PHONE REVIEW 2015

The Bluboo X6 is a 4G LTE Android KitKat phablet with a fingerprint scanner that costs just £90 from Geekbuying. Is it a deal? We find out in our Bluboo X6 review.

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

£90.68 from Geekbuying (+ import duty)

BLUBOO X6 REVIEW: THE £90 4G PHONE WITH A FINGERPRINT SCANNER

The Bluboo X6 is a 4G LTE Android KitKat phablet with a fingerprint scanner that costs just £90 from Geekbuying. Shipped from China you should also take into account import duty, however (read up on our grey-market tech buying advice). Is it a deal? We find out in our Bluboo X6 smartphone review. Also see: Best phones 2015 and best Android phones 2015.

The specification is competitive, given the low price, with a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, 1GB of RAM and dual-core Mali-T760 graphics inside. It's considerably faster than the similarly priced Moto E 4G, but there are several reasons - including its size - that might lead you to prefer that phone.

As well as 4G LTE support and dual-SIM functionality - with one SIM tray doubling as a microSD slot - you get a 5.5in IPS screen. The quarter-HD resolution is low for a screen of this size, but it does promote longer battery life, and Bluboo claims up to two days with normal use. The screen has curved edges, which look nice but still don't lie flush with the screen bezels. We found the Bluboo X6 prone to picking up fingerprints, too. See all Android phone reviews. 

The Bluboo X6 looks good for a budget phone. It ships with a smart case not too dissimilar to the LG G3's Quick Circle case, with a silicone rear cover and a front flap that has a circular window through which you can see a clock face. 

The X6 is built entirely from plastic, which keeps down weight, but it's obvious that this isn't a premium phone. The removable rear panel - plus 3000mAh removable battery - is a nice touch, though, and available in blue or white it has a grippy, chequered texture, plus an anodised pink camera surround. 

The cameras themselves are a strong point on this budget phablet, with 13Mp and a dual-LED flash at the rear, and an 8Mp selfie camera at the front. It's capable of recording full-HD video at 30fps, too. Also see: Best phablets 2015. 

Running Android 4.4 KitKat, Bluboo promises an OTA upgrade to Lollipop. The implementation differs from vanilla Android only in its screen icons, which adopt the form of curved tiles. Some are sufficiently different that we found them confusing, such as the link the Google Play Store, which is here a red tile with a white house icon. Fortunately, you can change all this by switching the theme. 

Gestures are also supported, including a double-tap to wake the screen, a letter M to play music, or a wave of the hand to trigger the camera. These aren't customisable, but there are plenty to choose from. There's little else in the way of preinstalled bloat, and of the X6's 8GB of storage around 6GB is available. 

BLUBOO X6 REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD 

Bluboo's X6 is a plastic phone, a black slab with a silver plastic edge. It doesn't look like a premium device, but you would be surprised by its £90 price. The plastic build also keeps down the weight, and at 167g the X6 is light for an 8.8mm-thick phablet. Also see: Best cheap 4G phones 2015. 

The rear cover is thin but clips on tight. It's removable, too, giving access to an also-removable 3000mAh battery and dual-SIM slots. One of these doubles as a microSD slot, although Bluboo doesn't specify how much storage it can accommodate (many budget phones allow just 32GB). 

Available in blue or white, the rear cover features a chequered design that aids grip in the hand. With a 5.5in screen and an 8.8mm-thick body this is a large phone, although its slim bezels to the screen's left and right make it just about manageable in a single hand.

Around the edges you'll fins two speaker grilles at the bottom, a volume rocker and power switch on the right side, and a Micro-USB charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack on top. A 13Mp camera is on the rear, surrounded by a pink anodised aluminium ring and supported by a dual-LED flash. 

At the front is a 2.5D Arc screen, which basically means it is curved at the edges. This has a nice effect, but it doesn't lie flush to the case. The top and bottom bezels are larger, with a physical home button at the bottom that builds in a fingerprint sensor. It's a nice idea in a £90 phone, but using swipe- rather than touch input it's a real pain to use. And while this scanner isn't too great at picking up our fingerprints, the display is. 

The screen itself is an IPS panel. While colours are realistic and it's usefully bright, a quarter-HD resolution of 960x540 is pushed almost to its limit on a 5.5in screen. The X6 has a pixel density of 200ppi, which isn't horrendous but it's not as sharp as we'd like. For web browsing it's fine, but for viewing media you might prefer an HD display. The large panel is useful in this regard, mind. 

The Bluboo is supplied with a smart case, which reminds us of the LG G3's Quick Circle case. A silicone shell clips on to the rear, while a front flap features a circular cutout through which you can see the clock. 

BLUBOO X6 REVIEW: HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE 

When you're paying £90 for a smartphone, you can't expect blistering performance. However, in many of our benchmarks the Bluboo impressed us, and we certainly found it faster than its rival Motorola Moto E 4G at this price point. Its performance is due to the phone's MediaTek MTK6732 SOC, which integrates a 1.3MHz ARM Cortex A-53 quad-core CPU and Mali-T760 MP2 dual-core GPU, plus 1GB of RAM. Also see: What's the fastest smartphone 2015. 

In Geekbench 3.0 we measured 654 points in the single-core test, and 1940 points multi-core. Other 5.5in phablets we've tested such as the ZTE Blade S6 Plus are faster, but at this price point it's faced with rivals such as the Moto E 4G and the X6 floors them. In the real world performance is adequate, but it'll take a second to launch most apps. 

Performance was also good in GFXBench 3.0, which tests the graphics performance. The Bluboo recorded 25fps in T-Rex, and 13fps in Manhattan. 

SunSpider is our third test, and to ensure a fair comparison we always run it in the Chrome web browser. Here the Bluboo recorded 1327ms, which isn't bad for a cheap Android. In the phone's preinstalled browser, however, the X6 managed 1016ms. This is often the case with the phones we review (a lower score is better in SunSpider). 

Our final test is the battery life measurement built into Geekbench 3.0. We've not long been running this benchmark, so have few results with which to compare it. However, the Bluboo recorded 2946 points, and seven hours 22 minutes. To put that into perspective, its time recording is on par with the 2015 Moto G, but its point score falls just below the Kingzone Z1, another Chinese 5.5in phablet. 

The battery is rated at 3000mAh, but don't expect to find advanced features such as quick- or wireless charging, or even an ultra power saving mode. See all smartphone reviews. 

Storage-wise you get 8GB built in, with around 6GB available, and if you don't need the second SIM slot you can insert a microSD card. (Bluboo doesn't specify the maximum capacity supported.) This is Android, too, so expect to be able to make use of all manner of third-party cloud storage services - Google Drive is preinstalled for you. 

BLUBOO X6 REVIEW: CONNECTIVITY 

When you're buying a phone from China you should always check the frequency bands to ensure it will be supported by your UK mobile operator. The Bluboo X6 supports GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA 900/1900/2100MHz, and Cat 4 FDD-LTE B1/B3/B7/B20. 

Other connectivity specs include Bluetooth 4.0, single-band 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, GPS and A-GPS, and USB OTG. While there's no NFC there is HotKnot, which is MediaTek's alternative. 

If you're not using the second SIM slot as a microSD slot you can take advantage of dual-standby dual-SIM functionality. This is a dual-standby dual-SIM phone, for more details on what that means see our dual-SIM phones buying advice and best dual-SIM phones 2015. The X6 takes two Micro SIMs. 

BLUBOO X6 REVIEW: CAMERAS 

For photography the Bluboo X6 is better than it has any right to be at this price. As is often the case with the Chinese phones we review, there's a 13Mp camera at the rear and an impressive 8Mp at the front. It's not all about the megapixels, but we were impressed with the photos and test video we captured on the X6 (it'll record 1080p at 30fps). A dual-LED flash is also useful for improving low-light performance. Also see: Best selfie phones 2015. 

BLUBOO X6 REVIEW: SOFTWARE 

The X6 runs a slightly customised version of Android KitKat, and it's not one we're particularly keen on. The key difference between vanilla KitKat and what we have here is the X6's use of themes. Having spent a lot of time messing about with Android phones, we're used to seeing familiar icons for such things as the Google Play store. When we don't instantly recognise them it's confusing, and makes the phone unintuitive in use. 

Four themes are installed on the Bluboo X6, and not one of them is what we'd consider normal. The default theme switches the Google Play icon to a red tile with rounded corners and a white house icon; the only thing giving away its purpose is the legend below. The themes will change the wallpaper and icons, but you can also separately customise the wallpaper and lock screen. But not through the Settings menu. Themes and wallpaper customisations are instead made through the Theme manager, which is found in the App menu. Or you can toggle between them using the Switch theme shortcut, also in the App menu. 

And this is a bit of an, erm, theme with the Bluboo X6. The X6 supports several useful gestures, but you don't switch them on in the Settings menu. Instead you look in the Apps menu for the appropriately named 'Direct' and 'Smart wake' apps. The former is short for Direct Call, and lets you turn on the ability to instantly call contacts when viewing a contact or a text message and lifting the phone to your ear. You can also swing the phone to answer an incoming call, which seems a little bizarre, but perhaps less bizarre than waving your hand across the proximity sensor to capture a photo (it could make your subject smile, we suppose). 

In Smart wake you'll find the ability to wake the screen with a double-tap or unlock it with a swipe upward. Several characters can be drawn on to the lock screen with the screen on standby to launch certain apps. Drawing an 'm' begins playing music while 'v' triggers video; less obviously an 'e' opens the browser and 'c' opens the dialer (no, not the camera). It's only a shame that you can't customise their function. 

Some people like finding little surprises in the software, and those are exactly the sort of people who will appreciate the Fingerprints app (also missing from the Settings menu). That excitement will wear off quick when they realise the scanner actually doesn't work very well, though. Still, we wouldn't expect much from it at this price. 

The Bluboo X6 supports wireless updates, and Bluboo promises an upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is not at all a given with cheap smartphones.

Read next: Best new phones coming in 2015.

Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

For a cheap phablet the Bluboo X6 has a lot going for it. It's reasonably fast compared to its similarly priced rivals, it supports 4G and dual-SIM functionality, and the large screen is useful for browsing the web and viewing media, if it's not particularly high-res. It has a few quirks, and we're not keen on the fingerprint scanner or software customisations, but at £90 you really can't complain.

Sony has unveiled its Z3+, the UK version of the Xperia Z4 that was last month announced in Japan and successor to the Sony Xperia Z3. We explain what's new in the Sony Xperia Z3+ in our Z3 vs Z3+ comparison review.

Sony Xperia Z3 vs Sony Xperia Z3+ comparison: What's the difference between Z3 and Z3+ - new features in the Sony Xperia Z3+

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

Sony Xperia Z3+: Around £500

Sony Xperia Z3: £515 inc VAT

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+ COMPARISON: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Sony has unveiled its Z3+, the UK version of the Sony Xperia Z4 that was last month announced in Japan and successor to the Sony Xperia Z3. We explain what's new in the Sony Xperia Z3+ in our Z3 vs Z3+ comparison review.

In this article we are focusing on the key specifications of each Sony phone. For more in-depth information see our full Sony Xperia Z3 review and our hands-on Sony Xperia Z3+ review. For more info on when you can buy the Z3+ see Sony Xperia Z3+ UK release date, price and specifications.

Note that the Sony Xperia Z4 is sold only in Japan. It's the same as the Z3+ mentioned here, but comes with DTV (Digital TV) and FeliCa (a contactless RFID smart card system)

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: PRICE AND UK AVAILABILITY

The Sony Xperia Z3 has a £549 RRP, but it'll cost you just £360 SIM-free at Amazon. At £549 it was £50 cheaper than the Sony Xperia Z2 that launched in March 2014, which kept it in line with its Samsung and HTC rivals and made sense given its minor improvements over its predecessor.

Sony was rumoured to be putting an end to its biannual smartphone refreshes and when no Z4 appeared at MWC 2015 that certainly appeared to be the case. However, it has today (26 May) unveiled its Z3+, which is another phone that features only minor improvements over its predecessor.

Sony has yet to reveal UK pricing for its Z3+, which will go on sale in the UK in June, but we wouldn't be surprised to see another £549 RRP, making it £30 cheaper than the HTC One M9and £50 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S6.

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: DESIGN AND BUILD

The Sony Xperia Z3 has a very similar design to every other Xperia before it, with the same rectangular shape, boxy corners, rounded edges and front- and rear glass panels. And the new Sony Xperia Z3+ is almost identical - but not quite.

Forget the Plus in the new Xperia's model name - the Z3+ isn't a phablet version of the Z3, with both adorning a 5.2in full-HD (1920x1080) panel. In fact it's slimmer and lighter, slimming down from 7.3- to 6.9mm, and 152- to 144g.

It's also lost that fiddly little flap over the Micro-USB port, which can make charging a pain (don't worry - it's still IP65/IP68-certified for dust- and waterproof protection). And there's now just a single cover for the joint SIM and microSD card slot.

You'll find the same black, white and green colour options available for both Z3 and Z3+, although Sony says it has developed a new interpretation of its copper model.

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE

A 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chip, Adreno 330 graphics and 3GB of RAM allowed the Sony Xperia Z3 to fare very well in our benchmarks last September. We saw 2805 points in Geekbench 3.0, 29fps in GFXBench 3.0 T-Rex and 804ms in SunSpider. Also see: What's the fastest smartphone 2015?

Things get a lot faster with the Sony Xperia Z3+, whose 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor runs Android Lollipop out of the box. As before there's 3GB of RAM, but you'll now find Adreno 430 graphics and 32- rather than 16GB of storage as standard, which can be boosted with a microSD card up to 128GB in capacity.

From the Xperia Z3+ you can expect performance on par with the HTC One M9, which recorded 3778 points in Geekbench 3.0, 867ms in SunSpider, 50fps in T-Rex and 24fps in Manhattan. However, we won't know which phone is faster until we've run the Z3+ through our benchmarks.

The battery capacity has been reduced from 3100mAh to 2900mAh, which likely explains the reduction in size and weight. Sony claims it will still last two days, although we need to get the Z3+ into our lab to check. A quick charger is available for the Z3+, but not supplied in the box. 

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: CAMERAS

Sony's Xperia Z3 came with a 20.7Mp rear camera and a 2.2Mp front camera. Nothing has changed in the core hardware in this department, although one could argue that it didn't need to - the Z3 is a great camera phone. There are a few software tweaks, though, with a new Gourmet mode and Superior Auto's ability to recognise 52 scenarios. Superior Auto and SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode are now available for the front camera, too. Also see:Best camera phone 2015.

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: AUDIO

Audio quality is excellent from the Sony Xperia Z3, and it's improved further with the Z3+. Sony has added an LDAC (the ability to enjoy top quality tracks wirelessly) and AHC (Automatic Headset Compensation, providing personalised sound).

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: CONNECTIVITY

Not much has changed on the connectivity front. You'll get the latest 4G and Bluetooth connectivity, plus support for NFC, DLNA, GPS, PS4 Remote Play and more, but the Xperia Z-series flagship still lacks high-end features seen in its rivals such as a fingerprint scanner and wireless charging.

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: SOFTWARE

Whereas the Sony Xperia Z3 came preinstalled with Android KitKat, an update to Lollipop is now available, bringing it into line with the Z3+. Both reveal a fairly vanilla implementation of Lollipop, but allow you to customise the Quick Settings in the notification bar. We did notice a fair amount of preinstalled bloatware, however, including Spotify, Vine, AVG, Kobo Books, Office Suite.

SONY XPERIA Z3 VS SONY XPERIA Z3+: VERDICT

The Z3+ is a faster version of an already very fast smartphone, and few users would complain that the Z3 is slow. However, the processor change brings it up to speed with its 2015 smartphone rivals, and we appreciate the extra storage space as standard (and Sony has managed it without removing the microSD card slot). The other improvements are nice, but unless you're a Sony enthusiast there's little here to warrant the expense of an upgrade from the Xperia Z3. In fact, we still highly rate the Z3 Compact - a smaller version of Sony's Z3 with a much more attractive price of £280 (Amazon), and that could well be half the asking price of the Z3+.

Also see: Best new phones coming in 2015.

Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

The Z3+ is a faster version of an already very fast smartphone, and few users would complain that the Z3 is slow. However, the processor change brings it up to speed with its 2015 smartphone rivals, and we appreciate the extra storage space as standard (and Sony has managed it without removing the microSD card slot). The other improvements are nice, but unless you're a Sony enthusiast there's little here to warrant the expense of an upgrade from the Xperia Z3. In fact, we still highly rate the Z3 Compact - a smaller version of Sony's Z3 with a much more attractive price of £280 (Amazon), and that could well be half the asking price of the Z3+.

The best of Android vs the best of Apple: we compare the specs to see how the Samsung Galaxy S6 compares against the iPhone 6 in this review.

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

Apple iPhone 6: 16GB £539, 64GB £649, 128GB £699

Samsung Galaxy S6: £599 inc VAT (32GB), £660 inc VAT (64GB)

IPHONE 6 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 REVIEW: BEST OF ANDROID VS BEST OF APPLE

The best of Android vs the best of Apple: we compare the specs to see how the Samsung Galaxy S6 compares against the iPhone 6. Updated on 26/5/15. Also see: best smartphones 2015 and best new phones coming in 2015.

Also see: Samung Galaxy S6 UK release date, price and specs and Where to buy the Galaxy S6 and the best deals.

IPHONE 6 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: PRICE & AVAILABILITY

Let's start by taking a look at where you can buy these smartphones and how much they're going to cost you. For the Samsung Galaxy S6, you're looking at a price of £599 SIM-free with 32GB storage, or £660 with 64GB. Pricing for the 128GB model is £720.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 6 comes in with similar prices tags. The 16GB model (which Samsung doesn't offer), is £539. There's no 32GB model – Apple instead skips straight to the 64GB model, which costs £619 so £60 less than the Samsung equivalent. The 128GB model is also slightly cheaper at £699, a £20 saving. Of course, Samsung's smartphone has a larger screen at 5.1in so the additional cost is not surprising. If you opt for Apple's larger 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus, you're looking at a starting price of £619 for the 16GB model right up to £789 for the 128GB model.

Availability for both of these smartphones in the UK is pretty straightforward: both are out now and both are available from most phone shops and carriers. The iPhone 6 is a bit older, first launched in September 2014, while the Samsung Galaxy S6 was unveiled at MWC in March of this year. This does mean that the iPhone 6 will be replaced by a newer smartphone sooner than the S6 – the next iPhone (iPhone 6S, iPhone 7?) is expected in September.

IPHONE 6 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: DESIGN

The S6 retains the style of a Galaxy S flagship, but Samsung has tackled plastic build quality complaints head on with a new metal chassis and Gorilla Glass 4 front and back. You could even argue that this Samsung smartphone looks a teeny weeny bit like an iPhone 6.

Indeed, the bottom of the Galaxy S6 is very similar to the iPhone 6 with drilled holes for the speaker, a central USB port and the headphone jack. Samsung claims that its flagship is ever so slightly thinner, though - just 6.8mm against the iPhone's 6.9mm. However, when we measured it we found that it was 7.1mm. Funnily enough, Samsung made a few jibes at Apple at its launch event, pointing out that this super-thin phone won't bend (see our sister title Macworld's article on the iPhone 6 Plus Bendgate if you're not sure what Samsung was referring to there). The S6 is also 9g heavier than the iPhone 6, but you're unlikely to notice that.

The iPhone 6 is available in three colours: Silver, Gold or Space Grey, all of which are anodised aluminium and super-stylish. The S6, on the other hand, comes in Blue Topaz, White Pearl, Gold Platinum and Black Sapphire. The Blue Topaz and Gold Platinum are an acquired taste with a garish shiny mirror finish but we love the white and black options.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 also uses a new Apple-style touch- rather than swipe style fingerprint scanner, also built into the home button, and loses its waterproofing credentials. As before you'll find a heart-rate scanner on the rear.

In terms of dimensions, there's little difference.The Galaxy S6 is a little bigger becuase of the larger screen but both are just under 7mm thick. The iPhone 6 is marginally lighter at 129g compared to 138g.

One more design element that carries across both the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 is the protruding camera. We'll talk more about the camera's specs below, but both of these smartphones have cameras that stick out on the rear, meaning that they'll rock when placed on a desk.

IPHONE 6 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: HARDWARE

Screen

This is where the major differences between the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 start to become clear. The Samsung Galaxy S6 has an amazing screen, and while the iPhone 6's Retina display is no dud, it's completely blown out of the water by Samsung's flagship.

First let's take a look at the screen sizes: The iPhone 6 has a 4.7in display, while the Samsung Galaxy S6's display is slightly bigger at 5.1in. We think both of these phones are manageable in size, any bigger or smaller and we start to complain about the lack of screen estate or the inability to squeeze into a pocket.

When it comes to the resolution, the iPhone 6 offers a Full HD display at 750x1334 pixels, equating to 326ppi. The Samsung Galaxy S6, however, has an incredible Quad HD (1440x2560) Super AMOLED panel with a staggering 577ppi pixel density.

Although AMOLED isn't for everyone, we certainly prefer the Galaxy S6 to the iPhone 6 in this area with that extra space and unbelievable crispness.

Whereas Apple also offers a larger version (the iPhone 6 Plus), Samsung's variant is a dual-curved-edge smartphone known as the Galaxy S6 Edge. We're awaiting more details on the possibility of a forthcoming Galaxy S6 mini and Galaxy S6 Active.

Processor and memory

As we suspected, Samsung ditched the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 in favour of its own Exynos 64-bit octa-core chip, which has four cores running at 2.5GHz and four at 2.1GHz, with one geared toward efficiency and the other performance.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 6 uses Apple's own A8 processor, a 1.4GHz 64-bit dual-core chip. This it pairs with 1GB of RAM, whereas Samsung specifies a whopping 3GB. Before you assume the Samsung will leave the iPhone in its wake, remember that these two phones run different software - the iPhone 6 is very fast.

As you can see in the benchmark results, the older iPhone takes 3 out of 4, partly because of the lower resolution screen but the Galaxy S6 is still mightily impressive. They are both top-notch in the performance stakes so look elsewhere to split them.

iPhone 6 vs Galaxy S6 | Create infographics

Storage

Samsung is now more closely mirroring Apple's storage options for the iPhone 6 with the Galaxy S6 available in 32-, 64- and 128GB capacities (the iPhone 6 comes in 16-, 64- and 128GB). And Samsung has removed the microSD card slot - once a killer feature of the Galaxy S-series over Apple's iPhones.

The main difference here is the way the cheapest (entry-level) model comes with twice the amount of storage on the Galaxy S6 which is reflected in the price.

Cameras

Over the years Apple has proven that megapixels aren't everything. The iPhone 6 still offers 8Mp, which is the same resolution available on some budget phones these days. However, the quality is far superior to those cheap handsets with tech such as a BSI sensor and Focus Pixels.

Samsung has a history of producing excellent cameras in the Galaxy S range. It retains the 16Mp camera found on the S5, but upgrades it with smart optical image stabilisation and an f/1.9 wide-angle lens that should help it fare better in low light. There's an IR sensor for automatic white balance adjustment, and the camera is always-on in the background meaning you can pick it up and take a photo within 0.7 seconds, according to the company (double tap the home button to launch).

In video recording the iPhone 6 doesn't have optical image stabilisation but does offer 240fps slo-mo and time-lapse and maxes out at Full HD 1080p. The Galaxy S6 offers up to 4K resolution.

Samsung has also upgraded its front camera to a 5Mp model with real-time HDR, while Apple uses a 1.2Mp FaceTime HD camera at the front. 

While the iPhone 6 has a decent, camera the Galaxy S6 is the best you'll find on a smartphone at the moment (along with the LG G4). Find out why in our in-depth best camera phone 2015 comparison.

Other hardware

Beyond the normal set of hardware which any smartphone offers, manufacturers needs to make phones stand out from the crowd with additional features. The iPhone 6 offers the latest wireless including 11.ac Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0 – and it's no surprose that Samsung specifies the same.

While the iPhone 6 has NFC for its Apple Pay service, Samsung now offers its own rivalSamsung Pay service. Neither are available in the UK just yet.

Both have a fingerprint scanner which simply requires a touch (rather than a swipe as found on the Galaxy S5) but the Galaxy S6 also has an IR blaster for controlling gadgets like your TV and a heart rate monitor (which can also be used as a shutter for the camera).

IPHONE 6 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: SOFTWARE

It's a given that software will be a major difference between these two heavy weight smartphones with Apple running its own iOS (currently iOS 8.3 but the iPhone 6 will get upgraded to iOS 9 later this year). Samsung uses Google's Android OS and the Galaxy S6 is preloaded with version 5.0 Lollipop.

Samsung overlays Android with is TouchWiz user interface and the latest version is better than ever before. It has a lighter feel and looks closer to stock Android using the card style recent apps. There are fewer pre-installed apps and some handy extra features as usual such as Multi-Window for running two apps side-by-side.

iOS 8 is fluid, simple and easy to use with the same layout as always. Homescreens are simply for displaying app icons rather than widgets but newer features such as the control center make things a little more modern providing quick access to features such as Wi-Fi and screen brightness.

There's no real way of crowning a winner here and you probably already know which you prefer. If not, try them out (via friends or in phone shops) to see and read our stand-alone review for more details.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

These two phones are more closely matched than ever before. Although it's more expensive, the Galaxy S6 is the better smartphone here thanks to its extra storage, impressive Quad HD screen, awesome camera and extra gadgets like the IR blaster and heart rate monitor. A big factor here is software, though, so if you don't want Android then the iPhone 6 is the phone for you.

Looking for an affordable dual-SIM smartphone with decent specs? Read our Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ review.

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

£230 inc VAT

ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL X+ REVIEW

Alcatel OneTouch is an emerging brand in the mobile industry and we've taken a look at one of its higher spec smartphones. Here's our Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ review. Updated on 26/5/15 with our video review. Also see: Best smartphones 2014 and Best Android phones 2014.

The Idol range is Alcatel OneTouch's top-tier of devices and don't be put off if you've not heard of the company. We got hands on with the firms new Idol 3 flagship devices at MWC 2015 but for now see what we make of the affordable but impressively equipped Idol X+.

ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL X+ REVIEW: PRICE AND COMPETITION

Available for under £230 from Amazon, the Idol X+ is an affordable smartphone but not quite cheap enough to rival budget handsets like the Moto E, Moto G and EE Kestrel.

The price is understandable when you look at the design and spec of this phone and means it must take on devices such as the impressive Honor 6 which is made by Huawei, OnePlus One, Huawei Ascend G7 and the Google Nexus 5 if you can find one in stock somewhere.

ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL X+ REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD

The Idol X+ is a fairly typical looking mid-range phone. It's attractive but can hardly be described as a showstopper. It appears fairly plain at the front but the brushed metal style edges give a premium style despite being plastic underneath. The drilled holes for the speakers are neat and we like the way the dual-SIM card slots – on opposite sides of the device – have magnetic flaps, even if they are a bit difficult to get the hang of. See our best dual-SIM smartphones chart.

Meanwhile the rear cover, available in different colours, has a striking spun finish reminiscent of Asus ZenBook laptops. Alcatel OneTouch calls it 'In-mould Labelling'. The rear does smudge with fingerprints a little too easily, though, and although it's supposed to be greatly resistant to wear and tear we have noticed a few hairline marks appear. Don't be fooled into thinking this is metal though, it feels distinctly plastic and comes off a little with minimum effort despite there being no need to remove it.

It feels nice in the hand with its slender 7.9 mm profile and 125 g weight – similar to that of its rivals. The power button sits on the top which is a bit difficult to reach on a phone this tall, along with the headphone port. The volume rocker is more convenient on the side while the microUSB port resides on the bottom between the speakers.

ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL X+ REVIEW: HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE

Moving from style onto substance and the Idol X+ has an impressive line-up of hardware – on paper at least.

Starting with the display, the phone offers a 5in IPS screen with a Full HD resolution (1080 x 1920). This is protected by Gorilla Glass 2 and has an oleophobic coating to ward off fingerprints. It works pretty well and the display is decent, matching rivals with an impressive 441 ppi, good brightness and viewing angles.

In the engine room is an octa-core processor so there are more cores than you would perhaps expect to find at this price – the Honor 6 also offers this feature. The chip is a MediaTek MT6592 which is 2 GHz and has 2 GB of RAM alongside it which is less than the 3 GB found in the Honor 6.

More cores might sound better but our benchmark results show that it doesn't automatically mean superior performance. As you can see in the table below, the Idol X+ is a little behind the Nexus 5 in Geekbench 3 which has a quad-core processor. It also struggled somewhat in the easier graphics test (the more difficult test wouldn't run) and the web browsing test was slower than its rivals.

Benchmark results don't always translate into performance on a user perspective but in this case it did. The Idol X+ does perform well but we also experiences some annoying lag such as jerky animations when moving around homescreen panels and pulling the notification bar down. These issues do tend to clear up raising their head mainly on first use or when the phone has been in sleep for a long period of time. Apps actually launch pretty quickly, including the camera app which is a rarity.

On the storage front, the Alcatel Idol X+ is like many smartphones in that you can get either 16- or 32- GB models with the latter being harder to find. Remember that the operating system takes up some of this space so our 16 GB review sample had 12.3 GB available.

Although there's space for two SIM card slots, Alcatel OneTouch hasn't found room to include a microSD card slot which is a shame. We've seen some dual-SIM handsets which allow you to choose between a second SIM and a memory card on one slot but the Idol X+ isn't one of them. 

The dual-SIM card slots is a key feature here and this is easily one of the nicest dual-SIM phones we've reviewed. If you're only going to use one SIM card then the lack of a microSD card slot is a shame and the device is a bit behind rivals on connectivity.

You'll get 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS but there's no NFC, IR blaster or 4G LTE support which are all available on the Honor 6. The Nexus 5 is also NFC and 4G enabled. It's of little consolation but there is a built in FM radio.

In fact, audio is a feature which Alcatel OneTouch makes a big deal of on its website for the Idol X+. Those down facing speakers are good, better than your typical poor quality output but aren't up to the standards of premium phones like the HTC One M9 and Sony Xperia Z3.

The Idol X+ is also supplied with some JBL in-ear headphones which are a lot better than the usual cheap rubbish you get supplied with a phone. When headphones are plugged in you can choose from different sound effect profiles such as natural, electronic, pop-rock and soul. There's also a Hi-Fi mode hidden in the settings which improves the sound somewhat by mainly boosting the bass. Both of these are accessible from the quick settings.

As mentioned earlier, the battery is non-removable so you'll need to look elsewhere if you want the ability to swap it easily. It's a 2500 mAh battery and during our testing we've found that the Idol X+ will last a day of varied use comfortably enough but not so much so that you won't need to charge it every night. The battery holds its charge well when in standby and there's the usual power saving mode which will cut all your connectivity and dim the screen to conserve juice.

ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL X+ REVIEW: CAMERAS

Camera tech has come on long way over the last few years, so much so that we're now seeing 13 Mp cameras on affordable phones like this Idol X+ and the Honor 6. That's impressive but more megapixels doesn't always mean mega results.

As mentioned earlier, we're impressed with how quickly the camera app launches and you can also shoot very quickly too – the autofocus is the slowest element here. The app is easy to use and as with almost any phone, it shoots cropped to get widescreen so you'll need to select full-screen in the settings to get all 13 Mp.

The results, which you can see below, are decent with a good amount of detail. There are various shooting modes including HDR, panorama, sports, night and filter. You can also manually adjust the ISO and exposure in the settings menu if you want. Video can be shot at a pretty standard 1080p with optional electronic image stabilisation (it's off by default so that's how we've shot our test video).

Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ test photo

Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ test photo HDR

The front facing camera, at 2 Mp, is less impressive but will suffice for the odd selfie and video call should you need to call upon on it.

ALCATEL ONETOUCH IDOL X+ REVIEW: SOFTWARE

The Idol X+ is an Android 4.4.2 KitKat powered phone so it's not quite up to date with 5.0 Lollipop the latest version and no work from Alcatel OneTouch of an update.

We're not massively taken with the default lock- and homescreen wallpapers but you can, of course, choose your own. You unlock the phone with an unorthodox swipe to the right with the opposite launching the camera app - If you like you can switch to a pattern unlock or various others available in Android as standard. You get some basic info such as the time and weather and can still access the notification bar. Notifications appear central and you can open them by swiping one to the right.

Overall the interface is fairly vanilla with everything where you'd expect it to be but looking a bit dated compared to rivals. The quick settings menu within the notification bar is comprehensive and unlike rivals such as Huawei the regular app menu remains so your icons don't need to clutter the homescreen panels.

Interestingly the panel to the left of the main screen has the ability to scroll vertically meaning you can fit more widgets on it but this seems a little unnecessary. One more swipe and you'll reach the photo wall which can't be removed.

The Idol X+ is one of a number of phones which goes against the modern way of Android having on-screen navigation buttons. Instead, there are touch sensitive buttons which sit below the display.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing but the device uses the out-of-date menu button instead of recent apps. This means you need to long press it to view your open apps which display in a small horizontal bar across the bottom of the screen - you can clear all or close them individually by swiping up or down. The setup also means you can't use a swipe up from the bottom of the display to launch Google Now. Instead, this is done by long pressing the home button which isn't particularly intuitive.

Last but not least in the area of software is the amount of pre-installed apps. The usual set of Google apps and built-in essentials like a gallery, calculator, camera and others is to be expected. However, Alcatel OneTouch adds a lot more on top.

It's a long list too including Facebook, Deezer, Evernote, My Tracks, OfficeSuite, PicSay, Viber and WhatsApp. This may save you the bother of downloading the apps but only if you use them and we don't think manufacturers should decide for you. Fortunately most of that list can be uninstalled to free up space but not all of it.

As well as general apps, there are a number of games present on the Idol X+ - Asphalt 7, Little Big City, Real Football 2014, The Avengers and Uno & Friends. They're all from Gameloft but most are demos or require downloading fully. Little Big City is the only one we could play straight away. All, along with the Gameloft Live app, can be uninstalled from the phone.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

The Alcatel OneTouch Idol X+ is one of the best dual-SIM phones we've reviewed and a good choice for the price. It has a nice design and good features like a Full HD display and 13 Mp camera but bear in mind that the Moto G 2014 and ZTE Blade S6 are both cheaper and dual-SIM. However, in the wider smartphone market there is tough competition and its lack of a microSD card slot and other hardware such as 4G LTE support mean it's outpaced by the Honor 6.

Sony has decided the Xperia Z4 is just for Japan but we do get the Xperia Z3+ which is basically identical. Here's our Sony Xperia Z3+ hands-on review.

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

Around £500

SONY XPERIA Z3+ REVIEW

Instead of getting the Xperia Z4, Sony has announced the Xperia Z3+ for the UK as a 'premium version' of the existing flagship Xperia Z3 smartphone. We've taken a look at the new phone so here's our Sony Xperia Z3+ hands-on review. Also see Best smartphones 2015 and Best Android phones 2015.

Before we launch into the review, we want to explain the situation with the Xperia Z4. This has been announced in Japan for a little while and the Z3+ is the same device but for the rest of world. The two are essentially identical but the model in Japan has DTV (Digital TV) and FeliCa (contactless RFID smart card system).

Differences aside, we are getting the Xperia Z3+ here which is a 'premium addition' and 'evolution to the Xperia Z3 family'. Let's take a look.

SONY XPERIA Z3+ REVIEW: UK RELEASE DATE AND PRICE

Launching in June, the Sony Xperia Z3+ pricing will "reflect the premium quality of the phone" so we expect it to fetch around the same amount which would be £499 but it might be a little more since the firm is pitching it as a premium version and will likely leave the regular Xperia Z3 on sale.

Read: Sony Xperia Z3+ release date, price and specs.

SONY XPERIA Z3+ REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD

As the name suggests, the Z3+ isn't a completely new phone but a tweaked version of the existing flagship (despite being called the Xperia Z4 in Japan). It doesn't mean that it's a larger phablet-sized version which + is often used for in the smartphone world.

Overall, the phone looks and feels just like the existing Xperia Z3 – and that's not a bad thing with the design and build of the Z3 very nice although the square shape isn't for everyone. There are a few small changes worthy of note, though.

First of all, the device is both thinner and lighter. It’s now 6.9mm and 144g down from 7.3mm and 152g making it the thinnest flagship Z series phone (the Z Ultra is thinner). This is good but we could barely notice the difference with the two side-by-side.

A much more significant upgrade in the design department is the lack of a cap or flap for the Micro USB port meaning charging is far less fiddly. The device is still IP65/IP68 dust- and water-proof and there's now only one cover for the joint SIM and microSD card slot.

It's still available in Black and White colours and Sony says there's a 'new interpretation' of Copper. We took a look at the Ice Green edition which will be called Aqua Green elsewhere.

SONY XPERIA Z3+ REVIEW: HARDWARE AND NEW FEATURES

So there are a few design tweaks and it's a similar story in the hardware department with most things staying the same as last year's model. The screen is still 5.2in with a Full HD resolution and core specs such as the 20.7Mp camera, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a microSD card slot all remain the same.

So what has changed?

Well the biggest hardware upgrade is in the engine room. The Xperia Z3+ is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 processor which means a jump from the Snapdragon 810. While devices like the Samsung Galaxy S6 have shunned the 810, it's a 64-bit octa-core chip with four A53 cores at 1.5GHz and four A57 cores at 2GHz. What's the fastest smartphone 2015?

We found performance smooth during our fondle with the Z3+ but the software wasn't final so we don't want to comment any further until we get a final review sample.

As mentioned the storage is 32GB internally and the microSD card slot (now a slightly rare feature on flagships) can take up to 128GB. We like the way there is a single tray for both the SIM card and microSD card.

In what is somewhat a downgrade, the battery is smaller in capacity at 2900mAh, compared to 3100mAh. This is presumably because the device is thinner so there is less space but Sony claims the battery life is still two days. We'll test this out properly soon.

There's a quick charger which unfortunately isn't included in the box but this well mean you can charge the Xperia Z3+ for just 45 minutes and get a full day of usage, according to Sony. It's a shame to find no wireless charging with Sony saying: "We continue to assess the feasibility of these features to meet the varying demands of our consumers, ensuring these don't compromise the overall aesthetics or performance of our devices, in order to deliver the high standard of quality and performance our customers expect."

The camera is still 20.7Mp, but the Superior auto now recognises up to 52 different scenarios and there's a new Gourmet mode especially for those snaps everyone loves taking of their home cooked or restaurant food. The Superior auto mode and SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode are now available on the front camera, too.

We could only take a look at the Xperia Z3+ in the confinement of a board room so here are a couple of test photos but we'll comment more on the camera when we have a review sample.

There's little else to say although Sony has added an LDAC (the ability to enjoy top quality tracks wirelessly) and AHC (Automatic Headset Compensation, providing personalised sound). We're yet to test out the audio capabilities of the Z3+ but the Z3 is excellent so we've little doubt this is the same.

SONY XPERIA Z3+ REVIEW: SOFTWARE

With Android 5.0 Lollipop and Sony's Xperia user interface pre-installed, we like the software experience of the Xperia Z3+ - although with updates rolling out to previous generations of the Z range, there's nothing different here.

Sony holds back with the customisation of Android more than rival manufacturers and has embraced the Material Design of Lollipop – handily adding the ability to customise which quick settings you want in the drop down bar which isn't available in stock Android.

The software uses the card style recent apps menu and Sony's range of floating widgets including a calculator. The rest is fairly simple with some nice pre-loaded wallpapers and widgets – there's no extra screen like BlinkFeed or Google Now to the left of the main homescreen.

One slight downside we noticed was a fair amount of pre-loaded apps including Spotify, Vine, AVG, Kobo Books, Office Suite and others.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

Like previous devices, the Sony Xperia Z3+ is a nice smartphone. Although we like the capless USB port and the addition of the Snapdragon 810, it's simply far too similar to the Xperia Z3 to justify an upgrade – perhaps owners of older generations will be more tempted. It doesn't help that the firm is alienating customers by launching the same phone in Japan as the Xperia Z4. Compared to rivals, the Xperia Z3+ has a lot of good qualities but lacks a Quad HD screen and extra features like wireless charging.

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

£299 inc VAT

SAMSUNG GALAXY A5 REVIEW

The A5 is the latest model in Samsung's Alpha range and is a smart looking mid-priced phone. It comes in black, silver, gold and white. The 5 refers to the screen size - five inches - and it weighs a feather-like 123g. Updated on 21/5/15 with our video review. See also: 23 best new phones you should be excited about launching in 2015

In the hand it feels remarkably svelte, and that's mainly because it's just 6.7mm thick. These figures are slightly lower than those for the iPhone 6, which is 129g and 6.9mm.

Although it doesn't look like it, the A5 has an aluminium unibody. The chamfered aluminium edges make it look like it has a plastic rear cover: it certainly doesn't feel like metal. However, along with the smooth glass front it looks like a premium phone. Plus, the absence of any flex means build quality is right up there.

Turn it on and you'll immediately notice the vibrant colours of the Super AMOLED display which also has excellent viewing angles. You also get a 13Mp camera at the rear complete with LED flash and a 5Mp front-mounted "selfie" camera.

Inside, it's clear that there have been some compromises. The Snapdragon 410 processor isn't going to top any benchmark charts, and the phone runs the older version of Android: KitKat instead of the latest Lollipop.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A5 REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD

Set into the metal band are two removable trays whose design is so similar to the iPhone that at a glance you could mistake the A5 for a bigger version of the iPhone 5.

The bottom edge is home to the micro USB charge and sync port as well as a headphone jack. On the left-hand side is a volume rocker, and opposite on the right is a power button - the same setup as the iPhone 6. On top is only a tiny hole for the microphone.

We like the shimmery metallic effect of the rear cover, but it isn't removable and neither is the battery. We didn't appreciate the three black dots at the top of the screen which were easily visible on our white test phone, although this is easily solved by buying the black model.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A5 REVIEW: DETAILED SPECS

Another niggle, which serves to make the A5 look overpriced, is the fact that the screen has a 1280x720 resolution. This is acceptable on, say, the latest version of the Motorola Moto G, but at almost £300 SIM-free from online retailers, it's not as easy to swallow.

Don't get us wrong: the A5 has a great-quality AMOLED screen with some nice features including extreme power saving, but if you're prone to notice individual pixels, the A5 is quite obviously lower resolution than the Galaxy S6. And, for that matter, the Galaxy S5.

There's 16GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM and a microSD slot for adding up to 64GB of extra storage.

You don't get 802.11ac Wi-Fi, but the 802.11n radio works on both 2.4- and 5GHz. There's also Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS and ANT+.

And when comapared to the Galaxy S5, there's no fingerprint scanner, IR blaster or heart-rate sensor. Few people will miss these extras, but it's worth noting.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A5 REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

There were no surprises in our benchmarks, with the Snapdragon 410 performing just as it does in the £109 Motorola Moto E. The Geekbench scores of 483 and 1476 for the single- and multicore tests respectively were within the margin of error.

Somewhat strangely, the Adreno 306 GPU in the A5 produced slower frame rates than the 2015 Moto E which uses an identical chip. On the A5 we saw 3.9fps in Manhattan and 9.2fps in T-Rex, while the Moto E managed 6 and 13fps respectively. None are great results, of course, but both phones will play casual games well enough.

In Sunspider, the A5 completed the web-based test suite in 735ms, while the Moto E was slower at 1301ms. In general use, though, both phones load web pages quickly and only script-heavy sites were what we'd call slow to load and use.

Battery life is comparable with other similar size phones. With a 2300mAh cell on board, Samsung says you'll get eight hours of 3G web browsing and 12 hours of video playback. There's also an Ultra Power Saving mode that you get with Samsung's flagship phones. This turns the display to greyscale, disables mobile data when the screen is off and restricts which apps you can use in order to extend standby time to 1.2 days when you have only 10 percent power remaining.

In Geekbench's battery rundown test, the Galaxy A5 lasted for 6 hours and 15 minutes: a pretty respectable time. (The LG G4 lasted 4 hours 44 minutes, by comparison.)

SAMSUNG GALAXY A5 REVIEW: CAMERAS

It's a little odd that Samsung didn't use the Galaxy S5's rear camera in the A5. The S5 has a 16:9 16Mp sensor, whereas the A5 has a 13Mp 4:3 sensor. By default it's set to a 9.6Mp 16:9 setting like a lot of Android phones, meaning you're effectively cropping off the top and bottom of each photo.

You'd think there would be little difference in quality between the cameras, but you'd be wrong. The S5's photos are visibly better than the A5's and there's a noticeable lack of detail when you zoom in to make the A5's photos the same size at the S5's at 100 percent.

Of course, we're being picky here and the A5 still has a great camera when compared to many phones: it captures more detail than an 8Mp iPhone 6 and is leagues better than the 5Mp Moto G.

Exposures are accurate, colours generally realistic and the lens is sharp right to the corners. The photo below was taken with the A5's rear camera and has been resized to 800x600 but is otherwise untouched.

We're not huge fans of Samsung's confusing camera app but it does allow you to customise the settings available in the quick-access bar so if you like to adjust ISO and exposure correction often, you can drag these controls to the bar.

Oddly, the HDR mode isn't a toggle control as on the Galaxy S5: instead it's a shooting mode all by itself. But as it isn't shown in the list of shooting modes by default, it's easy to miss.

One handy feature is that you can hold up your palm when using the front camera to trigger a two-second countdown timer to take a selfie. This isn't unique, but it's very useful if you're using a selfie stick.

Photo quality from the 5Mp front camera is good. Detail levels are better than phones with fewer pixels (let's pick on the iPhone 6 again) so the A5 is a good choice if you take a lot of selfies.

Video, which tops out at 1920x1080 at 30fps from the rear camera, is sharp and detailed but there's no optical stablisation and this makes handheld footage shakier than we'd like. The Galaxy S5 doesn't have OIS either, but it can shoot UHD (4K) footage.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A5 REVIEW: SHOULD YOU BUY A GALAXY S5 INSTEAD?

The A5 is a stylish, thin and lightweight phone with good cameras. However, its processor isn't particularly powerful and also happens to be found in the Moto E which costs only £109. The Moto E is also a 4G phone and if you're not fussed about its slightly smaller, lower resolution screen and mediocre cameras is a much better value choice.

Interestingly enough, the A5 has serious competition from Samsung's own Galaxy S5, last year's flagship which now costs only a little more than the A5 when bought SIM-free. It has a higher resolution AMOLED screen (1920x1080) and a faster processor. It also has a better main camera, but a lower-resolution 2Mp front camera.

You get extra features, too, such as the IR blaster, fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor. Plus, the S5 is waterproof and has a microUSB 3.0 connector for super-fast transfers.

You might not care one jot for any of these, but the better screen and performance are enough to make the S5 worth paying an extra £20-30 for.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

When put next to the Galaxy S5, it's hard to find reasons to buy the A5 instead. It's not a bad phone, but the S5 is simply better value now that it has dropped in price.

Back in March Samsung and HTC both unveiled their new flagship smartphones for 2015, but which is best? We compare the price, design, specs and software in our Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9 comparison review.

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

HTC One M9: £579 inc VAT

Samsung Galaxy S6: £599 inc VAT (32GB), £660 inc VAT (64GB)

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 VS HTC ONE M9 COMPARISON REVIEW

Samsung and HTC both unveiled their new flagship smartphones for 2015 on the same day at MWC, but which is best? We compare the price, design, build, specs, hardware and software in our Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9 comparison review to find out. Also seeBest smartphones 2014 and Best Android phones 2014.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 VS HTC ONE M9 REVIEW: UK RELEASE DATE AND UK PRICE

Now both on sale across the UK, the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 are similarly priced. The HTC is your cheaper option at £579 while Samsung has priced its contender at £599. You might also be interested in the Galaxy S6 Edge which is a pricey £760.

There's only £20 in it and, on the whole, contract prices are similar so read on to find out how these phones compare in a number of other areas. Also see: best new phones you should be most excited about in 2015.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 VS HTC ONE M9 REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD

The HTC One M9 looks very similar to its predecessor, but now has a scratch-resistant coating, machine-drilled buttons and a sapphire glass lens on the rear of the camera. The power button has moved to the side which makes it easier to use, and HTC has employed a new two-tone design with the back and sides getting contrasting adonisation.

The Galaxy S6 shows much more of a departure from the norm for Samsung, with the company finally tackling plastic build quality concerns. This phone actually looks a bit like the iPhone 6. While last year's Samsung Galaxy S5 had a dimpled plastic rear cover, the S6's mirror-finish back is made with Gorilla Glass 4, just like the display. It's a slight shame the camera sticks out a fair way.

Like the HTC the S6 now has a unibody design with a metal frame, which will upset some long-term Samsung fans as there is no longer a removable battery or support for microSD. (HTC's battery is non-removable too, but it has managed to squeeze in a microSD slot.)

It's also worth noting that Samsung has dropped the waterproofing found on the Galaxy S5 so the two are equal on that measure since it's never been something HTC has offered.

The Samsung is much thinner than the HTC, measuring 6.8mm against its 9.7mm. It's also lighter, just 138g in the face of the One M9's 157g. And these figures are a big deal in this comparison with the Galaxy S6 just feeling a lot easier to manage and modern with its slender and lightweight frame.

The flat back isn't quite as comfortable compared to the curved rear of the One M9 and the glass rear does means it slides off things all too easily but it wins in this area overall.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 VS HTC ONE M9 REVIEW: HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE

Screen

Neither phone has seen a size increase in the display department, with the HTC offering a 5in panel and the Samsung 5.1in. However, while HTC has stuck with its full-HD Super LCD 3 screen, Samsung has switched its full-HD Super AMOLED panel for a Quad-HD version, apparently 20 percent brighter than that found on the S5 and with much higher resolution. So, while the HTC has a super-high pixel density of 441ppi, the Samsung has a staggering 577ppi.

While the Super AMOLED panel can be a little punchy for some eyes, we're all for Quad HD and Samsung's phone has the better display here.

Processor and memory

HTC uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core processor inside the One M9, with four A57 cores clocked at 2GHz and four A53 at 1.5GHz. Samsung has opted for its own Exynos processor, another 64-bit octa-core chip, with four A57 cores clocked at 2.1GHz and four A53 at 1.5GHz. Both phones have 3GB of RAM.

As you can see in the table below, the Galaxy S6 wins in raw processing speed and web browsing while the HTC provides higher framerates in graphics tests. This is mainly due to the lower resolution of the screen though and we've not had any problems with the Galaxy S6 in this area.

Although there is some separation in the benchmark figures, we've found both phones to offer silky smooth performance. It's what you should expect from top-end smartphones and you should look at other areas to choose between these two.

Storage

Both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 come with 32GB of storage, and the Samsung is also available in 64- and 128GB models. Sadly, the Samsung Galaxy S6 has lost its microSD support; the HTC One M9 supports microSD up to 128GB, meaning it has 32GB more total storage potential than the Galaxy S6.

It's a win for HTC here and might be deciding factor for some users depending on how you use your phone.

Cameras

HTC has moved its One M8's 4Mp UltraPixel camera to the front and placed at the rear a 20Mp camera. Although this means it's lost its dual-camera setup at the back, this one uses adynamic exposure algorithm that produces a similar effect. There's still a dual-LED flash and you can use a new manual mode to controll settings such as white balance, ISO, shutter speed and even focus.

At 20Mp its higher in megapixels than Samsung's 16Mp camera, but this has been tweaked since the S5 with smart optical image stabilisation, an IR sensor that can automatically adjust white balance, a f1.9 wide-angle lens, and the fact it is always on in the background allowing you to pick it up and begin shooting in 0.7 seconds by double tapping the home button. At the front of the S6 is a 5Mp camera with real-time HDR. Both HTC and Samsung support 4K video recording.

Without launching into a complete breakdown of each camera (we're working on a camera test of all 2015 flagship phones so look out for that soon), the Samsung Galaxy S6 is the winner here thanks to its all-round performance and the M9's lack of OIS.

Other hardware

Beyond core specs, the Galaxy S6 comes with dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, A-GPS and an IR blaster. The fingerprint scanner and heart-rate monitor are also still present, with the former working via touch rather than swipe. Samsung has also unveiled its Samsung Pay mobile payments service, which will be coming to the UK later this year.

HTC offers high-end wireless connectivity to match the Samsung Galaxy S6, but no fingerprint scanner, heart-rate monitor or mobile payments tech (although NFC is supported). One thing the HTC does have is support for high res audio (up to 24-bit).

Battery life

The HTC has the higher-capacity battery in this comparison, at 2840mAh against the Samsung's 2550mAh. As mentioned before, neither is removable.

Despite the smaller battery we've found the Galaxy S6 better in this area. Both phones should last the average user a couple of days but Samsung offers wireless charging as standard as well as a quick charging.

You can check out our battery benchmarks from Geekbench 3 below.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 VS HTC ONE M9 REVIEW: SOFTWARE

The HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 both come with Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is the latest version introduced with the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9. Although they will run the same operating system, the experience is quite different since Samsung adds its TouchWiz user interface and HTC adds Sense 7.0.

Samsung has toned down its heavily criticised TouchWiz in the S6, and you now get Office apps pre-installed.We like the simpler and more minimalist look and the Flipboard aggregator is found to the left of the main homescreen. Samsung has embraces the Material Design of Lollipop and the split screen mode for running two apps at once is handy.

With Sense 7.0 you'll find the familiar Blinkfeed aggregator and Motion Launch Gestures for doing things like turning the screen on with a double tap, plus a new Themes app and some other extras. We like the amount of customisation on offer and the Sense Home which will display the apps you use the most when at home, work or on the go.

You can read more in-depth about the HTC and Samsung user interfaces in our individual reviews for each phone. It's not really an area where we can call out a winner as both have pros and cons plus it's down to personal taste. Try them out before buying if you can.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

HTC has launched some of the prettiest Android phones, but Samsung has turned things around with its slender all metal and glass, Quad HD Samsung Galaxy S6. With a better screen and camera plus extras such as a fingerprint scanner, heart-rate monitor and wireless charging it's worth paying the extra for. The standout downside here is the lack of a microSD card slot.