Compare Htc U12 And Samsung S9

HTC has produced some very good phones over the last few years, just none of them have been surefire smashes like the HTC I (M8). But the new HTC U12+ is pretty dainty.

The U12+ is a large Android phone (there's no standard U12, listen you) that builds upon the sharp HTC U11+, putting an even larger focus on force per unit area-sensitive buttons while packing in four cameras – two on each side.

But is that enough to rival the current Android giants? Samsung's Milky way S9 remains one of the best phones today, and it's a key target for the HTC U12+. Here's how the ii flagship beasts compare, now that nosotros've put both through our review gauntlet.

Design: One stands out

Samsung changed nearly cypher from last year's Galaxy S8 for the Milky way S9, but that's not really a trouble: the S8 was last year's all-time-looking phone, and information technology still remains one of the best effectually right at present.

It's thin on top and bottom bezel while the screen curves to the left and right; and on the back, it's all glossy glass. The S9 did motion the fingerprint sensor to a more comfy location, thankfully, but otherwise this is the same thin and super-sleek stunner we saw in 2017.

Meanwhile, the HTC U12+ looks like a large rectangular slab: it sticks with a apartment screen (no notch) and has a bit more bezel in play – it definitely feels similar a large phone. But the "Liquid Drinking glass" finish on the back is still precipitous, as the multiple layers grab light in different means.

Still, even in its second, almost-duplicate iteration, we're still a bit more taken with the Galaxy S9. The U12+ isn't well-nigh as distinctive-looking compared to the contest.

Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S9

Screen: AMOLED prevails

The Galaxy S9 features a slightly improved version of the 5.8in Quad Hard disk Super AMOLED screen from the S8, coming in at an 18.v:9 aspect ratio and proving brighter than ever. It packs incredible contrast and deep blacks, and is arguably the all-time screen on the marketplace today.

The HTC U12+ is fairly close, but falls brusk in a couple of cardinal means. This 6in Quad HD screen (18:9) is a smidge larger, but the LCD panel isn't quite equally punchy as an OLED display. We also found that the U12+ didn't become as brilliant as the Milky way S9, which can exist problematic if you're outside on a vivid day. Information technology'southward a solid screen, just it doesn't win this boxing.

Verdict: Samsung Milky way S9

Camera: More isn't better

Samsung popped an actress photographic camera on the dorsum of the larger Milky way S9+, merely the standard S9 sticks with one 12-megapixel photographic camera – and it'due south a neat shooter, at that. Better notwithstanding, it features variable aperture, which tin swap between the wide f/1.5 setting and a tighter f/ii.iv when you have plenty of calorie-free, potentially providing added item in the process.

We plant it helped quite a chip with low-low-cal shooting, and overall, the Galaxy S9 offers upwards well-judged exposure and loads of item. And the prototype processing is much improved this time around.

HTC certainly has more than cameras in tow with the U12+: 2 on the back and two on the front. On the back, you lot'll find a 12MP f/1.eight master sensor with optical paradigm stabilisation aslope a 16MP f/2.six secondary sensor. The added zoom lens is a keen perk, and the strong HDR processing delivers abrupt results, albeit sometimes a bit too blown out.

In daytime shooting, these phones deliver comparably stiff results, just the Galaxy S9 has a leg up in depression-calorie-free situations. Too, the shutter lag on the HTC U12+ is a flake baffling and can throw you off while trying to snag a super shot. That's a shame.

Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S9

Functioning: About even

At least we can phone call the phones pretty comparable hither: they're both packing acme-of-the-line chips. The Galaxy S9 uses Samsung's own Exynos 9810 chip in the Britain and some other countries, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 used elsewhere – and 4GB RAM either way.

Meanwhile, the HTC U12+ goes with the Snapdragon 845 all over and bumps up to 6GB RAM. Some benchmark tests show an advantage for the Exynos, only it'southward not enormous. Ultimately, both of these phones are incredibly swift and tin can handle all manner of games and media without breaking a sweat.

Verdict: Depict

Battery and perks: Samsung's edge

The HTC U12+ packs in a larger bombardment than the Samsung Galaxy S9, at 3,500mAh vs. iii,000mAh in the S9 – but the U12+ really underwhelms on actual battery life.

We constitute the U12+'s stamina to be "passable," with a few hours of streaming media and photography draining the charge enough to have us reaching for a charger earlier bedtime. Fast charging helps, only the Galaxy S9 has that too – and its three,000mAh cell seems better suited for hard-hitting tasks. Plus, the S9 offers wireless charging, which the U12+ lacks.

Both of these phones offer 64GB of internal storage in the base model with microSD support for adding plenty more, so that's all skilful news.

The U12+'south big perk is Edge Sense pressure sensitivity on the sides, which lets you squeeze the handset to launch the Google Assistant or an app. But it misfires on occasion – more often than we really intentionally used the feature. And the force per unit area-sensitive "buttons" but feel a bit odd. We're not convinced that they're improve than standard, clickable buttons.

The Galaxy S9 also produces ameliorate speaker sound than the U12+, and has a 3.5mm headphone port that the U12+ lacks.

Lastly, the Galaxy S9 offers some Samsung-exclusive perks like the Gear VR headset and DeX Station, the latter of which lets you connect an external monitor for a PC desktop-like experience. All in all, this category is a slam dunk for Samsung.

Verdict: Samsung Milky way S9

Verdict: It's all Samsung

It should be pretty clear from the chiselled breakdown: the Samsung Galaxy S9 bests the HTC U12+ in almost every way. It has the more attracting blueprint, the better screen, a more than capable photographic camera setup, more reliable battery life, and some other handy perks.

The HTC U12+ is a pretty good flagship phone, and at £699, it's £twoscore cheaper than the Galaxy S9 and packs in a larger screen. Simply if you're already spending several hundred quid, then you should actually get 1 of the best phones around – and in this comparing, that's the Galaxy S9.

Winner: Samsung Milky way S9