre, right?

Of course you don't put tracts of land in your pocket or hold them in your hand, so this isn't a perfect metaphor. But if you were looking at screen size in a vacuum, then that's the difference that this would boil down to. The experience of using the One M8 is a bit closer to what you'd expect from a tablet, while the iPhone makes it impossible to forget that you're using an ultra-portable, ultra-pocketable phone.

... though you could argue that the One M8 also continues Apple's trend of aluminum unibody designs

Both screens are sharp. The One M8 is sharper, and if you set both phones side-by-side, you'll notice a little bit of a pixel density difference (the One packs 35 percent extra pixels into each inch). But I don't think this is big enough of a difference to base your decision on. You won't find any distracting pixelation of text or images on either phone.

If we take a step back from the phones' sizes and screens, and look only at their constructions, then we're going to see two absolute stunners. Both phones have aluminum unibody designs. I don't know if smartphones can be considered jewelry or not, but these two handsets make the best argument I've seen. The iPhone has a familiar look, with chamfered edges and a flat, dual-colored back. The One has a single-toned finish, with a more sloped backside (the gun metal color we handled is quite the looker).

The iPhone 5s continues Apple trend of aluminum unibody designs

We love the look and feel of HTC's One line, but if you wanted to play devil's advocate, you could argue that a phone like the One is riding the coattails of products that Apple made years ago. Apple's designers pioneered the trend of unibody tech products chiseled from a single piece of aluminum, like the groundbreaking MacBook Air in 2008, the iPad in 2010 and the iPhone 5 in 2012.

The One M8 is a gorgeous and brilliant device in its own right, and that's probably all that matters. I only make the point because I wouldn't necessarily call its design "innovative." HTC is standing on the shoulders of giants, putting its own spin on something that Apple already proved could be successful.

The One has a sloped back, with a solid aluminum finish

I don't think battery life is a concern in either phone, as I've never had a problem with either handset making it through a full day. In our standard test, where we stream video over Wi-Fi with brightness set at 75 percent, the One M8 lasted 49 percent longer than the iPhone did. The One does have excellent battery life, but I think this is also an example of why we take these kinds of benchmarks with a few grains of salt. On a typical day, I've never had to worry about either phone conking out.

iPhone 5s on top of the HTC One M8

The One M8 does have a very cool power-saving feature that could have very well been ripped off from Samsung (it was announced a month after a strikingly similar feature was announced for the Galaxy S5). Extreme Power Saving Mode, which is still rolling out to some carrier's versions of the One M8, lets you keep your phone up and running in a pinch. If your One's battery life drops below a certain (customizable) level, its UI will shift to a barebones, nearly black & white home screen. You'll be limited to basic functions like phone, mail and messages.

So what's the advantage of Extreme Power Saving Mode turning your One into the world's most expensive feature phone? Well, it can take just a smidge of remaining juice and turn it into hours of extra battery life. If you have a day when you use your phone longer than usual, EPS Mode can keep you from completely dropping off the grid. The iPhone has no equivalent feature.

The iPhone 5's Touch ID sensor lets you unlock your passcode-protected phone with your fingerprint

Like Siri in the iPhone 4s, the iPhone 5s' killer feature is probably going to be standard fare in every new iOS device from now on. The 5s' Touch ID fingerprint sensor lets you set up passcode security for your phone, and then use your unique fingerprint to bypass it. It works well, you can program up to five fingers (including the same one multiple times to increase accuracy) and makes for a brilliant combination of security and convenience.

Later this year, when iOS 8 launches, Apple will open up Touch ID to third-party apps. This could be especially useful for banking and payment apps, as well as password storage apps like 1Password, LastPass or Dashlane.

The One includes a series of motion sensor-based shortcuts, collectively known as Motion Launch

The One M8 doesn't have any biometric sensors, but it does still have a few sensors onboard. These sensors are tied to features that are collectively called Motion Launch: a series of gesture-based shortcuts for some of the phone's most-frequented hotspots. So if, say, you want to unlock your phone, there's no need to mash the power button before swiping across the screen. Just hold the phone in portrait mode and swipe up on the screen. Or if you just want to check on notifications, double-tap on the screen to see your lock screen. Tap twice again to turn it back off. There are also Motion Launch shortcuts for firing up the camera, BlinkFeed (HTC's social and news feed widget) and your other home screen widgets.

I wouldn't call Motion Launch revolutionary. If given the choice, I'd take the security and convenience of Touch ID over the split seconds of time you'll save with Motion Launch. But it is still a handy set of features that can shorten the distance (by just a hair) between a sleeping phone and whatever you want to do with it.

The One's front-facing BoomSound speakers are the best in the business

I've never bought one smartphone over another because of its speakers, and I doubt you have either. But if I did, then my choice would be easy: the One M8 has the best damn speakers I've heard out of any phone. They're loud, full and – best of all – front-facing. Last year's One M7 raised the bar for smartphone audio, and the One M8's BoomSound speakers push that bar up even higher.

Both phones have dual-LED flashes, which help to add color and more even lighting to flash shots

When comparing high-end phones these days, I find the quality of most of their cameras to be in the same general ballpark. A few unique features here, a couple of gimmicks there, but most of them aren't all that different. But the One M8 marches to the beat of its own drummer, with a very low resolution sensor that (sort of) redeems itself with the size of its pixels.

Like 2013's One M7, the One M8's camera uses what HTC calls "UltraPixels." Even though it only shoots in a mediocre 4 MP resolution, its pixels are bigger, which helps to makes it better at low-light photography. I find the One's low-light shots to be brighter and more colorful than those of most other phones, including the iPhone. The One's 4 MP shots won't look as sharp, though, and this will really show if you try to zoom in, crop or blow images up to poster size.

Both phones' cameras have dual-LED flashes, which can make flash shots look less blown-out and whitewashed, more colorful and evenly-lit.

The One M8 has a second rear camera devoted to sensing depth

The most unique thing about the One's rear camera is the little friend sitting next to it. See, the One M8 has a second rear camera that's devoted entirely to sensing depth. This opens the door to some gimmicky features that I'd never use, including a faux 3D effect (it lets you tilt your phone back and forth to see images from slightly different angles) and others that cartoonize or add a radial blur to the background. I could have done without most of those.

But there is one cool feature made possible by the One M8's depth sensor. UFocus simulates the blurred-background (bokeh) effect that you'd get from a DSLR with a wide-aperture lens. It isn't perfect, as it will sometimes pick up jagged little pieces of the background that it thinks are foreground (completely ruining the effect). But when it's on – and I'd say it's on about 60-70 percent of the time – it's a very cool feature. The One's dual camera setup could almost be written off as a cheap gimmick, but I'd say UFocus works well enough to justify the hardware.

Here's one example of UFocus working pretty well:

The One's UFocus camera feature, which blurs backgrounds, in action

If all you're looking for is a straightforward camera that takes great shots with a simple interface, then I'd cast my vote for the higher-resolution iPhone. But if things like background blur and brighter low-lit shots are your priority, then the One's camera has a pretty unique bag of tricks.

We used to focus a lot more on performance in smartphones, running benchmarks and sweating minor differences. But that was back when most phones were as slow as molasses, and every little speed boost in the latest new model was like a breath of fresh air. Today, the performance of just about every high-end smartphone is way past the point of concern – including these two. Most mobile apps require very little in the way of processing power anyway, so, if anything, it's now the apps that are catching up to the hardware.

HTC may be standing on the shoulders of Apple's design history, but that doesn't take away from what a fantastic phone the One M8 is

The One M8 and iPhone 5s are two terrific smartphones, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either of them to anyone. Obviously fans of Android and bigger screens will gravitate towards HTC's offering, while happy inhabitants of Apple's walled garden, and the end-to-end simplicity that goes along with it, will appreciate the iPhone.

Maybe the biggest thing to keep in mind here is that the iPhone 5s is moving closer to the end of its initial life cycle. Sometime around September, Apple will likely announce a new model, which is rumored to have a bigger screen (4.7 inches, with a 5.5-in model possibly following hot on its heels). So if you prefer everything about the iPhone except for its screen size, then you might ask yourself if you can hold off for three more months.

For a bit more on each phone, you can check out our individual reviews of the iPhone 5s and HTC One (M8). And if you want to cast your net a bit wider, you can check out our 2014 Smartphone Comparison Guide.

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7 comments
Madlyb
Due to changing carriers, I have both the M7 and M8 and generally the M8 is an improvement, but the M7 fit perfectly in my hand and the M8 is just a little big and the rounded edges and slippery coating make it feel like I am constantly going to drop it, whereas the M7 was solid.
I am also not a fan of the always on Sound Enhancement feature in the M8 as it tends to over color the sound for high quality audio.
I really enjoyed BlinkFeed on the M7, but the changes in the M8 make it less usable and they still don't allow it to be placed some in anyplace other than the far right page.
Finally, the camera is honestly a letdown. The M7 tended to take better pictures and the duo-focus is an utter gimmick that rarely adds value, doesn't work at all if you are using some features like HDR, and is constantly complaining about the sensor being obscured due to its proximity to the edge of the phone.
Now, with all that said, the M7 and M8 are still the best phones I have ever used...by a long shot...and I have used several iPhones.
P17
Will, great review, but as I said before (back in September 2013) the killer feature of iPhone 5S (and iPad Air) is the 64 bit architecture. With the release of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite and their interoperability and integration features, this will blow everyone else off the map. (Until they catch up). It won't necessarily translate into more sales, because the majority of people buy Android and Windows phones for purely economic reasons, i.e. price sensitivity, but it will highlight Apple's innovation and thought leadership.
Daishi
@The Master
> "because the majority of people buy Android and Windows phones for purely economic reasons i.e. price sensitivity"
Considering popular flagship Android phones are just as expensive as the iPhone yet still sell in high volume your statement seems... inaccurate. That's not to say that cheap Android handsets have no impact at all but the galaxy line alone competes with iPhone in sales volume and its similarly priced.
All things considered Android seems to be picking up market share against iOS: http://i.imgur.com/Iz0CCgJ.jpg
James Camp
"the killer feature of iPhone 5S (and iPad Air) is the 64 bit architecture. With the release of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite and their interoperability and integration features, this will blow everyone else off the map."
HTC's One has been interoperable with a Linux desktop for God knows how long. With sales of desktops and notebooks dropping, Apple needs you to feel compelled to not only purchase smartphones & tablets, but the notebooks and desktop with the latest OS. Sounds like you're on board with this tactic that Apple is using to make you as an Apple foot the bill for the $ 3 billion purchase price for Beats. 64 bit architecture, I've been using my HTC One M7 with Linux ever since I bought it. Transferring digital content as I see fit. 32 bit vs 64 bit ? Big deal HTC uses multiple cores (4 vs 2) and Ghz/Mhz (1.7-2.5 GHhz vs 1.3 Ghz) to move data over the same wireless connection bandwidth.
Sharon Taylor
Thanks so much for this review. Very helpful before I go into store and choose between these two phones. They will cost the same but leaning towards I phone mainly due to the fact that I have an ipad and figure that much of the stuff will be easily transferable e.g. movies and music. Although I have always loved the HTC bigger screen.
Luis Gans
Great review. The Master, so your saying Apple is banking their money on icloud and the ability of sharing information over a network? Such improvements are always a good thing, but the reality is that good marketing along with the latest hardware, clean OS and innovating build is what attracts the everyday person.
Daniel Waleniak
Beautiful review. Not a hint of bias there, although a second page with some more in depth information would be nice.
I personally prefer the HTC . My girlfriend has the M7, my dad has the M8 and they are the most beautiful pieces of engineering in the mobile phone industry in my opinion, although the iPhone is a good looking phone too. The speakers on the HTC's are phenomenal, the hardware lightning, screens large and sharp and they run Android a much more customizable system