GS5: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

[Kevin OQuinn]

Re: S5 vs. HTC M8

I had the M7. I decided to roll over my contract of course I considered the m8, the Galaxy s5 and the Sony Z2. The z2 is vapourware where I live, so that was easy.
The m7 camera was annoying me; low light is awesome but the resolution meant no zoom, and that's a loss. Meanwhile, the s5 is ok in low light, and superior in most every other way.

Also, my phones go on to second lives with family members; what with nephews and nieces I'd expect my phones to have two more owners after me. Replaceable batteries give phones a much longer life. Strike 2 for the M8 (but this is a personal consideration).

I had a Galaxy Nexus in days of yore, and I understand the pros and cons of plastic cases, and despite the fetish for metal cases, plastic has its advantages (apart from battery replacement). It's lighter, tougher and more replaceable.
Technically, the s5 gets a lot of things right, although apart from the camera, none of them are knockouts. The screen is better, in perhaps little ways (it scales right down to very low light output in a dark room, something I missed from my previous oled device). The S5 has lower audio latency (keyboard clicks are useful, they aren't on the m7;I don't know about the m8), better stereo output (see Anandtech's review, best ever reviewed and indeed better than the m7, which was very good) and then there's the camera.

Reviewers go after touchwiz. After having the s5 for a week, I can say that I don't mind touchwiz at all, given that I always use the Nova launcher (on the One as well). The S5 keyboard is really good, a keeper (and few reviews give it credit). The quick settings are good, equal to Sense. So far I'm still using the touchwiz calendar app, although normally I use third party apps. I was not looking forward to touchwiz and expected to install a custom rom to get rid of it, but I think it's been given a bum rap by reviewers. I have sense 6 on the m7 (via a custom rom) and it's really nice. It definitely looks better than touchwiz, but not that much better.

The pulse reader works. Jury is still out on the fingerprint scanner. Biometric security is essentially useless ( a password you can't change) but fingers are convenient. The Galaxy's implementation works just well enough for me to persevere, but you have to play by its rules. Reviews said it was useless and I didn't plan to use it at all. It is therefore better than expected.

I saw no reference in their review about audio performance. One site (maybe GSMArena?) noted the M8 as the best they ever tested.

Can you provide a link to the anandtech page that says otherwise?

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[redhat1001]

Re: S5 vs. HTC M8

Brought my S5 back yesterday because I'm waiting for the 32Gb version (been friends with the at&t mgr for couple years, he said AT&T will be getting the 32gb and a gold version...didn't say when though), anyways, I decided to try the M8 while waiting, and it's going back today. Really nice phone, but the aesthetics, just are not for me. Every time I try to click the power button on top, I'm changing the volume. When I'm out and about I use a case, but at home I take the case off and without a case the phone is slicker than snot. I feel like at anytime, it's going to slip out of my hand. The knock on feature is nice, able to add lockscreen widgets is great, the speakers are nice, but I don't listen to my phone very often through speakerphone..... If the 32gb version doesn't come out in a couple weeks or so, I'll go back and get the 16gb. I'm just taking a chance that AT&T and company are pulling the same stunt with the S5 as they did with the S4.

 

[elykoj]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

I bought the HTC M8 2 weeks ago, just bought a new Chevy Cruze and the Bluetooth is unusable.. All music skips and is unlistenable and calls are choppy. Tried a Saumsung s4 and iphones 4s and 5s and no issues at all. I called Verizon tech support and went through some troubleshooting but did not fix. I was told HTC was putting out an update by the end of April to address some Bluetooth issues. I was told to wait and see. I expressed my concerns that I will be out of my 14 day return window and if this update does not fix my issue i want out of this phone and into the S5. They told me to wait and see. I contacted Head of Customer Relations for VerizonWireless and explained my issue of buying this $600 phone off contract and it does not work as specified. I was told the account is noted and once the update is out if it does not fix the issue to contact her back..

 

[LCFC Tom]

Re: S5 vs. HTC M8

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[killakumes]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

The m8 is a fantastic device. What drove to the s5 is the m8 didn't feel as secure in my hand. Although I use a case the increased weight is definitely noticeable and a little annoying when spending a while browsing. Also the great front facing speakers aren't really a selling point for me because I know I'd never use them.
With these minor points in mind I went for the s5 for the lighter and ergonomic build with a slightly wider screen.

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[sel1965]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

Well, I have both phones. I got the S5 on launch day and have had nothing but problems with the phone and data. I have had it back to BB and to Sprint. BB says it's the network Sprint says it's the phone. I decided to test this a little more on my own and purchased the M8 last Monday. I have to say there are so many things about the S5 that I like UI wise. The M8 seems to function better as a phone and while using the internet. I get much better reception with the M8 than the S5. The S5 does take some incredible pictures but the M8 is not bad either. About that network issue. I have both phones sitting in front of me, the M8 has a good LTE/Spark signal almost everywhere in KC I have gone. The S5 on the other hand has trouble connecting to LTE and when I try and run the PRL or Profile update it tells me I have no internet and try later. For this very reason I am taking functionality over the S5. The last straw was this morning at my house there was a cable outage with comcast and I had no wifi. My S5 was dead I could only make calls. My M8 had had not only internet but LTE/Spark working. So I believe my choice will be to return the S5 I can't be stuck without internet if something were to happen when I needed it.

 

[rustum]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

Another speed test with M8. It looks like a wash. Like comparing cars for 0-60mph speed. One will do in 6.0sec and other will do in 6.1 sec. In normal usage, it barely makes any difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNoKpffVJo

 

[elykoj]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

HTC just released the update today... i will test the bluetooth in the car later today and see if it is fixed or not.... if not I will be going to the Samsung S5

I bought the HTC M8 2 weeks ago, just bought a new Chevy Cruze and the Bluetooth is unusable.. All music skips and is unlistenable and calls are choppy. Tried a Saumsung s4 and iphones 4s and 5s and no issues at all. I called Verizon tech support and went through some troubleshooting but did not fix. I was told HTC was putting out an update by the end of April to address some Bluetooth issues. I was told to wait and see. I expressed my concerns that I will be out of my 14 day return window and if this update does not fix my issue i want out of this phone and into the S5. They told me to wait and see. I contacted Head of Customer Relations for VerizonWireless and explained my issue of buying this $600 phone off contract and it does not work as specified. I was told the account is noted and once the update is out if it does not fix the issue to contact her back..

 

[rustum]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

Very detailed comparison including sound, camera and video.This one will help people who are still not able to decide.
Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8): Leather and steel - GSMArena.com

 

[elykoj]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

update came out yesterday/// it did not fix the issue of skipping on bluetooth.. changing to the S5 on monday i guess

I bought the HTC M8 2 weeks ago, just bought a new Chevy Cruze and the Bluetooth is unusable.. All music skips and is unlistenable and calls are choppy. Tried a Saumsung s4 and iphones 4s and 5s and no issues at all. I called Verizon tech support and went through some troubleshooting but did not fix. I was told HTC was putting out an update by the end of April to address some Bluetooth issues. I was told to wait and see. I expressed my concerns that I will be out of my 14 day return window and if this update does not fix my issue i want out of this phone and into the S5. They told me to wait and see. I contacted Head of Customer Relations for VerizonWireless and explained my issue of buying this $600 phone off contract and it does not work as specified. I was told the account is noted and once the update is out if it does not fix the issue to contact her back..

 

[Gdwheel]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

Well, I have both phones. I got the S5 on launch day and have had nothing but problems with the phone and data. I have had it back to BB and to Sprint. BB says it's the network Sprint says it's the phone. I decided to test this a little more on my own and purchased the M8 last Monday. I have to say there are so many things about the S5 that I like UI wise. The M8 seems to function better as a phone and while using the internet. I get much better reception with the M8 than the S5. The S5 does take some incredible pictures but the M8 is not bad either. About that network issue. I have both phones sitting in front of me, the M8 has a good LTE/Spark signal almost everywhere in KC I have gone. The S5 on the other hand has trouble connecting to LTE and when I try and run the PRL or Profile update it tells me I have no internet and try later. For this very reason I am taking functionality over the S5. The last straw was this morning at my house there was a cable outage with comcast and I had no wifi. My S5 was dead I could only make calls. My M8 had had not only internet but LTE/Spark working. So I believe my choice will be to return the S5 I can't be stuck without internet if something were to happen when I needed it.

I have both as well and I feel the same. Mine are on AT&T. The S5 data signal/connectivity is not good. If it was better, I would use it. As it stands. I cannot count on it at all. Even when it says it has an LTE signal, apps will not connect sometimes saying the data connection was lost. The M8 sitting right next to it is fine and every other phone (I have had a lot of them) has not had problems at those locations. In fact, I do not remember the last time I saw an Edge signal on my AT&T phones. It has happened frequently with the S5.

 

[GGearX]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

just traded the m8 for an s5. was worried about the lag people were talking about.... seems like they were being nitpiky, it's not slow. its really nice too. im just getting used to it and am happy about allt he touch options samsung added and might be the only one who likes all the options and icons. plus the notification center is my favorite color which is awesome.

 

[neonworm]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

just traded the m8 for an s5. was worried about the lag people were talking about.... seems like they were being nitpiky, it's not slow. its really nice too. im just getting used to it and am happy about allt he touch options samsung added and might be the only one who likes all the options and icons. plus the notification center is my favorite color which is awesome.

Sounds good. But, I am curious as to why you traded your M8?

 

[Leslie Hatcher]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

Just throwing this out there: 95 percent of users put a case on their phone anyway.... so metal or plastic, it really doesn't matter! No one sees it anyway. Honestly, I bought a clear case for my S5 bc I like the look. And Otterboxes are great for protection, but bulky. I have an iPhone 5s and had an otterbox for it, but hated the square bulkiness. My pet peeve? Phones that are so delicate that you need an Otterbox for protection. Just my 2 cents....

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ffejjj]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

I never use cases

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[damiand2002]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

The htc one m8 is the better phone in my opinion. I have the s5 and my wife the m8 so i play with both of them and the m8 is way way way faster and smoother than my s5. I will be trading with her!

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Skyway]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

Just throwing this out there: 95 percent of users put a case on their phone anyway.... so metal or plastic, it really doesn't matter! No one sees it anyway. Honestly, I bought a clear case for my S5 bc I like the look. And Otterboxes are great for protection, but bulky. I have an iPhone 5s and had an otterbox for it, but hated the square bulkiness. My pet peeve? Phones that are so delicate that you need an Otterbox for protection. Just my 2 cents....

Posted via Android Central App

Metal does more than just look good, it dissipates heat better as well. With these powerhouse processors phones are running nowadays, heat will become an issue. My m8 only gets warm, not even close to hot, when charging. Under intense gaming or watching videos, it is still cool to the touch.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[erasat]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

So for some of you the better phone is the one that you think is faster. .. well I trade the milliseconds of difference opening the phone, messages and contact apps for the better, bigger and more vivid screen, the air view options, air browse, answering the phone just by waving my hand over it, toolbox, multi window, Ultra power mode, better by far contacs and phone apps, ip67 water resistance, perfect compatibility with my Gear2 neo, 3.0 usb port, Better battery tested by experts and resulted better than the almighty note 3 battery, using same scientific tests, not according to a few forum users and for last the hugely better and great camera only rival by the best smartphone cameras outthere.

As you can see, for me the better phone is not defined by the material used, just the material because I love the look of the S5 and don't think that the M8 looks a lot better, just different because of the metal, but once you put a cover, then there's nothing else to discuss, BTW, I hate the form of the m8 and the great wasted space on its bezel.

I can talk because I bought the s5 the 10th, then on the 12th I bought the m8, thinking on use both, but because of the nano Sim card, I couldn't, my plan was to use an adapter but after reading that using it may damage the Sim contacts on the s5 I decided that it was time to decide to keep just one, well I decided to keep the one that doesn't bored me, that I always look to pick it up and used, not the one that after a day with it was so boring that the only thing left was, well the speakers are great and it's metal. ..Just took a hit odd $100 getting rid of the m8, lesson learned, I could have stayed with just my s5.

So as you see we all have our opinions and preference and that's great and the beauty of Android, problem is when you come to this forums posting your opinions and preferences as facts trying to impose them over the ones that think different. LIke I mentioned before this is just tiresome and I'm sick of it.

 

[Andyvalver]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

I nearly bought the m8. Was so close until I decided to walk away. Now I have the xperia z2.

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[Kilroy13]

Re: Galaxy S5 vs. HTC One (M8)

My sister in law just returned the s5 and got the m8! Her reasons were the signal quality was awful, her camera lens cracked for no reason, the phone lagged and froze up! And the worst part she said was that the phone would get so hot while using it it would burn her hands! She said the pictures looked good though!

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