HTC One M9+ thrills but price kills

HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone maker, never fails to impress me with the sleek design and powerful features of its high-end gadgets. When the company came out with the One M8, many were inclined to invest in the device only for the looks (the perfromance was great, too). But today, the market has changed drastically. Powerful smartphones are available for less than Rs 10,000. As a consumer, I wonder how many of us would be interested in paying a hefty amount for a smartphone (a new one comes out every other day). However, that doesn't mean we do not appreciate a quality device. Today, we look at the HTC One M9+.

Design & display

The 5.2-inch One M9+ has a dual-tone metal finish and looks like two pieces of metal put together. Though that makes the device look sturdy, it also makes the One M9+ slippery. The placement of the power and volume buttons on the right is slightly irritating. Often, you might hit the lock/unlock button while trying to access the volume rocker.

The One M9+ has a sharp display. Viewing angles are perfect and watching vidoes on the device is a treat.

Performance

The MediaTek X10 Helio octa-core 2.2GHz processor is impressive. It is aided by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory (which can be expanded up to 128GB). All your apps will run smoothly. Even heavy games such as Asphalt 8 function without any lag and the brilliant display allows a great gaming experience.

The HTC One M9+ comes with the latest Android Lollipop operating system. The battery managed to last about 10 hours on average usage after a round of charging.

Camera

The much talked about 20-megapixel (MP) rear camera aided by a 2.1MP duo camera performs well. But the duo camera on the HTC One M9+ doesn't make much difference. It's a feature you can flaunt but won't be using so often. For the phone's Rs 53,300 tag, the camera did not leave us very happy. On the front, HTC has put its 4MP ultrapixel camera, which used to be the primary camera on its earlier flagships. For some reason, the selfies you click with this one are really soft. They make you look good but at times unreal.

Verdict

Brilliant design, sharp display, powerful processor. The HTC One M9+ has a lot going for it. But is it worth that much? I don't think so. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is probably a better performer with its impressive camera, battery life and processor. And if you don't mind shelling over Rs 50,000, the iPhone 6 is not a bad option either.

HTC ONE M9+

Price: Rs 53,300
Display: 5.2-inch
Weight: 168g
OS: Android Lollipop
Processor: 2.2GHz octa core
RAM: 3GB
Camera: 20MP + 2.1MP autofocus (rear); 4MP (front)
Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 2,840 mAh battery
Memory: 32GB internal (expandable up to 128GB)