Two similar looking smartphones on the market have been released by entirely different manufacturers: Apple drop their iPhone 6 while HTC introduce the One M9. We break into the key elements of each device, compare the two super-smartphones and decide which one is the overall winner.

Design & Build

When consumers begin spending hundreds of pounds on their pocket device, they expect only the very best of build quality and design. Here, both Apple and HTC opted for designs composed mainly of aluminium, giving these models both a premium and strong look. However, when in hand, they are very different. The iPhone has a flat back surrounded by smooth edges, while the HTC is entirely curved, resulting in significantly different dimensions, where the iPhone stands at 6.5mm thick and the HTC at 9.5mm thick.

Screen

Both phones keep themselves within the original smartphone market, as opposed to other models which are now classed as "phablets" that only just fit into an everyday pocket. The iPhone offers a 4.7inch display while HTC have gone slightly larger at 5-inches. Both displays are at a similar resolution, with the HTC offering full 1080p and the iPhone sitting in between 720p and full HD. As the technology behind the glass is very similar, the HTC edges slightly in front here with its larger screen size, great for watching movies. It also has the bonus of front facing speakers above and below the screen.

Storage

As always, Apple fix storage capacities and a user cannot add 1MB extra due to a lack of an external storage option. The iPhone 6 comes at 16GB, 64GB and 128GB storage options. HTC differentiate themselves by offering a standard 32GB model but allowing users to add more storage space via its external microSD slot. The winner? Obviously, the HTC with its flexibility.

Power and Performance

One of the first smartphones to use 64-bit technology, the iPhone 6 packs in the latest A8 processor along with a dual-core CPU in partnership with a quad-core GPU. What does this actually mean? High responsiveness under the use of multiple applications, ideal for gaming or intensive programs. The 1GB of RAM is enough but by no means top of the range.

However, these specifications sound poor when comparing the iPhone's power to the HTC One M9. This device holds an eight-core Snapdragon 810 processor. It has four 2GHz Cortex-A57 power cores and four 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 efficiency cores. The phone smashes Apple with its 3GB of RAM, a necessity for its current operating system.