Mobile Technology

iPhone 5s vs. HTC One

iPhone 5s vs. HTC One
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the iPhone 5s and HTC One
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the iPhone 5s and HTC One
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The HTC One's battery holds more juice, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will last longer with regular use
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The HTC One's battery holds more juice, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will last longer with regular use
Both phones are made of aluminum, and available in several colors
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Both phones are made of aluminum, and available in several colors
The iPhone 5s' camera wins on pixel count, but the One's camera is one of its highlights
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The iPhone 5s' camera wins on pixel count, but the One's camera is one of its highlights
The One is a much larger phone, but we didn't find it to be too monstrous for most adult hands
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The One is a much larger phone, but we didn't find it to be too monstrous for most adult hands
The One gives you 38 percent more screen real estate, and is sharper
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The One gives you 38 percent more screen real estate, and is sharper
Apple is probably going to market the hell out of the iPhone 5s' Touch ID fingerprint sensor
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Apple is probably going to market the hell out of the iPhone 5s' Touch ID fingerprint sensor
The iPhone 5s' camera flash adds a second LED, which will supposedly lead to more accurate tones
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The iPhone 5s' camera flash adds a second LED, which will supposedly lead to more accurate tones
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the iPhone 5s and HTC One
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Gizmag compares the features and specs of the iPhone 5s and HTC One
The HTC One has an infrared blaster, so you can use it as a TV remote control
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The HTC One has an infrared blaster, so you can use it as a TV remote control
The iPhone 5s' M7 motion coprocessor has one job: processing data from the phone's motion sensors (accelerometer, compass, gyroscope)
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The iPhone 5s' M7 motion coprocessor has one job: processing data from the phone's motion sensors (accelerometer, compass, gyroscope)
The HTC One packs an NFC chip
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The HTC One packs an NFC chip
These are the typical starting prices (in USD, with two-year contract), though you might be able to find the One for less than that
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These are the typical starting prices (in USD, with two-year contract), though you might be able to find the One for less than that
The HTC One might be about halfway through its initial life cycle
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The HTC One might be about halfway through its initial life cycle
It's iOS vs. Android, once again
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It's iOS vs. Android, once again
HTC's front-facing speakers are louder and fuller than any other smartphone speakers we've tested
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HTC's front-facing speakers are louder and fuller than any other smartphone speakers we've tested
Apart from the iPhone's 16 GB model, storage is even
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Apart from the iPhone's 16 GB model, storage is even
The iPhone 5s is 22 percent lighter than the HTC One
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The iPhone 5s is 22 percent lighter than the HTC One
Both phones have 4G LTE capabilities (duh)
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Both phones have 4G LTE capabilities (duh)
The iPhone 5s' A7 chip brings a 64-bit architecture to the world of smartphones
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The iPhone 5s' A7 chip brings a 64-bit architecture to the world of smartphones
The 5s reportedly retains the 1 GB of RAM found in the iPhone 5
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The 5s reportedly retains the 1 GB of RAM found in the iPhone 5
View gallery - 20 images

We think the HTC One is easily one of the sharpest-looking phones ever made. But if any company can give it a run for its money, it's Apple. How does Apple's latest flagship compare to the phone HTC has staked its future on? Read on, as Gizmag compares the features and specs of the iPhone 5s and HTC One.

Size

The One is a much larger phone, but we didn't find it to be too monstrous for most adult hands
The One is a much larger phone, but we didn't find it to be too monstrous for most adult hands

As the sizes of Android phones have crept up over the last few years, Apple has been a lot less eager to boost the iPhone's size. So here we see the One measuring about 11 percent taller, 15 percent wider, and 18 percent thicker than the iPhone 5s.

Weight

The iPhone 5s is 22 percent lighter than the HTC One
The iPhone 5s is 22 percent lighter than the HTC One

The iPhone 5s is also 22 percent lighter than the One.

Build

Both phones are made of aluminum, and available in several colors
Both phones are made of aluminum, and available in several colors

Both phones are made of aluminum. The iPhone 5s is available in three colors: Space Gray (with a black front), Gold (white front), and Silver (white front). The One is most often seen in silver and black, but there are also red and blue versions floating around.

Display

The One gives you 38 percent more screen real estate, and is sharper
The One gives you 38 percent more screen real estate, and is sharper

Whether you like huge Android phones or not, one big perk is that they give you a lot more screen real estate. This is a great example of that, as the One has 38 percent more screen area than the iPhone 5s. It's a significant difference, and screen size is probably one of the biggest things you'll want to consider before throwing down for one of these phones.

The HTC One's display is much sharper, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the iPhone 5s' pixel density. These comparisons between 300+ pixels per inch (PPI) screens and 400+ PPI screens usually translate to "plenty sharp" vs. "ridiculously sharp."

Processor

The iPhone 5s' A7 chip brings a 64-bit architecture to the world of smartphones
The iPhone 5s' A7 chip brings a 64-bit architecture to the world of smartphones

The iPhone 5s has the same two cores and 1.3 GHz clock speed as its predecessor, but the A7's big change that Apple is marketing is its status as the first 64-bit smartphone. That probably doesn't mean a whole lot to us right now, but it does pave the road for future iOS devices with desktop-like amounts of RAM.

In our review, we found the iPhone 5s' performance to be as good as it gets, but we doubt too many people will have complaints about the One's horsepower either. We'd recommend other factors, like features and screen size, swaying your buying decision more than processing.

Motion coprocessor

The iPhone 5s' M7 motion coprocessor has one job: processing data from the phone's motion sensors (accelerometer, compass, gyroscope)
The iPhone 5s' M7 motion coprocessor has one job: processing data from the phone's motion sensors (accelerometer, compass, gyroscope)

The iPhone 5s also has an M7 chip, whose sole purpose is to process information from your phone's sensors. So the 5s can process data from the phone's accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope without sucking the life out of your battery.

Right now, the M7 is a great fit for fitness apps and accessories, like Fitbit, Jawbone Up, or Nike's Fuelband. Down the road, though, we'd bet that motion-sensing chips like the M7 will play a leading role in an Apple smartwatch.

The HTC One can still, of course, track motion and send that data to fitness apps and accessories. It just doesn't have a separate chip dedicated to the job, so expect more typical battery drain.

Fingerprint sensor

Apple is probably going to market the hell out of the iPhone 5s' Touch ID fingerprint sensor
Apple is probably going to market the hell out of the iPhone 5s' Touch ID fingerprint sensor

The iPhone 5s delivers on Apple's 2012 purchase of Authentec, letting you secure your phone with your fingerprint. Maybe we'll see a fingerprint-based payment system down the road, but right now the Touch ID sensor, which lives beneath the home button, is used for unlocking your iPhone and making iTunes purchases.

Cameras

The iPhone 5s' camera wins on pixel count, but the One's camera is one of its highlights
The iPhone 5s' camera wins on pixel count, but the One's camera is one of its highlights

The HTC One's 4-megapixel rear camera fights above its pixel count, taking solid pictures and great low-light images. But we also have high hopes for the iPhone 5s' 8 MP shooter, with its F2.2 aperture, slow motion video, and new burst mode that automatically chooses the sharpest shot for you.

Camera flash

The iPhone 5s' camera flash adds a second LED, which will supposedly lead to more accurate tones
The iPhone 5s' camera flash adds a second LED, which will supposedly lead to more accurate tones

The 5s also sports a dual LED flash, which Apple is branding as "True Tone." The goal of the two LEDs is to make for more balanced and realistic colors when you're using the phone's flash. It's another 5s feature that we'll dig deeper into before long.

RAM

The 5s reportedly retains the 1 GB of RAM found in the iPhone 5
The 5s reportedly retains the 1 GB of RAM found in the iPhone 5

The iPhone 5s also has the same 1 GB of RAM found in the iPhone 5. The One doubles that with 2 GB.

Storage

Apart from the iPhone's 16 GB model, storage is even
Apart from the iPhone's 16 GB model, storage is even

The iPhone starts out with a smaller 16 GB, but otherwise the two phones' storage options are even. Neither handset supports microSD cards (except for Asian variations of the One).

Battery

The HTC One's battery holds more juice, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will last longer with regular use
The HTC One's battery holds more juice, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will last longer with regular use

According to an FCC disclosure (discovered by Anandtech) the iPhone 5s' battery holds more juice than the iPhone 5 did. That still doesn't hold a candle to the HTC One's 2,300 mAh battery, but there are too many factors that determine battery life to draw any conclusions from capacity alone.

4G LTE

Both phones have 4G LTE capabilities (duh)
Both phones have 4G LTE capabilities (duh)

Both phones support 4G LTE data. Absolutely no surprise there.

NFC

The HTC One packs an NFC chip
The HTC One packs an NFC chip

Near-field communication (NFC) is a promising technology, but NFC payments haven't caught on the way many people expected. Apple has never bothered with the technology, but the HTC One does have an NFC chip for things like transferring local files, or maybe syncing up with that crowdfunded NFC ring.

Infrared

The HTC One has an infrared blaster, so you can use it as a TV remote control
The HTC One has an infrared blaster, so you can use it as a TV remote control

The HTC One also totes an IR Blaster. Why in blazes would you need infrared in your smartphone? Well, the most popular use is to turn it into a remote control for your TV. The One comes bundled with an app that lets you do just that.

Speakers

HTC's front-facing speakers are louder and fuller than any other smartphone speakers we've tested
HTC's front-facing speakers are louder and fuller than any other smartphone speakers we've tested

We wouldn't normally bother talking about speaker placement, but we loved the HTC One's front-facing "BoomSound" speakers. They deliver the best audio we've heard from a smartphone, and the fact that they're facing you has a lot to do with it.

Software

It's iOS vs. Android, once again
It's iOS vs. Android, once again

Like every other iPhone, the 5s runs iOS. Here we're looking at the brand new iOS 7, which brings a new flat design, as well as a quick-settings control center, improved multitasking, and iTunes Radio.

Some versions of the One have been updated to Android 4.2, but other carriers still have it stuck on Android 4.1. HTC's Sense UI sits on top of all versions (except for the Google Play Edition). It adds a home screen feed reader called BlinkFeed, as well as the camera app's Zoes, which are short clips you can share as-is or use to pick the best still shot.

Release cycle

The HTC One might be about halfway through its initial life cycle
The HTC One might be about halfway through its initial life cycle

If HTC sticks to an annual update schedule, then we could be about halfway towards a proper follow-up to the HTC One. For the iPhone 5s, life is just beginning.

Starting price

These are the typical starting prices (in USD, with two-year contract), though you might be able to find the One for less than that
These are the typical starting prices (in USD, with two-year contract), though you might be able to find the One for less than that

With the One having been on store shelves for a while, some retailers and carriers have dropped the 32 GB model below its suggested US$200 with a new two-year contract. But that's still the standard, which equals the asking price for the 16 GB iPhone 5s.

Wrap-up

It's hard to find two sharper-looking phones, and it isn't necessarily going to be easy to find two phones that are better overall. Of course we won't really know that until we put the iPhone 5s through the paces. But based on its feature list and similarities to the excellent iPhone 5, we wouldn't be surprised if it's a solid candidate for your smartphone dollars.The biggest questions may be whether you can live with the iPhone's much smaller screen, and how badly you want that fingerprint sensor. There are still a lot of question marks about the 5s, but based on this quick look, those are jumping out at us as the most pressing issues here.

Of course there's also the Android vs. iOS thing, which is never a small consideration. But as both platforms have great app selections and similar feature lists, that may be more of a personal preference issue than a clear-cut advantage for one phone or the other.

Stay tuned for much more on the iPhone 5s in the coming weeks. And if you're still thinking about that other flagship from a little company called Samsung, you can check out our comparison of the iPhone 5s to the Galaxy S4.

View gallery - 20 images
25 comments
25 comments
NickHeidl
An indication of the HTC battery life would have been good, and based on the fact the iPhone 5 battery is only 9% better than the iPhone4, the best to expect with the new iPhone5 would be only a fraction better than it's predessessor, thus should give you some idea of what the battery life are for both.
Furthermore, I have mentioned this before, when are we going to see phones that have sunlight readable screens? Great to brag about how many colours and pixels, but useless unless you are inside.
Nairda
@NickHeidl
Not to put my tinfoil hat on, but the intention is to keep everyone inside. Tethered and dependent on a charger due to small battery life, ordering online, and communicating with each other via Social media etc,..
Heaven forbid that people should go outside and appreciate how the world is turning for the worse.
In saying this, I too am waiting for a review of the new Xperia that is supposed to have an outdoor readable screen.
christopher
$200 isn't the real price, the missing thousand or so being sucked out of you through some carrier contract or other - it would be nice to see the *real* price along side these.
Alex Haws
You forgot to mention the HTC Zoe camera software when mentioning the iPhone's camera software - which does all that and more.
Simon Middlemass
Personally I think that if you are comparing phone prices you need to forget what it costs via a carrier. The real cost of the phone is an unsubsidised one. The 'unlocked' global one surely? You might get the phone for $200 but in many cases the cost of the phone over 24 months will be greater than the cash outlay. Just saying...
Tim Hodgson
You mention "The iPhone 5s also has an M7 chip, whose sole purpose is to process information from your phone's sensors. So the 5s can process data from the phone's accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope without sucking the life out of your battery."
Just because it has a separate processor to handle the motion capabilities doesn't mean that it won't use the battery to do it. We are still uncertain how much of a savings the phone will gain from this, if any at all.
Dylan Hunt
lol @ 2gb storage? Nice failure to mention that you can buy 32gb for $20 online. It has a slot for microSD card, right? The HTC?
Inappropriate Response
@NickHeidl
The new battery is about 10% bigger which translates to 2 hours extra LTE usage or 25 hours of standby.
iLetAppleThinkForMe
HTC Zoe does everything the *as new as it's gonna get* IPhone's camera does + Action Shots, Object Removal and more. HTC has NFC which is only good for a variety of different conveniences; like paying a bill wirelessly with your phone. Gizmag never surprises me anymore when reviewing apple products. Iv know the HTC is relatively old, but it still does A LOT the iPhone won't because if they did it they wouldn't have anything to bring out next year. (remember how the i-Phone was one of the LAST 4G phones? Remember the FIRST sold in the U.S.? Let me remind you : The HTC Evo) Does apple still sound so innovative? To the millions of close-minded fanboys it will.
Buzzardjrt
This is nothing more then an article made to make the iPhone look better then any other phone.
talking about cameras. sure the One has a 4mp camera but it has UntraPixel built in witch "you’ll be able to quickly shoot vivid, true-to-life images with a wide range of colors, even in low light conditions" Does the iPhone have that?
Also almost all comparisons make the iPhone look better, even to go as far as to compare infrared and saying " Why in blazes would you need infrared in your smartphone? " trying to make the One look worse then the iPhone.
I really like unbiased articles. Not an article with hidden agendas. Just quote the facts and ALL the facts. No opinions. Not to mention the one is 6 months older then the iPhone and it still holds strong against it. I would be more inclined to try an iPhone if it was not for the media making it look better then it is. I am surprised to see you did not mention the phone has Facetime or some other feature Apple created.
But it is what it is. Writers of gizmag have always liked the iPhone over ANY Android phone.
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