Introduction

Do we have a good one or you today – a tough and close fight between the widely popular LG G3 going up against newcomer HTC One M9.  Just how do the two of these pair up against one another?  One has the Quad HD display and a killer camera, but an older processor, while the other still clings to a Full HD display and no OIS, but uses the newest 64-bit processor.

The LG G3 and HTC One M9 have a few commonalities between them – for starters, they are very close in physical size even though the LG G3 has a one-half inch larger display.  The same company makes the processors, but sport different models, and the batteries are also similar in size.  Both have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage and both have a microSD card slot for expansion up to 128GB.  The both have the usual dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (4.0 on LG G3 and 4.1 on One M9), NFC, GPS, FM Stereo radio, a dedicated microphone for noise cancellation, a built-in IR Blaster, and a microUSB v2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Please take a look at the detailed specifications comparison found below – expand it by clicking on the “View Full Comparison” at the bottom and you will get a real sense of how these two devices match up against one another.  After that, we will look at each individual device, talk about it, and weigh out some of the pros and cons in an effort to pick a winner for this comparison.

LG G3

Last year, the LG G3 was one of the most anticipated devices – everybody was curious about its QHD display – I remember how anxious we all were at AH to see 538 PPI.  We were also expecting a metal back ala HTC One, although it ended up being a plastic shell with a metallic-like finish.  Once the LG G3 was in your hand, all was forgiven…it was a well-built, solid device with some of the smallest bezels we have seen on any smartphone.  The back had a nice curve to it and was very comfortable to hold, if not somewhat slippery.

The LG G3 comes with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and it comes packing a whopping 538 PPI.  The 5-inch main display on the One M9 is still only a Full HD (FHD) display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 441 PPI.  The other big difference is the LG G3 that uses a 32-bit Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2.5GHz, which is two generations older than the new 64-bit 810 in the One M9.  Both devices pack 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage and both have the microSD slot for expansion up to 128GB, and a 3,000mAh battery powers the LG G3.

The camera areas differ as they do in most smartphones – the LG G3 packs a 13MP sensor, dual-toned LED flash, OIS+ and their newest Laser Autofocus for quick and precise focusing.  The HTC One M9 bumps up the sensor to 20.7MP, with a dual-tone LED Flash, standard Autofocus, but still has no OIS.  The LG G3 has the rather pedestrian 2.1MP FFC compared to the 4MP UltraPixel.

The LG G3 does offer wireless charging and is still technically using Android 4.4, but updating to Android 5.0 Lollipop depending what carrier you are using.  Another great thing is that this terrific device will cost you as little as $0 on a two-year contract or it will run you about $600 off-contract.  It is available on all four major US carriers.

HTC One M9

There is no mistaking the new HTC One M9, as it looks very similar to the One M7 and One M8, but there are many subtle changes.  It retains its all-metal body, is well-built, beautiful to look at and a joy to hold.  HTC even redesigned the body slightly on the sides so now there is a small lip to help grip it better…slipping out of the hand was a problem with the One M7 and One M8.

It sports a 5-inch Full HD Super LCD3 display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 441 PPI – the same display found on the One M8 and not near as good as the 538 PPI on the LG G3.  The processor is a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 with four cores clocked at 1.5GHZ and four cores clocked at 2.0GHz – two generations ahead of the 32-bit Snapdragon 801 in the LG G3.  It is packing 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, although it also has a microSD card for additional storage up to 128GB – the exact same as the LG G3.

The camera area is completely revamped – gone is the 4MP UltraPixel main camera and replaced with a Sony 20.7MP sensor with autofocus, dual-tone LED flash, but still no OIS a feature on the LG G3 and the new Samsung devices.  HTC moved the 4MP UltraPixel camera to the front for great selfies and video chatting and should take better low-light pictures.  It uses a non-removable 2840mAh battery…slightly smaller than the 3000mAh in the LG G3.  It also supports Quick Charge 2.0 thanks to the Qualcomm processor.

The HTC One M9 retains the dual front-facing stereo speakers with BoomSound, includes the IR Blaster and stereo FM radio, like the LG G3 and comes in Gunmetal Gray, Amber Gold, Silver/Rose Gold and Gold/Pink.  It should be available in March running Android 5.0 Lollipop and pricing is around $690 off contract.

…And The Winner Is…

Summary

This was really a tough decision  – the  HTC One M9 with its metal body and sensuous lines can easily draw you in with its looks, and if you really want the 64-bit processor, then that is the device for you.  But if you are looking for a great bargain, the the LG G3 is the device for you and the winner of this comparison.

The LG G3 gives you a rock solid device, fast and smooth performance, a QHD display with an impressive 538 PPI, interesting controls on the back of the device. It uses a proven Snapdragon 801, the same 3GB of RAM the One M9 has, room for memory expansion, a good camera with Laser Autofocus and OIS, a larger battery, the same IR Blaster, noise cancelling microphone, an FM radio, and adds wireless charging and it’s receiving its 5.0 Lollipop upgrade…all for $0 on a two-year contract.

The HTC One M9 is a great device, but without its 64-bit processor, FHD display, and no OIS for the camera, it is really a 2014 device, masquerading as a new 2015 model, only because of its processor.  Please hit us up on our Google+ Page and let us know which device you would pick as the winner…as always, we would love to hear from you.