HTC 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Introduction

We've come to know the HTC 10 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge pretty well, and it's been our pleasure pretty much every step of the way. These are two of our favorite Android phones right now.

They're quite different, though. Real different, in fact. High and mighty, the Galaxy S7 edge continues along the tangent of established Samsung philosophy in terms of hardware and software design, and the same goes for struggling HTC and its flagship 10. 

How do they differ, and can we conclude that one bests the other overall? Dig in to find out.

Design

Featuring an aluminum body, the HTC 10 is a sight to behold in a rather mannish type of way. It honestly feels like a man's tool, not a toy. It's also different from its predecessors, with capacitive navigation keys, and none of them front-firing BoomSound speakers. 

If we were to extend the macho metaphor a little bit further, we could say that while the HTC 10 feels like your typical, American muscle-type car, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is the slick, electrical BMW i8 that has a more futuristic, but also unisex appeal. A blend between glass and metal, the S7 edge is thinner and a bit lighter, but also bigger and offering perks such as IP68-certification, meaning it's dust-tight and water-resistant. While not as protected, the HTC 10 is at least splash-resistant. 

When it comes to objective factors, such as ergonomics, we're conflicted. The S7 edge offers better grip due to the glass backplate, but it's also larger and the edge screens don't help ergonomics at all. The HTC 10 also has a nicely ridged power button on the right, and its volume rocker is more easily accessible. In comparison, reaching the volume keys on the S7 edge may be a bit of a stretch. 

Display

After years of sticking to smaller displays with lower resolutions than its rivals—which wasn't necessarily a bad thing—HTC is finally beefing up on the specs with the 10. Packing a 5.2-inch LCD display with a Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution, the HTC 10 nevertheless doesn't offer as much screen real estate as the the Galaxy S7 edge and its spacious, 5.5-inch AMOLED panel with the same pixel count. Rest assured that both provide an incredible level of detail – more so, in fact, than needed.

The Galaxy S7 edge wins out in terms of brightness —both at the top and low end. Peaking at over 490 nits and managing as little as 2 nits, Samsung's flagship overshadows the HTC 10, which is slightly dimmer when it has to be bright, and brighter when it has to be dim.

Finally, it ought to be mentioned that the Galaxy S7 edge has an Always-On display feature, meaning it will display information even when the phone is sleeping—information such as the time and date, or your calendar. However, since this drains the battery and is of questionable use, we're unwilling to shoot some extra points over to Samsung's camp over this one.

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HTC 10 vs Apple iPhone 6s

Introduction

HTC took to heart all the criticism that its last few flagships endured, mainly for their camera performance, and came back with the HTC 10 this year that covers all bases. It is still housed in the premium metal chassis we know and like, but the camera has been given a special emphasis, and the software – a thoughtful overhaul. 

That is why we are pitting it now against Apple's iPhone 6s, which also sports a solid metal housing and stellar camera, but is more compact thanks to the smaller screen size. Which one should you grab? Let's examine the details...

Design

The somewhat repetitive design of the HTC 10 is a direct match for the thin iPhone 6s that is housed in a chassis similar to its predecessor.

While metal may be becoming the new plastic, as even midrange phones from some makers come in aluminum or magnesium alloys these days, HTC and Apple have been making metal phones before it was the norm. Therefore, they didn't need to alter their design language to remain in the “premium” chassis segment. Granted, even the new chamfered edges of the aluminum rear on the HTC 10 can't help it become more stylish compared to the airy chassis of the iPhone 6s, simply because it is quite a bit larger and thicker. 

Both phones sport touch finger scanners embedded in the home key underneath their displays, which are a breeze to operate. That same home key acts rather differently, though – on the iPhone 6s it is a physical button you can click down, while the HTC 10 uses a capacitive touch home, flanked by similar back and menu keys. The lock buttons and volume rockers on the phones' sides are a more standard fare, easy to feel and press, with responsive tactile feedback. HTC even added a toothed imprint on the power key for easier find when you search to press it without looking, which is a nice touch from practical standpoint.

Display

Brighter panel in the sun, more credible colors are on offer with the iPhone 6s

Both the HTC 10 and the iPhone 6s come with latest generation LCD displays, which, however, differ both in size and resolution. HTC offers a 5.2” 1440 x 2560 pixels Quad HD panel, while the iPhone 6s counts on a 4.7” display with 750 x 1334 pixels. Still, pixel density is not an issue with both, as the iPhone has a smaller diagonal, and letters as well as icon edges look smooth and crisp on both from a normal viewing distance.

When it comes to screen quality, the iPhone 6s has an almost spot-on color temperature and saturation, referenced to the standard sRGB gamut, while HTC 10 leans a bit towards the cold side of the spectrum, with a tad unnatural hues. Not quite a dealbreaker, but still. 

The iPhone's brightness/screen reflection combo makes it the preferable choice for outdoor viewing. Moreover, the 6s offers a 3D Touch display that can distinguish between a light tap and a harder press, and react accordingly in both stock apps, as well as compatible third-party ones.

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Apple iPhone SE Review

Introduction

Next to the iPhone 6s (right)

This has to be one of the more peculiar reviews I've ever been tasked with. A past iPhone 5 and5s user, I have long forgotten what it is to hold and work with a smartphone of such caliber. Since those two, whom Apple's new iPhone SEresembles thoroughly, I've only had the pleasure (and sometimes – displeasure) of using much bigger devices; like the iPhone 6, for example, or the One M9, or the Galaxy S6... and you know what? I think I got perfectly used to the big screen format. Most devices above 5 inches do feel rather clunky to me, but if we draw the line at around 5", I think most handsets in the category come off as relatively easy to handle.

So does the world still need a phone with a 4" screen, be it with the latest top-of-the-line tech? Have our hands permanently adjusted to working with big handsets? Does the extra portability of the iPhone SE make a meaningful difference for the 2016 consumer? And, perhaps more importantly, is the 4" form-factor still adequate enough to get the job done well enough in this day and age, for productivity, gaming, general usage, and more? Do browsing the web, or checking a Facebook feed, or typing out a message feel constrained on this seemingly old-age 4" screen? These are all hard questions the iPhone SE will have to answer if we're to believe in its adequacy. Let's see what it has to say!

The package contains:

• Apple iPhone SE
• Wall charger
• Lightning cable
• EarPods earphones
• SIM ejector
• Quick start guide
• Apple decals

Design

Blast from the past: the iPhone SE resurrects a design many thought superior to iPhone 6, but is it really so?

You can imagine the tension in the air that was accommodated by the moment when I first took the iPhone SE out of its box and carefully enveloped its seemingly delicate body with my fingers. My first thought was: wow, this is a nice phone! A looker! My second thought was: oh boy, that sharp edge is cutting right into my fingers.

The Apple iPhone SE may be very compact and all, but its boxy shape with sharp edges sure isn't very ergonomic. It looks good, but doesn't feel good, which is equally important. Using a case is a way to work around this problem, but it isn't quite the ideal solution. I think if Apple had actually used a scaled-down version of the iPhone 6 design, it would have made for a much more comfortable handset, not to mention – much fresher.

Aside from that, the iPhone SE is very well built – the metal body, ornamented by the contrasting glass pieces on the back, is a sight to behold, while the buttons for volume and home, as well as the mute switch, all click nicely and reassuringly.

When it comes to the dimensions themselves: yes, the SE is extremely compact and light by today's standards. It's very refreshing to once again use such a small device – a considerably more effortless experience compared to the 'full-size' slates of today. It's also not tiny to the point of looking weird or inadequate in the hands. However, the SE definitely isn't looking to balance body size and screen diagonal – the significant bezels around the screen, and especially the final look when you put a case on, do make the iPhone SE appear somewhat old-school. It would have been a nice gesture from Apple if it had taken the time to renew the design of the munchkin to make it look more modern.

Display

A very high-quality display, the 4” panel of the iPhone SE is a great treat for LCD lovers.

The 4” IPS LCD screen of the iPhone SE is terrific. Its resolution comes in at 640 x 1136 pixels, which delivers a pleasing pixel density of 326 ppi. Reading text and discerning fine details on the screen doesn't make you squint or focus more than usual, because iOS scales correctly to display items with adequate size. As a matter of fact, most elements of the user interface have the same dimensions as on the iPhone 6's 4.7” screen. Of course, this means you'll be seeing less content on the SE, but it's a fair trade-off.

Brightness with the iPhone SE can be cranked up all the way to 600 nits, which is a superb output, allowing the screen to be used with relative comfort even when it's sunny. Minimum brightness sits at 6 nits, which translates to decent viewing comfort in the dark, but it could have been better.

Images, video and other content looks great on the iPhone SE, because color balance is great. Color temperature is a tad cold at 7000 K (slightly dominant blue color), but overall, colors are very accurate and true to life, while the display's gamma is spot on, producing a deep, dynamic look that's also natural. There's just the right amount of contrast and vividness.

Whether or not 4 inches are big enough, or too small, depends on what you're going to be using them for, so it'll be in the next chapters where I'll explore the display's efficiency.

Unfortunately, there's no 3D Touch here, which probably isn't such a big deal at this point. The fact you can reach all corners of the screen with a single thumb easily offsets the loss.

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Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) Review

Introduction

Samsung's 2016 A-series is truly something. Retaining the slightly less-rounded rectangular shape of the 2015 A-series (compared to the flagship S-series), the new handsets have adopted a more gracious, sophisticated glass design. What's more, Samsung has added some additional size variations to choose from, the biggest of which being the Galaxy A9 – a 6" behemoth that impresses with both size and posture.

At a price ranging from $450 to $500, the Galaxy A9 is easier to acquire than Samsung's top-shelf Galaxy S7 edge, yet most consumers will probably have a difficult time finding the spots where the corner-cutting has been done. If you happen to love large... no, HUGE screens, this may be the phablet you've always wanted.

Design

Some say, with a somewhat negative connotation, that metal has become the new plastic when it comes to phone design. If you happen to second this view, then I'd assume you are going to like the Galaxy A9, with its elegant glass exterior. Yes, it'll be easier to crack; yes, it'll attract more fingerprints, but it sure as hell looks and feels fancy!

The design of the Samsung Galaxy A9 is among its main selling points: you can get it in three different colors: white, gold and 'pink gold', with the latter two having a black front. All three options are quite attractive. The metal side frame is colored appropriately for the three variations, and I'm pleased to say the company has excercised enough care so as to smooth out all the edges, making for a phone that feels genuinely good in the hand.

'Solid' and 'substantial' are two words I would definitely use to describe the Galaxy A9. The phone doesn't feel flimsy or plasticky like the Xiaomi Mi5, for example, but nice and solid – it makes you feel confident that it's not going to fall apart easily. And then, having in mind the imposing dimensions and scale-tipping weight of 7.05 oz (200 g), the A9 sure is substantial enough – so much so that it easily outweighs other big and heavy handsets like the iPhone 6s Plus (6.77 oz | 192 g) and the Galaxy Note 5 (6.03 oz | 171 g). However, considering there's a massive, 6" display mounted on the Galaxy A9, such figures are definitely to be expected.

Also worthy of note: as it's become the norm for recent higher-end Samsung handsets, the buttons (home, volume, power) are all clicky and easy to press, with a nicely defined tacticle feedback.

The Galaxy A9, being a higher-tier handset, comes with a fingerprint scanner built into its home button, just like the S7 or Note 5. The scanner also works in a similar fashion: it's mostly quick and responsive, though its accuracy tends to go south the more careless the user becomes with their finger positioning.

One feature the Galaxy A9 does lack, compared to Samsung's 2016 flagships, the S7 and S7 edge, is water-resistance. This is one area where we can say a corner has been cut in order to keep the price of the phone more accessible.

Display

The 6" panel is another centerpiece of the A9. If you're interested in this phone, you're obviously interested in gigantic displays. Samsung has equipped the Galaxy A9 with a decent, though not particularly fancy AMOLED panel. The 1080 x 1920 px resolution delivers a pixel density of 367 ppi, which is more than sufficient.

There are the usual ultra-saturated screen modes like 'Adaptive' and 'AMOLED', but if it's reasonably balanced colors you're after, activating 'Basic' mode will engage a color profile that is more true-to-life. There is a slight tendency towards blue/green with this screen, and while this is mostly tolerable, colors happen to appear a bit subdued overall, especially at lower brightness levels. This is definitely not the liveliest display panel out there.

Still, it's not really that bad, especially when we consider its lovely brightness levels: going up, it can reach 560 nits, which is enough to allow for comfortable outdoor viewing, while when we turn the lights off and hit the sheets, its minimum brightness of 1 nit will make sure that our eyes aren't irritated in any way while viewing it.

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Meizu M3 Note Review

Introduction

Unfamiliar to most of the world, Meizu is prominent in its homeland of China where local users have been welcoming the brand's MX, PRO, and M series of handsets. While the former are meant to be the best smartphones Meizu is capable of building, the M series is where the company experiments with delivering the most value possible at a sub-$199 price.

The M series' third-generation flagship device – the M3 Note – goes all out, promising high-end smartphone features like a metal body, a big display, above average performance, a competent camera, and superb battery life. Meizu's undertaking surely has us intrigued with its "too good to be true" character, and by the end of this review, we'll know exactly how much the M3 Note fulfills the brand's ambitions.

Design

A clean-looking and sturdy metal phone with a bit more bulk than what you might expect.

With a 6000 Series aluminum back and a sleek glass-covered front, the Meizu M3 Note is sturdy and good-looking, but also slightly bulky. At 5.75 oz (163 g), it carries a fair bit of heft, and with its 0.32in (8.2mm) thickness, the handset looks unabashedly plump next to the skinny smartphones of today.

Still, the Meizu is comfortable to hold and using it one-handed is a legitimate possibility thanks to its balanced proportions. We also like how the camera on the back is flush with the body, and the antenna lines are incorporated in an aesthetically pleasant way.

The M3 Note features a Home button below the display that doubles as a 'Back' navigation key and fingerprint sensor, a typical move by Meizu. The fingerprint scanner is very fast and accurate, but like the power and volume keys to the right, the Home button feels a bit soft and wobbly.

Display

An adequate screen that has room for improvement.

The Meizu M3 Note features a 5.5-inch, 1080p resolution IPS LCD display that's of decent quality, though the panel comes off as a tad on the dimmer side under bright sunlight, which is one of its main shortcomings. Gamma and color balance are close to where they need to be, but there's a bit of a purple tinge that can be a bit distracting.

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Xiaomi Mi Max Review

Introduction

6 years since its inception, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is still busy selling quality handsets at pupil-dilating prices. The Mi Max is its newest proposition – a gargantuan 6.44-inch phablet with a sleek metal body, nice specs, and seemingly great value for the ~$230 that Xiaomi wants for the base model. Is this another fledgling success for Xiaomi? Well, let's see!

Design

This is one of the largest phones you've ever seen...

Unabashedly enormous it may be, but Xiaomi's phablet exhibits trim bezels and sides, a sleek metal body, and reasonable weight. Make no mistake, it's still a device that few jean pockets can contain, and it does demand two-handed usage, but it's not uncomfortable. Unlocking it with the fingerprint sensor on the back is quick and feels natural. We are also fond of the power and volume keys which are tight and sturdy. Overall, we think the Mi Max's design and build quality rank pretty well in its peculiar class. We would have loved a USB Type-C port in place of the microUSB one, though – it's a somewhat dated component on an otherwise modern device.

Display

The screen isn't amazing, but most of its flaws can be forgiven.

The 6.44-inch display is good, but not remarkable. It has a 1080 x 1920 resolution, which suffices, but its colors are on the colder side and appear darker than they actually are. The viewing angles are solid, but the display left us squinting badly to make out something on a relaxed sunny day, despite its strong brightness output. Overall, the display quality is acceptable, but not exemplary. After all, you get what you pay for, and in this case, the Mi Max's screen is 

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Sony Xperia X Review

Introduction

Thanks to the diversified nature of its various businesses, Sony may not be in as precarious a position as the likes of HTC or BlackBerry. All the same, it's plainly obvious that the maker has been having trouble in mobile for a while now. Ditching the Z-series of old, Sony is transitioning to an Xperia X branding, and the eponymous mid-ranger is the first of the new line we get to review.

This move, it's supposed to be a showcase of Sony's willingness to get back to the drawing board and re-imagine at least some parts of its mobile offering. And with an asking price of $549.99, Sony is setting the bar for itself and the Xperia X pretty high. Let's see if they pass our test.

Design

A mix of old and new, the Xperia X offers numerous small improvements, along with some big ones

If you've ever held Sony's still reigning flagship, the Xperia Z5, then you'll know just how uncomfortable it is. The frame towards the back cuts into your hand unpleasantly, and the frosted glass is very slippery. With the Xperia X, Sony fixes the former issue, but not the latter. 

In any case, if we're to continue the parallel with the Z5, the Xperia X is different in many small ways. For starters, the glass up front seamlessly flows towards the sides, creating a beautiful effect. The modular corners of old are also gone as the frame is now a singular piece, the Xperia insignia etched onto the left side is no more, and the lanyard cutout has been retired. The only branding on the back left standing says simply “Xperia”—no Sony, and no G Lens cheat sheet next to the camera. Speaking of the shooter, it's bigger than before and protrudes just a tiny bit. 

In short, all of the above combines to give us a clean, distinctive, and very attractive exterior. Sure, the aforementioned issue with the slippery back stands, but seeing as how many will go for a protective case, it's probably not too big of a deal.

Display

Very bright, with impressive gamma response, but ultimately color-incorrect

If you're after trendy technologies such as Quad HD AMOLED screens, the Xperia X will disappoint—but not entirely. Sporting a 5-inch panel, it's an IPS LCD make with “just” 1080 x 1920 pixels. But if you're after the typical “AMOLED” effect, meaning obviously overstated colors, then you're in luck.

The Xperia X's screen is, indeed, not at all color correct. All your primaries and secondary are off target, with Red and Green being the worst offenders. Blue, on the other hand, dominates over them in turn, resulting in a very high color temperature of over 8,200K. In practice, white and the many shades of gray are decidedly bluish, which is annoying.

Onto a more positive note, both maximum and minimum brightness are just excellent, ensuring great experience whether it's midday or dead of the night. Gamma is also on target, and it's actually rare that we get as accurate response. Makes the above-mentioned shortcomings even harder to stomach, unfortunately.

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