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Phone Comparisons: HTC One M9 vs LG G Flex 2

Phone Comparisons: HTC One M9 vs LG G Flex 2

By Cory McNutt
April 09, 2015

Introduction

Do we have a good one for you today – the new HTC One M9 goes up against the new LG G Flex 2.  The iconic all-metal, inflexible One M9 versus the only massed produced curved, flexible device that not only does not have metal on the outside, but also includes a self-healing back.  Which one of these new devices is the standout in specifications, with a little bit of design and functionality built-in?

Despite their many differences, they do have several features in common – the One M9 and the G Flex 2 both use the 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot for expansion up to an additional 128GB of storage.  They both offer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, are NFC capable, and a microUSB port for charging and data transfer.  They each have a built-in IR Blaster, an FM Stereo radio and active noise cancellation.  Their Qualcomm processor has them sharing Quick Charge 2.0 and both have non-removable batteries.  Both devices will come with the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop and both will cost you $200 on a two-year contract.

Please look over the detailed Specifications Comparison below – click on ‘View Full Comparison’ at the bottom to get the full details – and see exactly where the two devices differ from one another.  We will then look at each individual device and determine some pros and cons to help see if we can pick which one of these smartphones deserves to win this competition.

HTC One M9

The new HTC One M9 looks very similar to the One M7 and One M8, but there are a few subtle changes…you just have to look closely.  The all-metal body is still the key component and it is well-built, beautiful to look at and feels great in your hand.  HTC did redesign 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 complaint with the One M7 and One M8.  The back looks more like the older M7 – gone is the duo camera found on the One M8.

The One M9 sports a 5-inch Full HD Super LCD3 display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 441 pixels-per-inch (PPI) – versus the 403 PPI on the G Flex 2 (only because it has a 5.5-inch display).  The processor is the 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 with four cores clocked at 1.5GHZ and four cores clocked at 2.0GHz – and the exact same processor in the G Flex 2.  It is packing 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage and a microSD card for additional storage up to 128GB – again, just like the G Flex 2.

HTC did a nice makeover in the camera area, but stopped short of including OIS.  The 4MP UltraPixel main camera is gone and replaced with a Sony 20.7MP sensor with autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash…compared to the G Flex 2’s smaller 13MP, but includes OIS and Laser Autofocus.  HTC moved the 4MP UltraPixel camera to the front, offering great selfies and video chatting, along with helping it to take better low-light pictures. The G Flex 2 uses a more pedestrian 2.1MP front-facing camera (FFC).  The HTC One M9 uses a non-removable 2840mAh battery…slightly smaller than the 3000mAh non-removable battery in the G Flex 2.  Thanks to the Qualcomm processor, both it and the G Flex 2 also support Quick Charge 2.0

One of the HTC One M9’s most lovable attributes is the dual front facing stereo speakers with BoomSound…compared to the single speaker on the back of the G Flex 2.  It comes in Gunmetal Gray, Amber Gold, Silver/Rose Gold and Gold/Pink.  It is running Android 5.0 Lollipop and pricing is $200 on a two-year contract.

LG G Flex 2

When LG came out with their first G Flex, it was curved and interesting, but only had a 720p display and it was a full 6-inches and a little large for pants pockets.  There is a loyal following for this device and others that were very vocal as to why they thought it fell short of expectations.  LG listened (mostly) and the new LG G Flex 2 has a shorten display, improved self-healing back and has the best processor that Qualcomm has out, making it a real flagship-style device.

The original G Flex only had an HD display, so LG bumped it up to a FHD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 403 pixels-per-inch (PPI)…very close to the FHD display and 441 PPI on the new HTC One M9.  LG and HTC used the same Qualcomm processor – the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor – four cores clocked at 1.5GHz and four cores at 2.0GHz.  Both devices have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory, however, you can use the provided microSD card slot to increase that storage.

The main camera on the G Flex 2 is top notch.  It sports a 13MP sensor (versus 21MP on the One M9), laser autofocus, dual-tone LED flash, and OIS+.  The FFC on the LG G Flex 2 is a smaller 2.1MP versus 4.0MP on the HTC One M9. The G Flex 2 has a larger battery – 3000mAh versus the 2840mAh in the One M9 – although both batteries should make it throughout an entire day and both have Quick Charge 2.0 thanks to their Qualcomm 810 heritage.

What might the G Flex 2 have that the HTC One M9 does not have – Dolby Mobile enhanced sound for that single back speaker and the headphones, curved design and a self-healing back.  The G Flex 2 is running Android 5.0.1 Lollipop out-of-the box with LG’s UI running over top and comes in Platinum Silver and Flamenco Red.  It will be available on AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular at this point and will cost you approximately $200 on a two-year contract and $600 or so off-contract.  It should be available sometime in April.

…And The Winner Is…

Summary

People know how much I hate to have a tie in these comparisons, but if any of my Phone Comparisons falls into that category, it would have to be this one.  The devices are so evenly matched – they both are using the older FHD display, they both have the same processor, RAM, memory and offer expandable storage.  They both have IR Blasters, Quick Charge 2.0, a FM Stereo Radio, similar sized, non-removable batteries and even cost the same amount.

It boils down to this…if you want the BoomSound speakers, all-metal body and better FFC…then grab the HTC One M9.  However, if you want a better main camera (OIS+, Laser Autofocus) and a flexible curved smartphone with a self-healing back, then grab the LG G Flex 2.  Either device should satisfy your needs for a new smartphone.