Price: £549 inc VAT
Rating: 0

We're getting very close to a wave of new flagship smartphones from the big names as MWC 2015 draws closer. Here we take a look at what two of the most anticipated phone might looks like in our Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9 comparison preview. Also see Best smartphones 2014and Best Android phones 2014.

Another year means a new set of flagship smartphones. The iPhone 6S is still a way off but we're only days away from new handsets from Apple's big rivals. As usual there's a lot of hype around the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6.

Over the last few weeks and months, leaks on both handsets have been abundant. Enough so that we can take a good look at how they will compare. We must stress that the information is based on rumours and although they could be correct, can't be taken as fact and we are by no means claiming they are.

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9: Release date

MWC 2015 takes place in Barcelona at the beginning of March as is the tech show on the calendar focused on smartphones, tablets and other mobile products. Also see: best new phones you should be most excited about in 2015.

Although the show opens on Monday 2 March, there are an overwhelming amount of press conferences scheduled for Sunday 1 March. Both HTC and Samsung will be holding launch events on the day so it's highly likely that we'll see the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 unveiled within hours of each other.

We need to wait until then for the final details but plenty of leaked information (which is often spot on) means we can compare how these two heavyweights will stack up against each other. As we already mentioned, take the below information with a pinch of salt.

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9: Design and build

Going by the leaked images, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 will look and feel similar to their predecessors. Both will use a metal frame although HTC will go for a full uni-body design and they will both be around 7 mm. As you can see from the image below, the Galaxy S6 will look similar to the iPhone 6.

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9: Hardware

Screen

The Galaxy S5 has a 5.1in screen but Samsung will supposedly jump to 5.5in with the Galaxy S6 meaning it will match the LG G3 and iPhone 6 Plus. The firm is also rumoured to increase the resolution to Quad HD (1440 x 2560) which makes sense considering that's what the Galaxy Note 4 already uses.

It's also worth noting that there looks to be various versions of the Galaxy S6. A Galaxy S6 Edge is the most likely (with a three sided screen) but a Galaxy S6 Active and Galaxy S6 mini are also possible.

HTC doesn't look to be changing things, instead sticking with 5in and Full HD for the M9. However, leaked photos show a larger version will also be available alongside it in the same way Apple offers the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Processor and memory

HTC looks like it will be using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core processor inside the One M9 and although it initially looked like the Galaxy S6 would do to things got complicated when reports of overheating problems appeared.
So it looks like the Galaxy S6 will come with Samsung's own Exynos 7420 (also 64-bit and octa-core) chip instead although if Qualcomm fixes the problems, the firm may ship later batches with the Snapdragon 810. Confusing or what?

Memory looks to be pegged at 3 GB of RAM for the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 so we expect benchmarks and performance to be similar.

Storage

With just 16- or 32 GB of storage available on the Galaxy S5, rumours suggest Samsung will expand the selection with 32-, 64- and 128 GB. As usual, bar the Galaxy Alpha, Samsung will include a mciroSD card slot for expanding the storage.

HTC will also be offering more models but a little lower on capacity at 16-, 32- and 64 GB. There's no word on a microSD card slot but since the current HTC One M8 has one we assume HTC won't downgrade for the M9.

Cameras

On raw specs, it seems like the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 will be closely matched. Each is expected to sport a 20 Mp rear camera with HTC dropping its Duo Camera setup. We can expect new features from both companies in terms of software and 4K video recording.

At the front Samsung is rumoured to be using a 5 Mp camera which would match its new Galaxy A3 and A5 smartphones while HTC will opt for a 4 Mp UltraPixel camera.

Other hardware

Beyond core specs, the Galaxy S6 will reportedly come with dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS and an IR blaster. There's no mention of a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor but we don't think Samsung will get rid of these features unless it has a compelling reason to do so.

The firm loves adding as much as possible and is rumoured to be offering a new payment system to rival ApplePay with Visa using LoopPay technology. This will roll out to the Note 4 and Galaxy S5, too.

HTC is expected to also offer high-end wireless but things like a fingerprint scanner and hear rate monitor are less likely. NFC and an IR blaster should remain features but only Bluetooth 4.1 and 11ac Wi-Fi (2x2) have been rumoured as well as a 2840 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9: Software

All of the big names, bar Microsoft and Apple, opt for Google's Android OS so it's not hard to work out that the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 will both come with Android 5.0 Lollipop which is the latest version introduced with the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.

Although they will run the same operating system, the experience will be quite different since Samsung will add its TouchWiz user interface and HTC will use its own Sense 7.0. Rumour has it that Samsung is going for near-stock Android and is cutting down on bloatware. Things like S Note, S Health and S Voice won't be pre-installed but Microsoft apps might be.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/features/mobile-phone/3594473/what-expect-from-mwc-2015-phones/

Buying Advice