HTC today launched the One M9+ plus in India to everyone’s surprise. We were expecting that HTC would launch the international variant, One M9. But instead we got the much beefier variant which packs a 5.2-inch quad-HD 2K display, octa-core processor and Duo camera setup at the back. I spent some time with the One M9+ and here are my first impressions.
Hands-on Video
Key Specifications
The One M9+ is the beefier cousin of the One M9, it features a quad-HD display while the One M9 makes do with a 1080p screen and also comes with a fingerprint scanner. Let’s have a look at its key specs:
- 5.2-inch quad-HD (2560x1440 pixels) Super LCD3 Display
- 2.2 GHz Quad-core MediaTek MT6795T Turbo 64-bit processor
- Android 5.0 Lollipop with Sense 7
- 3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage expandable up to 2 TB with microSD cards
- 20.7 MP Rear camera with Duo camera setup
- 4 MP UltraPixel Front Camera
- 2840 mAh Non-removable Battery
- Fingerprint Sensor, Unibody Metal Construction, BoomSound Speakers
Build
The HTC One M9+ has the same build as the One M9. You get aluminium alloy unibody construction throughout the device. The front is clad in Corning Gorilla Glass for added protection, and the top of the phone houses the plastic casing for the infrared sensor. You now get a dual-tone finish where the sides are gold in color while the back is either silver or gold, whichever you choose.
In the front you have the 5.2-inch 2K display with on-screen buttons. Above the display you have the BoomSound speaker, usual array of sensors and the UltraPixel front-facing camera. The notification LED is tucked inside the BoomSound speaker-grill.
Below the display is a change from the One M9, the One M9+ comes with a fingerprint sensor which is of the tap variety found on the Galaxy S6/Edge and the iPhone 6. The fingerprint sensor also doubles up as the home button, but you don’t need to press it, a single tap on it will get you t your homescreen.
On the left you have the SIM card tray, the One M9+ is a dual-SIM device which uses nano-SIM cards. On the right you have the volume buttons, power button and the microSD card slot. You can also expand storage upto 2 TB using a microSD card.
You can also see the dual-tone finish of the One M9+ with gold sides and a brushed silver back. The sides are more pronounced this time around when compared with the M8 and give a better grip on the device.
Same goes for the back, the brushed aluminium-alloy back is far less slippery than before and continues to exude luxury. You have the Duo camera setup returning with the One M9+, which includes a 20.7 MP camera with dual-tone flash just like the one M9. The Duo camera is used to capture depth information so that you can later refocus your images.
The HTC One M9+ just like its predecessors is a gorgeous phone to look at. The dual-tone finish is subtle and adds a bit of a design flair. HTC has kept to its strengths in designing the One M9+, it feels great to hold and even with a 5.2-inch display doesn't feel that big of bulky. Moreover, HTC listened to its customers and critics, and made it easier to grip. Earlier the metal casing was a bit to smooth which made it slip easily but that’s been solved. The power button too has been moved to the right, albeit a lower than I would've liked, but is a definite improvement. HTC also gets bonus points for keeping the microSD card slot intact, which can be a deciding factor for people buying a phone in this price segment. The battery is sealed as with most flagship devices these days.
Now the HTC one M9 or the M9+ might not be the thinnest flagships around but in terms of design and build quality there is no compromise here. Everything is thought out, for eg, the power button is textured while the volume buttons aren't so that you can easily guess which button you are pressing without even looking at it.
Software
The One M9+ is running on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with Sense 7 on top. HTC has embraced Lollipop to an extent with Sense 7, but it is still decidedly HTC. Be it the task manager, the configurable quick toggles and navigation buttons right down to the settings menu.
BlinkFeed still keeps its place to the left of the main homescreen. HTC has also included a new widget which shows you apps according to your use and time of day. It is aware of your usage patterns and senses which apps you might need and brings them forward. You can customize it as well.
You can add more control to the navigation buttons, hide the navigation bar altogether, or bring up the notification tray by going into Personalization.
HTC Sense 7 also comes with a theme engine, which can generate themes based on images you take. Let's say you take an image of the sky, Sense will create a color palette based on the image, colorize your apps and Blinkfeed with it and also generate a matching set of icons.
First Impressions
The HTC One M9+ is a solidly built device. It exudes luxury and craftsmanship from every angle. It feels great to hold without being bulky and the new slightly more pronounced sides give a better grip. HTC Sense 7 is a breath of fresh air and works fluidly. With the limited time I spent with the device there was hardly any lag.
HTC has finally added a "real" camera to the One M9 Plus (One M9 as well), a 20 MP rear shooter with dual-tone flash and for the M9+ a duo camera setup to capture depth information. The camera was able to capture decent shots even in low light, but focusing was a bit slow especially on macro objects. But the event space was hardly well-lit with very patchy lighting. The UltraPixel front facing camera took good shots with very little noise even with low-lighting.
Overall, with a quad-HD display, microSD card slot, fingerprint sensor and a large 2840 mAh battery alongwith HTC's superb build and construction, customers who were planning to buy the Galaxy S6 Edge or the Galaxy S6 may have a choice at hand. Priced at Rs. 52,500 it directly competes with both of these devices. But the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have the advantage of already being available in the market while the HTC One M9+ will be available by May-end.
