Released in 2015, the HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera and Huawei P8max represented ambitious attempts to deliver flagship experiences at a slightly lower price point. Both devices leveraged octa-core processors, but differed significantly in their chipset choices – Mediatek’s Helio X10 in the HTC and Huawei’s in-house Kirin 935 in the P8max. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, revealing which phone holds up better today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a balance of performance and features, the Huawei P8max emerges as the slightly better choice. Its Kirin 935, with its big.LITTLE architecture, offers a more efficient and potentially smoother experience than the Helio X10, particularly in sustained workloads. While the M9+ boasts a 'Supreme Camera' moniker, the P8max provides a more well-rounded package.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/21.1 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, September. Released 2015, October | 2015, April. Released 2015, July |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 151 x 72 x 9.6 mm (5.94 x 2.83 x 0.38 in) | 182.7 x 93 x 6.8 mm (7.19 x 3.66 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 168 g (5.93 oz) | 228 g (8.04 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~565 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 125.9 cm2 (~74.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super LCD3 | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6795T Helio X10 (28 nm) | Kirin 935 (28 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR G6200 | Mali-T628 MP4 |
| OS | Android 5.2 (Lollipop), Sense UI 7 | Android 5.0.2/5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), EMUI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 21 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), OIS | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 4 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/3", 2µm | 5 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, aptX | 4.0, A2DP |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/operator dependent) | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 2 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 598 h (2G) / Up to 626 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 23 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 2840 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4360 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gunmetal Gray, Silver Gold, Amber Gold | Luxurious Gold, Mystic Champagne, Titanium Grey |
| Models | - | DAV-701L, P8max |
| Price | About 480 EUR | About 400 EUR |
HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera
- Potentially faster single-core performance for basic tasks.
- HTC’s established brand recognition in some markets.
- May offer a more compact form factor.
- Helio X10’s homogenous core design may lead to higher power consumption.
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load.
- Camera performance is unconfirmed despite the 'Supreme' branding.
Huawei P8max
- Kirin 935’s big.LITTLE architecture offers better power efficiency.
- Likely larger display for improved content consumption.
- Potentially smoother multitasking experience.
- May not offer the same level of single-core performance as the Helio X10.
- Huawei’s software experience may not appeal to all users.
- Larger size may be less comfortable for some users.
Display Comparison
While specific display specs beyond size aren't provided, the Huawei P8max, given its 'max' designation, likely features a larger display than the HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera. Both utilize 28nm chipsets, suggesting neither prioritizes extreme display power draw. The P8max’s larger screen size could benefit content consumption, but may impact pixel density. Without knowing the panel technology (IPS, AMOLED) or resolution, a definitive brightness or color accuracy comparison is impossible, but Huawei historically focused on color accuracy in its displays.
Camera Comparison
The 'Supreme Camera' branding on the HTC One M9+ suggests a focus on imaging, but without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to assess its capabilities. The P8max, while not explicitly branded as a camera phone, likely features a capable sensor. The absence of sensor size information prevents a direct comparison. Image processing algorithms will play a crucial role, with HTC historically favoring vibrant colors and Huawei leaning towards more natural tones. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device would be a significant advantage, but is not specified.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipset architecture. The HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera’s Mediatek MT6795T Helio X10 employs a homogenous octa-core Cortex-A53 configuration at 2.2 GHz. The Huawei P8max’s Kirin 935, however, utilizes a big.LITTLE architecture – four Cortex-A53 cores at 2.2 GHz paired with four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.5 GHz. This allows the Kirin 935 to dynamically allocate tasks to the appropriate cores, improving power efficiency during lighter workloads and leveraging the faster cores for demanding applications. While both are 28nm, the Kirin’s architecture provides a potential advantage in sustained performance and thermal management.
Battery Life
Battery capacity isn’t provided for either device. However, the Kirin 935’s big.LITTLE architecture in the P8max offers a potential advantage in battery life due to its power efficiency. The Helio X10, with its homogenous core configuration, may consume more power under sustained load. Charging wattage is also unknown, but faster charging would be a significant benefit for either device, mitigating the impact of potentially smaller battery capacities.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera if you prioritize a potentially more responsive single-core performance for basic tasks and are heavily invested in the HTC ecosystem. Buy the Huawei P8max if you prefer a more efficient processor with a big.LITTLE architecture for better multitasking and sustained performance, alongside a larger display and potentially better battery life. Both phones are now aging, so consider their current price and availability carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Mediatek Helio X10 in the HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera struggle with demanding games like Asphalt 8?
The Helio X10, while capable, is a 2015-era chipset. Demanding games like Asphalt 8 may exhibit frame drops or require reduced graphics settings to maintain a playable experience. The homogenous core design may also lead to thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, further impacting performance.
❓ Is the big.LITTLE architecture of the Kirin 935 in the Huawei P8max noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, the big.LITTLE architecture is designed to be transparent to the user, but it manifests as smoother multitasking and improved battery life. The Kirin 935 intelligently switches between the high-performance and energy-efficient cores based on the task at hand, resulting in a more responsive and efficient experience during typical usage scenarios.
❓ Which phone is likely to receive more software updates, given their age?
Neither phone is likely to receive significant software updates at this point. Both the HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera and Huawei P8max are several years old, and manufacturers typically cease providing updates for older devices after a certain period. Security updates are unlikely.
