HTC One M8 vs. iPhone 5S: What’s the Best Smartphone?

The new HTC One smartphone is here. But how does it stack up against an iPhone 5s? We compare these two phones so you don’t have to.

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1. Price

The 16GB iPhone 5s retails for $199 with contract, or $299 for the 32GB version. If you want to spring for the 64GB version, that will cost you $399.

The new HTC One M8 smartphone will retail for $199.99 with contract.

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2. Camera

The rear camera on the iPhone 5s is 8MP, and boasts a durable sapphire crystal lens cover. Auto-focus and “tap to focus” modes are both available. The front camera is 1.2MP, and is capable of 720p HD video recording.

The camera on the HTC One for 2014 has tons of interesting features, but some reviewers think the camera is overhyped. The Verge reports:

“The One really only has one major flaw left, and it’s a big one: its camera is still pretty bad. It’s the same UltraPixel camera HTC debuted last year, which trades resolution for pixel size so as to collect more light at a time. The idea is certainly sound, but the execution was wrong then and it’s wrong now. And the changes it did make are either niche features or interface changes attempting to disguise the device’s basic shortcomings.”

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3. Technical Specs

The iPhone 5s runs on an A7 64-bit processor chip, and also includes a M7 motion coprocessor that works with various apps to estimate calories burned. The phone also includes a TouchID fingerprint sensor and a 4-inch screen.

The new HTC One for 2014 has a 5-inch screen, a Snapdragon 801 processor, and a MicroSD card slot.

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4. Battery Life

Apple says that the iPhone 5s battery can last up to 10 hours when surfing the web on LTE. The phone supports 10 hours of talk time, or 250 hours on standby mode. Audio playback can last up to 40 hours on one charge.

HTC’s new One has 40% improved battery life over the previous model. You get 20 hours of talk time on 3G. The battery itself is 2600 mAh. That is far larger than the iPhone 5s battery, which is 1560 mAh.

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5. Special Features and Final Thoughts

Which one should you buy: HTC One (M8) or Apple iPhone 5S? Full spec comparison: http://t.co/rc3w7ikWw3 #HTCOneM8 pic.twitter.com/tgPsIaXt4p

— ITProPortal (@ITProPortal) March 25, 2014

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The iPhone 5s is a desirable smartphone because of its user-friendly design, Siri voice interface, and stable UI. Given the recent report from Forbes that says 97% of all mobile malware is on Android devices, many security-obsessed smartphone fans prefer the iPhone’s ecosystem to that of an Android phone.

The new-for-2014 HTC One has a number of nice perks, including the Sense software suite and BlinkFeed content launcher. The One also has the benefit of being one of the few smartphones on the market that has a functional case. The Dot View case for the HTC One has a fun retro look that also acts as a notification window, alerting you to weather, calls, and the time.

All that being said, the first HTC One smartphone was recently named the Engadget Awards Reader’s Choice smartphone of the year. It stands to reason that this new-and-improved version of the One will win over just as many smartphone fans. The HTC One wins on battery life, but in many ways, these phones are fairly evenly matched.

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Considering getting someone an electronics gift this holiday season? Check out our Gifts section for tons of great gift recommendations, or visit our ultimate guides to the best gifts for women and best gifts for men.

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