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HTC One (M9) review

7.7/10 AVG.
RATING
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HTC One (M9)
HTC One (M9)
HTC One (M9)
HTC One (M9)
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7.7/10
Informr score
The HTC One (M9) currently has an Informr score of 7.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 49 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Incredibly fast performance
  • Display has excellent bright light legibility
  • Premium build and design

What's bad

  • Display colors muted with greenish tint
  • No optical image stabilizations
  • Inconsistent battery life

While Samsung and Apple might still command the biggest smartphone market shares, HTC has gained fans when they originally released the One M7. With the One M9, HTC has further polished their popular flagship phone and addressed several issues from earlier models. On the outside, HTC hasn't changed too much in terms of physical attributes. It still has an aluminum body and sloping curves that made the M7 so popular. At first glance it might seem almost identical to the M8, but there are some key differences, most noticeably the dimensions. It is smaller all around than its predecessor at 5.7 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches. Some less obvious changes are the matte finish on the aluminum body and a new "shelf" that has been milled into the edges of the phone. While these might seem trivial, experts note that they made the phone much easier to grip as did the positioning of the power button. Instead of being located at the top of the phone HTC moved it to the right-hand side beneath the volume.

Adorning the front of the phone is the 5-inch, 1080p IPS display. While it is the same technology on paper, in-person experts noticed the M9 had more of a greenish tint to it though Android Central adds, "It's one of those things you're more likely to notice side by side with another phone." Still, critics found the display very crisp with a cold color balance leading to crisper whites but slightly muted colors. HTC also equipped the M9 with new polarization, which experts found improved bright light legibility.

The M9 comes equipped with a 2GHz Snapdragon 810 Octa core processor and 3GB of RAM. There has been a lot of concern regarding the Snapdragon 810 processors running extremely hot. When actually tested with both benchmark apps and graphics-intensive games, experts mention it didn't get any warmer than the standard smartphone. In terms of overall performance the M9 performed admirably. Engadget states, "I haven't found a scenario where the M9's combination of lightweight software and speedy hardware let me down." Critics experienced no lag regardless of the task they were performing. The biggest issue they had was with battery life. Equipped with a 2,840mAh battery the M9 has one of the biggest batteries in the HTC lineup. Unfortunately, reviewers experienced very inconsistent battery life ranging from all day to only 8 hours even when performing the same tasks.

The M9 breaks tradition slightly when it comes to the 20MP rear camera. Instead of the UltraPixel sensor, HTC opted for a more traditional one and only one lens on the back of the phone. Unfortunately, the new camera system was a disappointment for experts. In ideal lighting situations, experts captured photos with good detail and accurate color reproduction. They ran into issues in low-light as pictures were grainy and discolored due to the lack of optical image stabilization. HTC hasn't completely given up on UltraPixel technology as it is used in the front camera.

As powerful and attractive as the M9 is, experts were torn about recommending it. Gizmodo states, "…if you're willing to settle for the M9, you should also look at the M8. It lasts longer, it feels just as fast and it costs less." On the other hand ZDNet says, "The One M9 feels great in your hand…is very fast and responsive, and extremely capable."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
20+ MP, f/2.2
Camera
Camera
20+ MP, f/2.2
2840 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Reviewed
Reviewed

We're hopeful that HTC is focused on pushing the envelope of smartphone design even further next time around, if you're looking for a beautiful, no-nonsense Android flagship that stays out of your way, the HTC One M9 is it. There are better-performing phones on the market, but the One M9 belongs in...

- Michael Desjardin, Reviewed
Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

The M9's focus on manufacturing precision feels like something of a distraction: were smartphone fans demanding increasing precision in manufacture, or were they calling for better battery life and an improved camera experience? As pretty as it is, the HTC One M9 doesn't feel like it's taken a big e...

- Chris Hall, Pocket-lint
Brighthand
Brighthand

The HTC One M9 features more significant changes on the inside than its slight external tweaks suggest. It would be a shame if the stagnant design causes potential buyers to look elsewhere, because the HTC One M9’s display, software, and chipset make it one of the best Android smartphones curr...

- Dragan Petric, Brighthand
Android Authority
Android Authority

With the One M9, HTC took the cautious route and didn’t make any major revisions to its tried and true One formula. That move played against the company as the One M9 is good, but doesn’t feature anything to set it apart. It feels much the same as last year’s model and its one majo...

- Nick Sarafolean, Android Authority
iDownloadBlog
iDownloadBlog

If you’re heavily into media—shooting video, taking photos—then the HTC One M9 just won’t cut it. It suffers heavily in this area, and I have no doubt that HTC will make this a point of emphasis on the next iteration of the One. The iPhone is still a better shooter and video...

- Jeff Benjamin, iDownloadBlog


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC One (M9) user manual here.


HTC backs up the One (M9) with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your One (M9) has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HTC support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HTC's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Screen Size
5"

The HTC One (M9)'s screen size is 5 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 5.0 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat) operating system (OS).

Camera
20+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 20+ MP, f/2.2 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 4+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2840mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 2840 mAh battery. HTC's performance ratings are 1524 minutes, 451 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

One (M9) Specs

Overview
Release Date March 31, 2015
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 5.0 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa core 2 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.56 W/kg
Body: 0.35 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
20+ Megapixels, f/2.2
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, Smile detection, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
4+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 441 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 2840 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 501 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 451 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1524 minutes
Standby Time Up to 16.8 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Gray, Black, Pink, Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.5 x 7 x 1 cm (5.7 x 2.8 x 0.4 in)
Weight 157 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
HTC One (M9) Reviews
Where to buy HTC One (M9)
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