- Feb 18, 2015
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So I finally received my new, unlocked HTC 10 yesterday and have had 24 hours to play around with it. My initial impression is that this is a really good device. I have been using a Galaxy S7 since its release, but I was very intrigued by the HTC 10 when it was announced. I have always liked HTC devices for their build quality, but the cameras were always the sore point. With that said, here are my initial thoughts on the device versus my S7. I am on the fence as to which device to stick with.
Battery Life: Both have the same size battery, but so far the battery life on the HTC 10 has been much better than the S7. I had almost 5 hours of SOT on the HTC 10, and that is amazing considering I was setting up the phone, downloading apps, playing around with settings, etc. I have never come close to that on the S7. Both phones have the same apps downloaded and all of the settings are the same. HTC 10 wins big in this department for me.
UI: I really like HTC's approach with the 10. It is almost stock Android with a little bit of HTC Sense mixed in. The UI is very light and fluid. Touchwiz on the S7 has gotten much better, but there is still the occasional hiccup where a little bit of lag occurs. Overall, Touchwiz has been pretty good for me on the S7, but I really like the UI on the HTC 10. Another win for the HTC 10.
Build: Both devices are really well built. I like the metal design that HTC uses, and it is really well refined on the 10. It feels good in the hand which is really important to me when using a smartphone. I am not one for using cases as it hides a lot of the design. However, I do prefer the S7 over the HTC 10 in this category. I don't care about the glass on the back of the S7 as I put on a brand skin. The S7 feels better in the hand to me than the 10, so Samsung wins this round.
Screen: Both screens are sharp and colorful. This is where personal preference comes in. Some prefer AMOLED, some LCD. Both screens on these devices look great. The only issue I see is that the HTC 10 is not as bright as the S7. I'm calling this one a tie.
Fingerprint: Both devices work well, but I really like the capacitive home button on the HTC 10, and the fingerprint reader is slightly quicker and more accurate than the S7. Some of the reviews I have seen on the 10 complain about the home button placement and the way the fingerprint reader works, but I have not experienced any issues with the 10. The S7 also works well for me, but I prefer the capacitive style. I'm going with the HTC 10.
Intangibles: This is an area where I have to lean toward the S7, and this again comes down to personal preference. If I were to keep the HTC 10 and get rid of the S7, there are two things that I would really miss on the S7: Samsung Pay and wireless charging. For many, Samsung Pay is not a big deal, and those people are fine taking out their wallets and using a physical card. For me, Samsung Pay is super convenient, and it has worked every time I have used it. I use it all of the time. I know there is Android Pay on the HTC 10, but it doesn't work everywhere, and the selection of banks and cards is terrible. Google has some work to do there. I also love wireless charging. I have two chargers in my home - one in the bedroom on my nightstand, and one in my family room on an end table. It's really convenient to just drop the phone on the charger and not have to worry about plugs or wires. I do however like the fact that HTC went with USB-C on the 10. It charges super-quick, but I'm still partial to wireless charging.
Camera: I haven't played around enough with the HTC 10 yet. I have taken some pics and videos, and for the most part the camera seems pretty good. I need some more time with the 10 to make a decision, but it has pretty tough competition to live up to with the S7. The S7 has been excellent in the time that I have had the device. I'm not a huge picture person or camera nut, so I won't get in to which camera's photos are warmer, over-saturated, etc. I just want a device that takes good pics when I need it, and I think both devices can do that. I have a family trip next week in Disney World, so I am on the fence as to which device to use.
Overall, I am really pleased with the HTC 10. If I can get past the wireless charging and the Samsung Pay, I might actually keep it. Has anyone else made the jump from an S7 to the 10?
Battery Life: Both have the same size battery, but so far the battery life on the HTC 10 has been much better than the S7. I had almost 5 hours of SOT on the HTC 10, and that is amazing considering I was setting up the phone, downloading apps, playing around with settings, etc. I have never come close to that on the S7. Both phones have the same apps downloaded and all of the settings are the same. HTC 10 wins big in this department for me.
UI: I really like HTC's approach with the 10. It is almost stock Android with a little bit of HTC Sense mixed in. The UI is very light and fluid. Touchwiz on the S7 has gotten much better, but there is still the occasional hiccup where a little bit of lag occurs. Overall, Touchwiz has been pretty good for me on the S7, but I really like the UI on the HTC 10. Another win for the HTC 10.
Build: Both devices are really well built. I like the metal design that HTC uses, and it is really well refined on the 10. It feels good in the hand which is really important to me when using a smartphone. I am not one for using cases as it hides a lot of the design. However, I do prefer the S7 over the HTC 10 in this category. I don't care about the glass on the back of the S7 as I put on a brand skin. The S7 feels better in the hand to me than the 10, so Samsung wins this round.
Screen: Both screens are sharp and colorful. This is where personal preference comes in. Some prefer AMOLED, some LCD. Both screens on these devices look great. The only issue I see is that the HTC 10 is not as bright as the S7. I'm calling this one a tie.
Fingerprint: Both devices work well, but I really like the capacitive home button on the HTC 10, and the fingerprint reader is slightly quicker and more accurate than the S7. Some of the reviews I have seen on the 10 complain about the home button placement and the way the fingerprint reader works, but I have not experienced any issues with the 10. The S7 also works well for me, but I prefer the capacitive style. I'm going with the HTC 10.
Intangibles: This is an area where I have to lean toward the S7, and this again comes down to personal preference. If I were to keep the HTC 10 and get rid of the S7, there are two things that I would really miss on the S7: Samsung Pay and wireless charging. For many, Samsung Pay is not a big deal, and those people are fine taking out their wallets and using a physical card. For me, Samsung Pay is super convenient, and it has worked every time I have used it. I use it all of the time. I know there is Android Pay on the HTC 10, but it doesn't work everywhere, and the selection of banks and cards is terrible. Google has some work to do there. I also love wireless charging. I have two chargers in my home - one in the bedroom on my nightstand, and one in my family room on an end table. It's really convenient to just drop the phone on the charger and not have to worry about plugs or wires. I do however like the fact that HTC went with USB-C on the 10. It charges super-quick, but I'm still partial to wireless charging.
Camera: I haven't played around enough with the HTC 10 yet. I have taken some pics and videos, and for the most part the camera seems pretty good. I need some more time with the 10 to make a decision, but it has pretty tough competition to live up to with the S7. The S7 has been excellent in the time that I have had the device. I'm not a huge picture person or camera nut, so I won't get in to which camera's photos are warmer, over-saturated, etc. I just want a device that takes good pics when I need it, and I think both devices can do that. I have a family trip next week in Disney World, so I am on the fence as to which device to use.
Overall, I am really pleased with the HTC 10. If I can get past the wireless charging and the Samsung Pay, I might actually keep it. Has anyone else made the jump from an S7 to the 10?
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