D
Doug Demagistris
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Both the HTC One A9 and Google’s Nexus 5X, made by LG, feature high-end specifications in a compact size at a price that’s relatively affordable. The Nexus 5X stirred up lots of hype this year given how great the original Nexus 5 was. The One A9 brings a new taste of design and looks to put the company back on track after a devastating year.
Let’s see how the two devices stack up.
Design
Both the Nexus 5X and One A9 come in slim, lightweight packages each with unique design cues that keep the cost low. The Nexus 5X features a plastic body that wraps around the edge of the display. It’s soft to the touch and comes in a variety of color options such as white, black and mint. It measures in at 147 x 72.6 x 7.9mm and weighs only 136 grams. Google says its super compact body both looks and feels good due to its high screen-to-body ratio. On the front you’ll find a speaker grill with an LED indicator along the bottom of the display and another for taking calls at the top. On the sides lie the power and volume controls as well as the SIM card tray. On the rear you’ll find Google’s new super fast fingerprint scanner with the company’s Nexus logo as well as LG’s symbol just below it.
The One A9 features a design that’s very much unlike that of the Nexus 5X, but similar in size. Its display measures a slightly smaller 5 inches with its overall body measuring 145.75 x 70.8 x 7.26mm and weighing in at 143g. The One A9 take a very different approach when it comes to build materials. The handset is made of metal and has a design similar to that of Apple’s newest iPhone series. However, HTC thought is was better to place the camera and flash in the upper middle of the rear side rather than the corner. You’ll find a rare physical home button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner on the front with HTC’s branding just above it. That same company logo is stamped on the back of the One A9. The right side offers power and volume buttons while the SIM card tray and micro-SD card slot can be found on the left side.
Winner: HTC One A9
Display
The display on both handsets are hard to decipher, especially on paper. Both include full-HD displays, HTC’s having Super AMOLED technology and Google’s being an IPS LCD panel. The One A9 will be slightly more pixel dense due to its smaller display size, coming in at 5-inches while the Nexus 5X measures 5.2 inches. Both aren’t the best out there but are doable for the average user. You’ll also get the benefit of having a less power-hungry display than much of the high-end market. Which means more battery life for you!
Another difference here is that HTC’s One A9 is covered with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 4 while Google’s Nexus 5X has Gorilla Glass 3. However, the difference is hard to notice during average day-to-day activities.
Winner: HTC One A9
Hardware
On the hardware front, HTC and Google’s phones each have their own advantages. The Nexus 5X sports Snapdragon 808 processor that is slightly faster than the Snapdragon 617 in the One A9. Neither is bad, but it can become more noticeable over time. If you decide to pick up the 32GB One A9 variant, it’ll have an additional gigabyte of RAM making for a better multitasking experience. On the other hand, the Adreno 405 that comes on the HTC One A9 can’t match the Adreno 418 present on the Nexus 5X. This gives the One A9 the slight advantage when it comes to gaming.
With mobile payments on the rise, you’ll be glad to know that both handsets include built-in fingerprint scanners. The only difference here being the location of it. The Nexus 5X keeps the scanner on the rear side and the One A9 has it built into the home button. Each handset starts at 16GB of internal storage space and can also be purchased with 32GB of space for an extra cost. Unlike that of the Nexus 5X, the One A9 can be expanded via its built-in micro-SD card slot for an added 2TB of storage.
The Nexus 5X fights back with its USB type-C port for reversibility and faster charging capabilities. But this is not something HTC falls short on. The company has included support for Quick Charge 2.0 with the capability of upgrading to 3.0 once available. The only problem here is that you’ll need a specific adapter. It should also be noted that the One A9 leaves out Bluetooth 4.2 compatibility and doesn’t come with the included Barometer sensor that the Nexus 5X does.
Winner: Nexus 5X
Software
Both handsets run Google’s latest software version, Android 6.0. It offers a refined experience, better battery consumption, less bugs, faster speeds and some new nifty tools. If you want a stock Android experience, go with the Nexus 5X, if you want some extra features, go with the One A9.
When it comes to updates, Nexus 5X owners will be among the first to get their hands on the latest and greatest. Unfortunately, One A9 users will have to suffer a longer wait. So what you want comes down to personal preference.
Winner: It comes down to preference.
Camera
Now le’ts talk about cameras. Each has a 13MP rear-facing camera but the One A9 supports a slightly higher resolution front-facing camera. The One A9 boosts a 5MP snapper while the Nexus 5X includes a 4MP one. However, as most of you know, megapixels aren’t everything. Unfortunately the One A9 is yet to be tested so we can’t have a direct comparison here. Both are alike on paper with an F2.0 lens and an included LED flash. However the Nexus 5X goes a bit beyond and includes a larger 1.55μm pixel size for better low-light photography and more stabilized shots and videos. The Nexus 5X also supports slow motion video at 120fps and can shoot in 4k resolution at 30 fps. HTC plays it safe with its included Optical Image Stabilization and a new sapphire crystal surface that covers the lens from being damaged. The One A9 also brings more manual controls with its application and includes a new hyperlapse feature that Google’s camera app fails to supply. But the bottom line is, the camera has been an area where HTC is known to struggle and if camera quality is most important to you, the Nexus 5X is a safer bet.
Winner: Nexus 5X
Battery
While battery can mean a lot less on paper than real live tests, here’s what I’ve picked up. The Nexus 5X provides a larger capacity at 2,700mAh over the One A9’s smaller 2,150mAh capacity. Both are sealed meaning you can’t replace them with a spare. With both handsets, users will get Google’s doze feature that debuted with the Marshmallow update which shuts down background apps and cuts back performance when the device notices it has been sitting for a while. As said in the previous section, each supports their own methods of fast charging to keep your device up and running with a simple plug-in. Until further tests are conducted, it’s hard to say which is the better of the two in terms of battery stamina, but one can expect to see similar results with either or.
Score: Draw
Availability and Price
The One A9 is the newer of the two and is currently up for pre-order. HTC is yet to announce an official release date but stated November will be a likely launch time. The One A9 will be carried by AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint in the United States and will operate on Verizon if unlocked. However, Verizon will not carry the handset meaning you’ll have to fetch it from somewhere else. For the 32GB/3GB option of the One A9, buyers will pay $399 unlocked without a contract. Users can also wait and pay with installment plans or a contract if they so choose. Color options will vary on one’s location.
The Nexus 5X just became available in the states and will be coming to more countries shortly. It costs $379 for 16GB of storage and $429 for 32GB. The handset comes unlocked with support for all four major U.S. carriers. At this time, it can only be purchased through the Google Store.
Closing
Each handset has their pros and cons. Neither is perfect and both aren’t the hottest out there. But all it takes is the right person to make the perfect buy. The Nexus 5X is a great option for those wanting a compact device with a clean experience that doesn’t break the bank. I’m looking at you Nexus 6P. The One A9 is a great choice for those looking to spend a reasonable amount on a phone that’s reliable, supports the latest software, and has a premium design. What’s better comes down to your personal preference. Neither is significantly better than the other.
Feel free to let us know what feature led to your decision and why in the comments down below.
Come comment on this article: HTC One A9 versus Google Nexus 5X
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