HTC has finally debuted the One A9 and proven that speculations made prior to the release, including a design that is quite similar to that of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, were mostly accurate. Setting the tired argument of who-copied-who aside, how does it stack up against Cupertino's pride?
Earlier this week, it was reported that the HTC One A9 would have a 5-inch 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 13MP Ultrapixel main camera and 5MP front-facing shooter. With HTC's debut of the device, all of the mentioned specs were proven true, well, sort of.
Because of how it looks, the HTC One A9 has been dubbed the "iPhone running on Android." Although it's quite silly to compare a mid-range device to a premiere flagship, this time, it is warranted. HTC is claiming that the One A9 will replace the One M9 as its flagship device within the United States, a really bold claim considering that the M9 is fitted with a Snapdragon 810 and positioned as a highly-rated premium handheld.
Material, Dimensions and Weight
The One A9 (145.75 mm x 70.8 mm x 7.26 mm) is slightly bigger than the iPhone 6s (138.3 mm x 76.1 mm x 7.1mm).
"[The One A9] feels for all the world like the middle child between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus," says The Verge.
Both handhelds weigh in at 143g (roughly 5 ounces) courtesy of the lightweight brushed aluminum that makes up both chassis.
"Constructed out of metal once again, brandishing a dual-tone finish, where it's a brushed aluminum casing with polished edges, the A9 is charming looking to say the least," PhoneArena elaborates.
Display
As announced officially, the One A9 has a 5-inch display and a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (1080p), which is bigger than the 4.7-inch 1334 x 750 pixel display of the iPhone 6s.
"Neither phone can challenge the likes of the QHD Samsung Galaxy S6 for resolution, but they're both fairly sharp," TechRadar comments. "It remains to be seen how good the A9's [screen] is in practice, but hopefully it's brighter than the HTC One M9's screen."
Performance and Battery Life
Many doubt the performance that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 SoC, an octa-core (8x ARM Cortex A53) clocked at 1.5 GHz, can bring. Although it's too early to have a detailed breakdown of its performance, some who got their hands on the One A9 commented on how it performs better than the sum of its listed components — much like the experience of the iPhone 6s with its A9 SoC and 2GB RAM. This goes not only for the chipset and RAM but for the 2,150 mAh battery as well.
"The One A9 has a 2,150mAh battery, a Snapdragon 617 processor, and a 1080p display, but it makes the absolute most of them," writes The Verge. "Performance is delightfully fluid and quick."
The battery capacity is quite small compared to other mid-range offerings on the Android market, but HTC claims that it can live through 12 hours of video playback and 16 hours of talk time. If true, then it bests the iPhone 6s's 2,915mAh battery pack that is only capable of 11 hours of video playback and 14 hours of talk time.
Moreover, it should be noted that the Snapdragon 617 supports Quick Charge 3.0, which charges the device four times faster than conventional charging, according to Qualcomm. More of this is explained in the video below.
Camera
The HTC One A9's main shooter, the 13MP back camera, supports OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and can capture 1080p videos. On paper, it beats the 12MP on the iPhone 6s. However, the 6s can capture 4K video, something that the One A9 is not capable of. Which of the two is better when taking stills is yet to be determined, but the verdict should be available in the coming days.
"HTC refuses to call this its best camera ever, but I can already tell you that it is," The Verge praises the One A9's main snapper.
Audio
HTC is known for equipping its devices with a good DAC (Digital to Analog Converter). It did so with the One M9, which is praised for having one of the best audio systems among handhelds. In fact, it holds its own against the ESS SABRE 9018 on the LG V10.
The One A9 supports high-res audio formats and will have Dolby Surround Sound for headphones. HTC claims that the One A9 will have a signal-to-noise that will sit atop other mobile devices.
However, the beloved front-facing speakers from previous HTC handhelds will no longer be available in the One A9 due to the "renewed design."
Operating System
Needless to say, the One A9 is running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, with the Sense 7 custom skin, while the iPhone 6s was shipped with iOS 9 on board. It is also important to note that Marshmallow, with its Doze mode, significantly extends the battery life.
"[Sense 7.0 experience] boasts the same set of features and functionality we see in the One M9 already — like those various Motion Launch gestures and the Sense Home widget," explains PhoneArena.
Price
If there was anything that the A9's debut added, it was the price clarification. Orange S.A., the French telecommunications network that leaked the images and specs, clipped a $680 price tag to the One A9, which is ridiculous considering the specs.
.@RDR0b11 The version of the HTC One A9 sold in the US is 3GB RAM / 32GB storage.
— Jeff Gordon (@urbanstrata) October 20, 2015
Thankfully, the HTC One A9 (unlocked), with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (a microSD expansion slot is available if more storage space is needed), was officially announced for $399 in the United States. Acid Gold, Cast Iron, Deep Garnet, Opal Silver and Carbon Gray are the available color schemes for the HTC One A9. Of course, buying from mobile carriers will cost consumers more.
Although details for regional releases are yet to be announced, it is believed that the UK will receive the 2GB RAM/16GB variant for £429.99 ($665), which does not make sense. It is hoped that HTC clarifies this soon.
If true, the HTC One A9 for the UK will have the same price as the iPhone 6s, which also retails for $649 just for the 16GB version. Going for the 64GB 6s, which is ideal, will set the buyer back by another hundred bucks to $749.
Will the One A9 be the hero that saves HTC's mobile devices from sinking further — or will it be the final nail that seals the coffin?
Below is a more in-depth look into the HTC One A9.
