Samsung Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9 vs LG G4 vs Huawei P8

The detail

Design – Gorilla party 9/10

Finally, an expensive Samsung phone that feels expensive. With Gorilla Glass 4 on back and front, and aluminium on the sides, this phone feels amazing. It looks far better than the S5 too, although granted the camera sticks out a bit.

Camera – Smart shooter 9/10

This 16MP camera is fantastic. It’s fast, it’s sharp and thanks to OIS, low-light performance is way better than Samsung’s phones of last year. As usual the HDR mode performs minor miracles too, making this just about the best phone camera around.

OS and Apps – Android unscathed 8/10

Not everyone loves Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but it’s actually one of the simpler and cleaner takes on Android. This year there are also themes that let you fiddle with its looks too. At launch there aren’t many good ones, mind. The scanner has been much improved too: you don’t have to swipe your finger across the scanner, just rest it there. This makes it far easier to use than last year’s one. Hit the like button. And there’s also a sensor on the back that reads not only your heart rate but blood oxygen saturation and the UV level around you. Pretty smart.

Screen – OLED + QHD = WIN 10/10

Do phone screens get much better than this? An OLED, QHD-res display gets you incredible contrast and sharpness. At ‘just’ 5.1in it’s pretty restrained in size. But then the Note 4 is there for big-screen thrills.

IN A NUTSHELL

Samsung hits the accelerator pedal with metal and glass

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Feeling a bit of deja vu? The HTC One M9 looks quite a lot like last year’s One M8. All that lovely textured aluminium is back, making this perhaps the smoothest, fanciest-feeling metal Android phone of the year. It’s a stunner.

This year it has a two-tone style, and comes in silver, grey or gold. HTC hasn’t gone overboard with the gold one either. No bling nightmares.

One other bit HTC hasn’t messed with too much is the speaker. You get the pair of BoomSound front speakers we loved so much last year. This time there’s a Dolby mode too, to squeeze a slightly larger sound out of them.

So what has changed? The camera is totally different. Rather than a 4MP UltraPixel main sensor, the M9 has a 20-megapixel one. That means way more resolution, but worse low-light skills. The UltraPixel camera has moved around to the front: it’s on selfie duty.

Despite having more megapixels than any other phone here, though, it’s not one of the top cameras. It struggles with reliability, often getting its settings a bit wrong.

Next to the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 you don’t quite get the same grade of screen either, using a 1080p Super LCD3 panel. It’s still great, but if you’re a screen fanatic you may well prefer one of those others. You pay for the ultra-premium design here, so make sure you like it.

Tech specs

Screen 5.0in, 1920 x 1080 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 20MP rear, 4MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 2840mAh  > Dimensions 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g

The detail

Design – Luxury time 9/10

It’s not skinny or particularly small, but the HTC One M9 looks and feels great thanks to its luxuriously curvy back. The back isn’t just beautifully curved, it also has a very fine brushed finish to get you that extra hit of quality. There’s a microSD slot too although no fingerprint scanner or other bonus bits, but stereo front-loaded BoomSound speakers get you the best quality of the lot. They’re not louder, but they are richer, more refined at less strained at max volume. The M9 ultimately cares more about acing the basics.

Camera – Problems with the meter 7/10

Awesome megapixel specs aside, the One M9 camera needs some know-how to get the most out of. Make the effort to learn to use it and you’ll get great shots, but it’s not fool-proof. The 4MP UltraPixel selfies are great, though.

OS and Apps – Talking Sense 8/10

HTC Sense is back, this time with themes. It’s starting to seem pretty dated in parts, having looked the same since 2013, but it runs like a dream. You can also de-fust with those themes and the usual Android tweaks.

Screen – Good enough? 8/10

With the smallest screen of the lot, and resolution we now see in much cheaper phones, the One M9 isn’t immediately impressive. Is the difference all that great? No, but you want the best when you’re paying £500-odd, right?

IN A NUTSHELL

HTC keeps what works, gets rid of what doesn’t

The verdict

There’s no doubt in our minds with this one. The Samsung Galaxy S6 just gets so much right, with virtually no elements that feel as though they could have done with a bit longer in the oven.

Camera, screen and build all ooze confidence and quality. This is a phone you’ll be proud to keep in your pocket.

Its only real issues are those bits where Samsung has been that bit too confident. Did it really have to get rid of the microSD slot? The money men probably said yes. We wish they hadn’t.

Battery life is also, well, normal. Not bad, not amazing. However, it’s not often we see a phone hit as many bullseyes as it aims for. This is the finest phone around right now.

The final scores

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 (£530) ✭✭✭✭✭

The S6 finally aces what Samsung has always struggled with: design.

2. LG G4 (£500) ✭✭✭✭✭

Big screen, optional leather back. It’s not a revelation, but it’s great.

3. HTC One M9 (£525) ✭✭✭✭✭

Not every change is golden but the gorgeous design makes it a winner.

4. Huawei P8 (£400) ✭✭✭✭✩

Huawei has earned its place in the big leagues with the P8.

What’s next?

One thing none of these phones really aced is battery life. Sure, some of them charge up super-quick, but you’ll drain the lot down in a day and change. There are a handful of amazing battery techs being worked on right now, from ones that charge in seconds to those that last for weeks. We can’t wait.

But what about in the shorter term? HTC has already announced an even higher-end version of the One M9, the M9+. It has a QHD screen, although it’s only heading to China at the moment.

There are also a few side contenders you might want to consider waiting for. The Galaxy Note 5 is likely to show up later this year and OnePlus is already talking-up its Two phone. Although you may have to beg for an invite to buy one if the OnePlus One is anything to go by.

So should you wait? Only if you want a much bigger one, or a significantly cheaper one.

Tech specs

Screen 5.2in 2560 x 1440 OLED (577ppi) > Processor Exynos 7420 Octo-core 2.1GHz > Cameras 16MP rear, 5MP front > Storage 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (no microSD) > Battery 2550mAh  > Dimensions 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138g

The detail

Design – Gorilla party 9/10

Finally, an expensive Samsung phone that feels expensive. With Gorilla Glass 4 on back and front, and aluminium on the sides, this phone feels amazing. It looks far better than the S5 too, although granted the camera sticks out a bit.

Camera – Smart shooter 9/10

This 16MP camera is fantastic. It’s fast, it’s sharp and thanks to OIS, low-light performance is way better than Samsung’s phones of last year. As usual the HDR mode performs minor miracles too, making this just about the best phone camera around.

OS and Apps – Android unscathed 8/10

Not everyone loves Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but it’s actually one of the simpler and cleaner takes on Android. This year there are also themes that let you fiddle with its looks too. At launch there aren’t many good ones, mind. The scanner has been much improved too: you don’t have to swipe your finger across the scanner, just rest it there. This makes it far easier to use than last year’s one. Hit the like button. And there’s also a sensor on the back that reads not only your heart rate but blood oxygen saturation and the UV level around you. Pretty smart.

Screen – OLED + QHD = WIN 10/10

Do phone screens get much better than this? An OLED, QHD-res display gets you incredible contrast and sharpness. At ‘just’ 5.1in it’s pretty restrained in size. But then the Note 4 is there for big-screen thrills.

IN A NUTSHELL

Samsung hits the accelerator pedal with metal and glass

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Feeling a bit of deja vu? The HTC One M9 looks quite a lot like last year’s One M8. All that lovely textured aluminium is back, making this perhaps the smoothest, fanciest-feeling metal Android phone of the year. It’s a stunner.

This year it has a two-tone style, and comes in silver, grey or gold. HTC hasn’t gone overboard with the gold one either. No bling nightmares.

One other bit HTC hasn’t messed with too much is the speaker. You get the pair of BoomSound front speakers we loved so much last year. This time there’s a Dolby mode too, to squeeze a slightly larger sound out of them.

So what has changed? The camera is totally different. Rather than a 4MP UltraPixel main sensor, the M9 has a 20-megapixel one. That means way more resolution, but worse low-light skills. The UltraPixel camera has moved around to the front: it’s on selfie duty.

Despite having more megapixels than any other phone here, though, it’s not one of the top cameras. It struggles with reliability, often getting its settings a bit wrong.

Next to the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 you don’t quite get the same grade of screen either, using a 1080p Super LCD3 panel. It’s still great, but if you’re a screen fanatic you may well prefer one of those others. You pay for the ultra-premium design here, so make sure you like it.

Tech specs

Screen 5.0in, 1920 x 1080 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 20MP rear, 4MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 2840mAh  > Dimensions 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g

The detail

Design – Luxury time 9/10

It’s not skinny or particularly small, but the HTC One M9 looks and feels great thanks to its luxuriously curvy back. The back isn’t just beautifully curved, it also has a very fine brushed finish to get you that extra hit of quality. There’s a microSD slot too although no fingerprint scanner or other bonus bits, but stereo front-loaded BoomSound speakers get you the best quality of the lot. They’re not louder, but they are richer, more refined at less strained at max volume. The M9 ultimately cares more about acing the basics.

Camera – Problems with the meter 7/10

Awesome megapixel specs aside, the One M9 camera needs some know-how to get the most out of. Make the effort to learn to use it and you’ll get great shots, but it’s not fool-proof. The 4MP UltraPixel selfies are great, though.

OS and Apps – Talking Sense 8/10

HTC Sense is back, this time with themes. It’s starting to seem pretty dated in parts, having looked the same since 2013, but it runs like a dream. You can also de-fust with those themes and the usual Android tweaks.

Screen – Good enough? 8/10

With the smallest screen of the lot, and resolution we now see in much cheaper phones, the One M9 isn’t immediately impressive. Is the difference all that great? No, but you want the best when you’re paying £500-odd, right?

IN A NUTSHELL

HTC keeps what works, gets rid of what doesn’t

The verdict

There’s no doubt in our minds with this one. The Samsung Galaxy S6 just gets so much right, with virtually no elements that feel as though they could have done with a bit longer in the oven.

Camera, screen and build all ooze confidence and quality. This is a phone you’ll be proud to keep in your pocket.

Its only real issues are those bits where Samsung has been that bit too confident. Did it really have to get rid of the microSD slot? The money men probably said yes. We wish they hadn’t.

Battery life is also, well, normal. Not bad, not amazing. However, it’s not often we see a phone hit as many bullseyes as it aims for. This is the finest phone around right now.

The final scores

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 (£530) ✭✭✭✭✭

The S6 finally aces what Samsung has always struggled with: design.

2. LG G4 (£500) ✭✭✭✭✭

Big screen, optional leather back. It’s not a revelation, but it’s great.

3. HTC One M9 (£525) ✭✭✭✭✭

Not every change is golden but the gorgeous design makes it a winner.

4. Huawei P8 (£400) ✭✭✭✭✩

Huawei has earned its place in the big leagues with the P8.

What’s next?

One thing none of these phones really aced is battery life. Sure, some of them charge up super-quick, but you’ll drain the lot down in a day and change. There are a handful of amazing battery techs being worked on right now, from ones that charge in seconds to those that last for weeks. We can’t wait.

But what about in the shorter term? HTC has already announced an even higher-end version of the One M9, the M9+. It has a QHD screen, although it’s only heading to China at the moment.

There are also a few side contenders you might want to consider waiting for. The Galaxy Note 5 is likely to show up later this year and OnePlus is already talking-up its Two phone. Although you may have to beg for an invite to buy one if the OnePlus One is anything to go by.

So should you wait? Only if you want a much bigger one, or a significantly cheaper one.

Related › LG G4 vs HTC One M9

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Now Samsung’s getting serious. After years of making increasingly suspect-looking plastic phones, the Galaxy S6 is metal and glass, all-round. It doesn’t come cheap, but this is one of the best-feeling mobiles ever. It’s nice and smooth too, despite being a dead skinny 6.8mm thick.

It’s enough to set a gadget-geek’s heart a-pounding. You lose water resistance and a microSD slot, which is a bummer, though. Samsung has taken the Apple route this year, offering Galaxy S6s with up to 128GB RAM. You may need to sell a few organs to afford that version, mind.

With an amazing screen, fantastic camera and improved speakers, this is the sort of phone we’ve been hoping Samsung would make for years. It marries all the bits Samsung has always been good at while sorting out the design woes.

One real surprise is the fingerprint scanner. It divided buyers in the Galaxy S5, but this new scanner is an absolute treat. It works perfectly, and sits right where you want it, under the Home button. Want to go to the next level? Be sure to check out the fancier-but-pricier S6 Edge too. It’s the same apart from having glass that curves around at the front. It’s a phone of the future and no mistake.

Still, for the average buyer the vanilla S6 is still royalty, even without the microSD.

Tech specs

Screen 5.2in 2560 x 1440 OLED (577ppi) > Processor Exynos 7420 Octo-core 2.1GHz > Cameras 16MP rear, 5MP front > Storage 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (no microSD) > Battery 2550mAh  > Dimensions 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138g

The detail

Design – Gorilla party 9/10

Finally, an expensive Samsung phone that feels expensive. With Gorilla Glass 4 on back and front, and aluminium on the sides, this phone feels amazing. It looks far better than the S5 too, although granted the camera sticks out a bit.

Camera – Smart shooter 9/10

This 16MP camera is fantastic. It’s fast, it’s sharp and thanks to OIS, low-light performance is way better than Samsung’s phones of last year. As usual the HDR mode performs minor miracles too, making this just about the best phone camera around.

OS and Apps – Android unscathed 8/10

Not everyone loves Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but it’s actually one of the simpler and cleaner takes on Android. This year there are also themes that let you fiddle with its looks too. At launch there aren’t many good ones, mind. The scanner has been much improved too: you don’t have to swipe your finger across the scanner, just rest it there. This makes it far easier to use than last year’s one. Hit the like button. And there’s also a sensor on the back that reads not only your heart rate but blood oxygen saturation and the UV level around you. Pretty smart.

Screen – OLED + QHD = WIN 10/10

Do phone screens get much better than this? An OLED, QHD-res display gets you incredible contrast and sharpness. At ‘just’ 5.1in it’s pretty restrained in size. But then the Note 4 is there for big-screen thrills.

IN A NUTSHELL

Samsung hits the accelerator pedal with metal and glass

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Feeling a bit of deja vu? The HTC One M9 looks quite a lot like last year’s One M8. All that lovely textured aluminium is back, making this perhaps the smoothest, fanciest-feeling metal Android phone of the year. It’s a stunner.

This year it has a two-tone style, and comes in silver, grey or gold. HTC hasn’t gone overboard with the gold one either. No bling nightmares.

One other bit HTC hasn’t messed with too much is the speaker. You get the pair of BoomSound front speakers we loved so much last year. This time there’s a Dolby mode too, to squeeze a slightly larger sound out of them.

So what has changed? The camera is totally different. Rather than a 4MP UltraPixel main sensor, the M9 has a 20-megapixel one. That means way more resolution, but worse low-light skills. The UltraPixel camera has moved around to the front: it’s on selfie duty.

Despite having more megapixels than any other phone here, though, it’s not one of the top cameras. It struggles with reliability, often getting its settings a bit wrong.

Next to the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 you don’t quite get the same grade of screen either, using a 1080p Super LCD3 panel. It’s still great, but if you’re a screen fanatic you may well prefer one of those others. You pay for the ultra-premium design here, so make sure you like it.

Tech specs

Screen 5.0in, 1920 x 1080 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 20MP rear, 4MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 2840mAh  > Dimensions 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g

The detail

Design – Luxury time 9/10

It’s not skinny or particularly small, but the HTC One M9 looks and feels great thanks to its luxuriously curvy back. The back isn’t just beautifully curved, it also has a very fine brushed finish to get you that extra hit of quality. There’s a microSD slot too although no fingerprint scanner or other bonus bits, but stereo front-loaded BoomSound speakers get you the best quality of the lot. They’re not louder, but they are richer, more refined at less strained at max volume. The M9 ultimately cares more about acing the basics.

Camera – Problems with the meter 7/10

Awesome megapixel specs aside, the One M9 camera needs some know-how to get the most out of. Make the effort to learn to use it and you’ll get great shots, but it’s not fool-proof. The 4MP UltraPixel selfies are great, though.

OS and Apps – Talking Sense 8/10

HTC Sense is back, this time with themes. It’s starting to seem pretty dated in parts, having looked the same since 2013, but it runs like a dream. You can also de-fust with those themes and the usual Android tweaks.

Screen – Good enough? 8/10

With the smallest screen of the lot, and resolution we now see in much cheaper phones, the One M9 isn’t immediately impressive. Is the difference all that great? No, but you want the best when you’re paying £500-odd, right?

IN A NUTSHELL

HTC keeps what works, gets rid of what doesn’t

The verdict

There’s no doubt in our minds with this one. The Samsung Galaxy S6 just gets so much right, with virtually no elements that feel as though they could have done with a bit longer in the oven.

Camera, screen and build all ooze confidence and quality. This is a phone you’ll be proud to keep in your pocket.

Its only real issues are those bits where Samsung has been that bit too confident. Did it really have to get rid of the microSD slot? The money men probably said yes. We wish they hadn’t.

Battery life is also, well, normal. Not bad, not amazing. However, it’s not often we see a phone hit as many bullseyes as it aims for. This is the finest phone around right now.

The final scores

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 (£530) ✭✭✭✭✭

The S6 finally aces what Samsung has always struggled with: design.

2. LG G4 (£500) ✭✭✭✭✭

Big screen, optional leather back. It’s not a revelation, but it’s great.

3. HTC One M9 (£525) ✭✭✭✭✭

Not every change is golden but the gorgeous design makes it a winner.

4. Huawei P8 (£400) ✭✭✭✭✩

Huawei has earned its place in the big leagues with the P8.

What’s next?

One thing none of these phones really aced is battery life. Sure, some of them charge up super-quick, but you’ll drain the lot down in a day and change. There are a handful of amazing battery techs being worked on right now, from ones that charge in seconds to those that last for weeks. We can’t wait.

But what about in the shorter term? HTC has already announced an even higher-end version of the One M9, the M9+. It has a QHD screen, although it’s only heading to China at the moment.

There are also a few side contenders you might want to consider waiting for. The Galaxy Note 5 is likely to show up later this year and OnePlus is already talking-up its Two phone. Although you may have to beg for an invite to buy one if the OnePlus One is anything to go by.

So should you wait? Only if you want a much bigger one, or a significantly cheaper one.

The detail

Design – Leather goddess 8/10

Can’t stand a plastic phone? After the plasticky G3, LG has decided to offer a leather-topped G4 and even the plastic version is injected with ceramic for a slightly snazzier feel. To make the leather back, LG thins out a piece of real leather then glues it firmly onto a skinny piece of plastic to keep it firm.

Get down to its core, though, and not all that much has changed. The LG G4 still uses a wafer-thin backplate that doesn’t feel as solid as unibody metal or glass. At least you can replace the battery easily and use a microSD slot, though. As usual for LG, the power and volume buttons sit on the back rather than the sides. It feels weird at first, but works.

Camera – Sharper than cut glass 9/10

In a brutal game of tech top trumps, the LG G4 has a 16MP sensor and f/1.8 lens, just a shade better than the Galaxy S6. Sure enough, it offers slightly better low-light skills. It’s a bit slower, though. Just like last year, the G4 uses lightly contoured volume and power buttons on the back that can also be used to quick-start the camera.

OS and Apps – Sub-optimal Optimus? 8/10

Just as every Android UI under the sun is going smoother and more organic-feeling, the G4’s Optimus UI sticks with what it knows. It’s all sharp angles, and has a couple of interface bits and bobs that aren’t strictly necessary anymore. It could be prettier, but it’s super-snappy and lets you banish any bits of bloat you don’t want to see. There are some extra apps you may want to nix, but some extras are useful, such as the universal remote app that lets the G4 control your TV. Optimus UI could be better, but there are ways to fix it if you want.

Screen – Quantum LCD 9/10

The LG G4 has an LCD screen, but it’s not just any LCD screen. It offers searing QHD resolution and uses Quantum Display tech to supercharge the colours and contrast. It pops like crazy. Only criticism: the reds pop a touch too much for our taste.

IN A NUTSHELL

Leather or plastic? Either way this is a big-screen wonder

Related › LG G4 vs HTC One M9

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Now Samsung’s getting serious. After years of making increasingly suspect-looking plastic phones, the Galaxy S6 is metal and glass, all-round. It doesn’t come cheap, but this is one of the best-feeling mobiles ever. It’s nice and smooth too, despite being a dead skinny 6.8mm thick.

It’s enough to set a gadget-geek’s heart a-pounding. You lose water resistance and a microSD slot, which is a bummer, though. Samsung has taken the Apple route this year, offering Galaxy S6s with up to 128GB RAM. You may need to sell a few organs to afford that version, mind.

With an amazing screen, fantastic camera and improved speakers, this is the sort of phone we’ve been hoping Samsung would make for years. It marries all the bits Samsung has always been good at while sorting out the design woes.

One real surprise is the fingerprint scanner. It divided buyers in the Galaxy S5, but this new scanner is an absolute treat. It works perfectly, and sits right where you want it, under the Home button. Want to go to the next level? Be sure to check out the fancier-but-pricier S6 Edge too. It’s the same apart from having glass that curves around at the front. It’s a phone of the future and no mistake.

Still, for the average buyer the vanilla S6 is still royalty, even without the microSD.

Tech specs

Screen 5.2in 2560 x 1440 OLED (577ppi) > Processor Exynos 7420 Octo-core 2.1GHz > Cameras 16MP rear, 5MP front > Storage 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (no microSD) > Battery 2550mAh  > Dimensions 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138g

The detail

Design – Gorilla party 9/10

Finally, an expensive Samsung phone that feels expensive. With Gorilla Glass 4 on back and front, and aluminium on the sides, this phone feels amazing. It looks far better than the S5 too, although granted the camera sticks out a bit.

Camera – Smart shooter 9/10

This 16MP camera is fantastic. It’s fast, it’s sharp and thanks to OIS, low-light performance is way better than Samsung’s phones of last year. As usual the HDR mode performs minor miracles too, making this just about the best phone camera around.

OS and Apps – Android unscathed 8/10

Not everyone loves Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but it’s actually one of the simpler and cleaner takes on Android. This year there are also themes that let you fiddle with its looks too. At launch there aren’t many good ones, mind. The scanner has been much improved too: you don’t have to swipe your finger across the scanner, just rest it there. This makes it far easier to use than last year’s one. Hit the like button. And there’s also a sensor on the back that reads not only your heart rate but blood oxygen saturation and the UV level around you. Pretty smart.

Screen – OLED + QHD = WIN 10/10

Do phone screens get much better than this? An OLED, QHD-res display gets you incredible contrast and sharpness. At ‘just’ 5.1in it’s pretty restrained in size. But then the Note 4 is there for big-screen thrills.

IN A NUTSHELL

Samsung hits the accelerator pedal with metal and glass

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Feeling a bit of deja vu? The HTC One M9 looks quite a lot like last year’s One M8. All that lovely textured aluminium is back, making this perhaps the smoothest, fanciest-feeling metal Android phone of the year. It’s a stunner.

This year it has a two-tone style, and comes in silver, grey or gold. HTC hasn’t gone overboard with the gold one either. No bling nightmares.

One other bit HTC hasn’t messed with too much is the speaker. You get the pair of BoomSound front speakers we loved so much last year. This time there’s a Dolby mode too, to squeeze a slightly larger sound out of them.

So what has changed? The camera is totally different. Rather than a 4MP UltraPixel main sensor, the M9 has a 20-megapixel one. That means way more resolution, but worse low-light skills. The UltraPixel camera has moved around to the front: it’s on selfie duty.

Despite having more megapixels than any other phone here, though, it’s not one of the top cameras. It struggles with reliability, often getting its settings a bit wrong.

Next to the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 you don’t quite get the same grade of screen either, using a 1080p Super LCD3 panel. It’s still great, but if you’re a screen fanatic you may well prefer one of those others. You pay for the ultra-premium design here, so make sure you like it.

Tech specs

Screen 5.0in, 1920 x 1080 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 20MP rear, 4MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 2840mAh  > Dimensions 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g

The detail

Design – Luxury time 9/10

It’s not skinny or particularly small, but the HTC One M9 looks and feels great thanks to its luxuriously curvy back. The back isn’t just beautifully curved, it also has a very fine brushed finish to get you that extra hit of quality. There’s a microSD slot too although no fingerprint scanner or other bonus bits, but stereo front-loaded BoomSound speakers get you the best quality of the lot. They’re not louder, but they are richer, more refined at less strained at max volume. The M9 ultimately cares more about acing the basics.

Camera – Problems with the meter 7/10

Awesome megapixel specs aside, the One M9 camera needs some know-how to get the most out of. Make the effort to learn to use it and you’ll get great shots, but it’s not fool-proof. The 4MP UltraPixel selfies are great, though.

OS and Apps – Talking Sense 8/10

HTC Sense is back, this time with themes. It’s starting to seem pretty dated in parts, having looked the same since 2013, but it runs like a dream. You can also de-fust with those themes and the usual Android tweaks.

Screen – Good enough? 8/10

With the smallest screen of the lot, and resolution we now see in much cheaper phones, the One M9 isn’t immediately impressive. Is the difference all that great? No, but you want the best when you’re paying £500-odd, right?

IN A NUTSHELL

HTC keeps what works, gets rid of what doesn’t

The verdict

There’s no doubt in our minds with this one. The Samsung Galaxy S6 just gets so much right, with virtually no elements that feel as though they could have done with a bit longer in the oven.

Camera, screen and build all ooze confidence and quality. This is a phone you’ll be proud to keep in your pocket.

Its only real issues are those bits where Samsung has been that bit too confident. Did it really have to get rid of the microSD slot? The money men probably said yes. We wish they hadn’t.

Battery life is also, well, normal. Not bad, not amazing. However, it’s not often we see a phone hit as many bullseyes as it aims for. This is the finest phone around right now.

The final scores

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 (£530) ✭✭✭✭✭

The S6 finally aces what Samsung has always struggled with: design.

2. LG G4 (£500) ✭✭✭✭✭

Big screen, optional leather back. It’s not a revelation, but it’s great.

3. HTC One M9 (£525) ✭✭✭✭✭

Not every change is golden but the gorgeous design makes it a winner.

4. Huawei P8 (£400) ✭✭✭✭✩

Huawei has earned its place in the big leagues with the P8.

What’s next?

One thing none of these phones really aced is battery life. Sure, some of them charge up super-quick, but you’ll drain the lot down in a day and change. There are a handful of amazing battery techs being worked on right now, from ones that charge in seconds to those that last for weeks. We can’t wait.

But what about in the shorter term? HTC has already announced an even higher-end version of the One M9, the M9+. It has a QHD screen, although it’s only heading to China at the moment.

There are also a few side contenders you might want to consider waiting for. The Galaxy Note 5 is likely to show up later this year and OnePlus is already talking-up its Two phone. Although you may have to beg for an invite to buy one if the OnePlus One is anything to go by.

So should you wait? Only if you want a much bigger one, or a significantly cheaper one.

2. LG G4 (£500) ★★★★★

How do you stand out as a phone? LG has tried doing things a bit differently by offering a leather-back version of the G4. Yep, it uses real leather, and comes in a whole rainbow of colours (just like cows, eh?). For a bit less cash there’s a plastic version too.

Aside from this unusual design, the LG G4 has rear buttons instead of side ones, and with a 5.5in screen it’s a bit more cinema-grade than the other phones here. Great for gamers, great for Netflix fans.

As a result, though, we’ve found the battery life to be a bit ropey. You don’t have to try hard to drain it down in a day. For all the bodywork flashiness, it doesn’t feel quite as expensive as the Samsung or HTC rivals either, especially the plastic versions.

So who should buy the LG G4? The larger screen counts for a lot, and while the interface isn’t starlet-pretty, it doesn’t pull any silly moves like the Huawei. And, hurrah, LG hasn’t chopped out the microSD card slot either.

Aside from its tendency to run out of juice pretty quickly, we’ve had a good time with the LG G4. The camera is good too, doing battle with the Galaxy S6 for the title of best camera in town right now. A decent sensor and super-fast lens work wonders every time.

Tech specs

Screen 5.5in 2560 x 1440 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 16MP rear, 8MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 3000mAh  > Dimensions 148.9 x 76.1 x 9.8 mm, 155g

The detail

Design – Leather goddess 8/10

Can’t stand a plastic phone? After the plasticky G3, LG has decided to offer a leather-topped G4 and even the plastic version is injected with ceramic for a slightly snazzier feel. To make the leather back, LG thins out a piece of real leather then glues it firmly onto a skinny piece of plastic to keep it firm.

Get down to its core, though, and not all that much has changed. The LG G4 still uses a wafer-thin backplate that doesn’t feel as solid as unibody metal or glass. At least you can replace the battery easily and use a microSD slot, though. As usual for LG, the power and volume buttons sit on the back rather than the sides. It feels weird at first, but works.

Camera – Sharper than cut glass 9/10

In a brutal game of tech top trumps, the LG G4 has a 16MP sensor and f/1.8 lens, just a shade better than the Galaxy S6. Sure enough, it offers slightly better low-light skills. It’s a bit slower, though. Just like last year, the G4 uses lightly contoured volume and power buttons on the back that can also be used to quick-start the camera.

OS and Apps – Sub-optimal Optimus? 8/10

Just as every Android UI under the sun is going smoother and more organic-feeling, the G4’s Optimus UI sticks with what it knows. It’s all sharp angles, and has a couple of interface bits and bobs that aren’t strictly necessary anymore. It could be prettier, but it’s super-snappy and lets you banish any bits of bloat you don’t want to see. There are some extra apps you may want to nix, but some extras are useful, such as the universal remote app that lets the G4 control your TV. Optimus UI could be better, but there are ways to fix it if you want.

Screen – Quantum LCD 9/10

The LG G4 has an LCD screen, but it’s not just any LCD screen. It offers searing QHD resolution and uses Quantum Display tech to supercharge the colours and contrast. It pops like crazy. Only criticism: the reds pop a touch too much for our taste.

IN A NUTSHELL

Leather or plastic? Either way this is a big-screen wonder

Related › LG G4 vs HTC One M9

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Now Samsung’s getting serious. After years of making increasingly suspect-looking plastic phones, the Galaxy S6 is metal and glass, all-round. It doesn’t come cheap, but this is one of the best-feeling mobiles ever. It’s nice and smooth too, despite being a dead skinny 6.8mm thick.

It’s enough to set a gadget-geek’s heart a-pounding. You lose water resistance and a microSD slot, which is a bummer, though. Samsung has taken the Apple route this year, offering Galaxy S6s with up to 128GB RAM. You may need to sell a few organs to afford that version, mind.

With an amazing screen, fantastic camera and improved speakers, this is the sort of phone we’ve been hoping Samsung would make for years. It marries all the bits Samsung has always been good at while sorting out the design woes.

One real surprise is the fingerprint scanner. It divided buyers in the Galaxy S5, but this new scanner is an absolute treat. It works perfectly, and sits right where you want it, under the Home button. Want to go to the next level? Be sure to check out the fancier-but-pricier S6 Edge too. It’s the same apart from having glass that curves around at the front. It’s a phone of the future and no mistake.

Still, for the average buyer the vanilla S6 is still royalty, even without the microSD.

Tech specs

Screen 5.2in 2560 x 1440 OLED (577ppi) > Processor Exynos 7420 Octo-core 2.1GHz > Cameras 16MP rear, 5MP front > Storage 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (no microSD) > Battery 2550mAh  > Dimensions 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138g

The detail

Design – Gorilla party 9/10

Finally, an expensive Samsung phone that feels expensive. With Gorilla Glass 4 on back and front, and aluminium on the sides, this phone feels amazing. It looks far better than the S5 too, although granted the camera sticks out a bit.

Camera – Smart shooter 9/10

This 16MP camera is fantastic. It’s fast, it’s sharp and thanks to OIS, low-light performance is way better than Samsung’s phones of last year. As usual the HDR mode performs minor miracles too, making this just about the best phone camera around.

OS and Apps – Android unscathed 8/10

Not everyone loves Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but it’s actually one of the simpler and cleaner takes on Android. This year there are also themes that let you fiddle with its looks too. At launch there aren’t many good ones, mind. The scanner has been much improved too: you don’t have to swipe your finger across the scanner, just rest it there. This makes it far easier to use than last year’s one. Hit the like button. And there’s also a sensor on the back that reads not only your heart rate but blood oxygen saturation and the UV level around you. Pretty smart.

Screen – OLED + QHD = WIN 10/10

Do phone screens get much better than this? An OLED, QHD-res display gets you incredible contrast and sharpness. At ‘just’ 5.1in it’s pretty restrained in size. But then the Note 4 is there for big-screen thrills.

IN A NUTSHELL

Samsung hits the accelerator pedal with metal and glass

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Feeling a bit of deja vu? The HTC One M9 looks quite a lot like last year’s One M8. All that lovely textured aluminium is back, making this perhaps the smoothest, fanciest-feeling metal Android phone of the year. It’s a stunner.

This year it has a two-tone style, and comes in silver, grey or gold. HTC hasn’t gone overboard with the gold one either. No bling nightmares.

One other bit HTC hasn’t messed with too much is the speaker. You get the pair of BoomSound front speakers we loved so much last year. This time there’s a Dolby mode too, to squeeze a slightly larger sound out of them.

So what has changed? The camera is totally different. Rather than a 4MP UltraPixel main sensor, the M9 has a 20-megapixel one. That means way more resolution, but worse low-light skills. The UltraPixel camera has moved around to the front: it’s on selfie duty.

Despite having more megapixels than any other phone here, though, it’s not one of the top cameras. It struggles with reliability, often getting its settings a bit wrong.

Next to the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 you don’t quite get the same grade of screen either, using a 1080p Super LCD3 panel. It’s still great, but if you’re a screen fanatic you may well prefer one of those others. You pay for the ultra-premium design here, so make sure you like it.

Tech specs

Screen 5.0in, 1920 x 1080 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 20MP rear, 4MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 2840mAh  > Dimensions 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g

The detail

Design – Luxury time 9/10

It’s not skinny or particularly small, but the HTC One M9 looks and feels great thanks to its luxuriously curvy back. The back isn’t just beautifully curved, it also has a very fine brushed finish to get you that extra hit of quality. There’s a microSD slot too although no fingerprint scanner or other bonus bits, but stereo front-loaded BoomSound speakers get you the best quality of the lot. They’re not louder, but they are richer, more refined at less strained at max volume. The M9 ultimately cares more about acing the basics.

Camera – Problems with the meter 7/10

Awesome megapixel specs aside, the One M9 camera needs some know-how to get the most out of. Make the effort to learn to use it and you’ll get great shots, but it’s not fool-proof. The 4MP UltraPixel selfies are great, though.

OS and Apps – Talking Sense 8/10

HTC Sense is back, this time with themes. It’s starting to seem pretty dated in parts, having looked the same since 2013, but it runs like a dream. You can also de-fust with those themes and the usual Android tweaks.

Screen – Good enough? 8/10

With the smallest screen of the lot, and resolution we now see in much cheaper phones, the One M9 isn’t immediately impressive. Is the difference all that great? No, but you want the best when you’re paying £500-odd, right?

IN A NUTSHELL

HTC keeps what works, gets rid of what doesn’t

The verdict

There’s no doubt in our minds with this one. The Samsung Galaxy S6 just gets so much right, with virtually no elements that feel as though they could have done with a bit longer in the oven.

Camera, screen and build all ooze confidence and quality. This is a phone you’ll be proud to keep in your pocket.

Its only real issues are those bits where Samsung has been that bit too confident. Did it really have to get rid of the microSD slot? The money men probably said yes. We wish they hadn’t.

Battery life is also, well, normal. Not bad, not amazing. However, it’s not often we see a phone hit as many bullseyes as it aims for. This is the finest phone around right now.

The final scores

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 (£530) ✭✭✭✭✭

The S6 finally aces what Samsung has always struggled with: design.

2. LG G4 (£500) ✭✭✭✭✭

Big screen, optional leather back. It’s not a revelation, but it’s great.

3. HTC One M9 (£525) ✭✭✭✭✭

Not every change is golden but the gorgeous design makes it a winner.

4. Huawei P8 (£400) ✭✭✭✭✩

Huawei has earned its place in the big leagues with the P8.

What’s next?

One thing none of these phones really aced is battery life. Sure, some of them charge up super-quick, but you’ll drain the lot down in a day and change. There are a handful of amazing battery techs being worked on right now, from ones that charge in seconds to those that last for weeks. We can’t wait.

But what about in the shorter term? HTC has already announced an even higher-end version of the One M9, the M9+. It has a QHD screen, although it’s only heading to China at the moment.

There are also a few side contenders you might want to consider waiting for. The Galaxy Note 5 is likely to show up later this year and OnePlus is already talking-up its Two phone. Although you may have to beg for an invite to buy one if the OnePlus One is anything to go by.

So should you wait? Only if you want a much bigger one, or a significantly cheaper one.

The detail

Design – Metal chocolate bar 8/10

Gold, silver, black? The Huawei P8 lets you choose, and each version is carved out of cool, hard aluminium. This phone feels pretty good, but as with any rectangular-style design, it’s a bit more severe-feeling than the others here. So, do you want slim or smooth?

In fact it’s the slimmest phone in the test at 6.4mm. Which is good for show-offs, especially as it’s made of aluminium. A silicone skin will make it thicker, but also help avoid dents.

It gets bonus points for having a microSD slot, and is good-looking among Huawei’s designs. Still, there’s no fingerprint scanner, no universal remote IR blaster and nothing too dynamic in the layout. It does put the power button on the side, within easy reach of your thumb, though. Solid, solid, solid.

Camera – Good hit rate 8/10

The P8 has a 13MP sensor with OIS. Its hit rate is pretty great and its low-light skills aren’t too shabby either. You don’t have to try hard to get good shots out of this camera. Colours can be unruly, though. An 8MP selfie camera will render all your craggy bits in exquisite detail, although there’s a face-smoothing mode to save you any embarrassment too.

Screen – Full HD: just enough 7/10

This year, some phone makers decided they didn’t need QHD resolution. Huawei was one of them. The P8 has a 5.2in Full HD screen. You get good colour, contrast and sharpness. But some of the other phones here are even stronger.

OS and Apps – Mixed emotions 6/10

Heard of Emotion UI? It’s how Huawei puts its stamp on Android, version 5.0 in this case. It’s a bit odd, dumping the apps screen like an iPhone and adopting an odd colour scheme. You can customise it plenty, but you may need to.

Why? The lock screen is kinda odd and the wallpaper and co. are a bit of a turn-off for the eyes. The P8 uses themes, though, making facelifts a cinch. And there are several decent themes preinstalled too. So why did Huawei plaster it with such a dodgy one by default? Who knows.

IN A NUTSHELL

Thin as a pencil and classier than ever: the best Huawei yet

2. LG G4 (£500) ★★★★★

How do you stand out as a phone? LG has tried doing things a bit differently by offering a leather-back version of the G4. Yep, it uses real leather, and comes in a whole rainbow of colours (just like cows, eh?). For a bit less cash there’s a plastic version too.

Aside from this unusual design, the LG G4 has rear buttons instead of side ones, and with a 5.5in screen it’s a bit more cinema-grade than the other phones here. Great for gamers, great for Netflix fans.

As a result, though, we’ve found the battery life to be a bit ropey. You don’t have to try hard to drain it down in a day. For all the bodywork flashiness, it doesn’t feel quite as expensive as the Samsung or HTC rivals either, especially the plastic versions.

So who should buy the LG G4? The larger screen counts for a lot, and while the interface isn’t starlet-pretty, it doesn’t pull any silly moves like the Huawei. And, hurrah, LG hasn’t chopped out the microSD card slot either.

Aside from its tendency to run out of juice pretty quickly, we’ve had a good time with the LG G4. The camera is good too, doing battle with the Galaxy S6 for the title of best camera in town right now. A decent sensor and super-fast lens work wonders every time.

Tech specs

Screen 5.5in 2560 x 1440 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 16MP rear, 8MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 3000mAh  > Dimensions 148.9 x 76.1 x 9.8 mm, 155g

The detail

Design – Leather goddess 8/10

Can’t stand a plastic phone? After the plasticky G3, LG has decided to offer a leather-topped G4 and even the plastic version is injected with ceramic for a slightly snazzier feel. To make the leather back, LG thins out a piece of real leather then glues it firmly onto a skinny piece of plastic to keep it firm.

Get down to its core, though, and not all that much has changed. The LG G4 still uses a wafer-thin backplate that doesn’t feel as solid as unibody metal or glass. At least you can replace the battery easily and use a microSD slot, though. As usual for LG, the power and volume buttons sit on the back rather than the sides. It feels weird at first, but works.

Camera – Sharper than cut glass 9/10

In a brutal game of tech top trumps, the LG G4 has a 16MP sensor and f/1.8 lens, just a shade better than the Galaxy S6. Sure enough, it offers slightly better low-light skills. It’s a bit slower, though. Just like last year, the G4 uses lightly contoured volume and power buttons on the back that can also be used to quick-start the camera.

OS and Apps – Sub-optimal Optimus? 8/10

Just as every Android UI under the sun is going smoother and more organic-feeling, the G4’s Optimus UI sticks with what it knows. It’s all sharp angles, and has a couple of interface bits and bobs that aren’t strictly necessary anymore. It could be prettier, but it’s super-snappy and lets you banish any bits of bloat you don’t want to see. There are some extra apps you may want to nix, but some extras are useful, such as the universal remote app that lets the G4 control your TV. Optimus UI could be better, but there are ways to fix it if you want.

Screen – Quantum LCD 9/10

The LG G4 has an LCD screen, but it’s not just any LCD screen. It offers searing QHD resolution and uses Quantum Display tech to supercharge the colours and contrast. It pops like crazy. Only criticism: the reds pop a touch too much for our taste.

IN A NUTSHELL

Leather or plastic? Either way this is a big-screen wonder

Related › LG G4 vs HTC One M9

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Now Samsung’s getting serious. After years of making increasingly suspect-looking plastic phones, the Galaxy S6 is metal and glass, all-round. It doesn’t come cheap, but this is one of the best-feeling mobiles ever. It’s nice and smooth too, despite being a dead skinny 6.8mm thick.

It’s enough to set a gadget-geek’s heart a-pounding. You lose water resistance and a microSD slot, which is a bummer, though. Samsung has taken the Apple route this year, offering Galaxy S6s with up to 128GB RAM. You may need to sell a few organs to afford that version, mind.

With an amazing screen, fantastic camera and improved speakers, this is the sort of phone we’ve been hoping Samsung would make for years. It marries all the bits Samsung has always been good at while sorting out the design woes.

One real surprise is the fingerprint scanner. It divided buyers in the Galaxy S5, but this new scanner is an absolute treat. It works perfectly, and sits right where you want it, under the Home button. Want to go to the next level? Be sure to check out the fancier-but-pricier S6 Edge too. It’s the same apart from having glass that curves around at the front. It’s a phone of the future and no mistake.

Still, for the average buyer the vanilla S6 is still royalty, even without the microSD.

Tech specs

Screen 5.2in 2560 x 1440 OLED (577ppi) > Processor Exynos 7420 Octo-core 2.1GHz > Cameras 16MP rear, 5MP front > Storage 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (no microSD) > Battery 2550mAh  > Dimensions 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138g

The detail

Design – Gorilla party 9/10

Finally, an expensive Samsung phone that feels expensive. With Gorilla Glass 4 on back and front, and aluminium on the sides, this phone feels amazing. It looks far better than the S5 too, although granted the camera sticks out a bit.

Camera – Smart shooter 9/10

This 16MP camera is fantastic. It’s fast, it’s sharp and thanks to OIS, low-light performance is way better than Samsung’s phones of last year. As usual the HDR mode performs minor miracles too, making this just about the best phone camera around.

OS and Apps – Android unscathed 8/10

Not everyone loves Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, but it’s actually one of the simpler and cleaner takes on Android. This year there are also themes that let you fiddle with its looks too. At launch there aren’t many good ones, mind. The scanner has been much improved too: you don’t have to swipe your finger across the scanner, just rest it there. This makes it far easier to use than last year’s one. Hit the like button. And there’s also a sensor on the back that reads not only your heart rate but blood oxygen saturation and the UV level around you. Pretty smart.

Screen – OLED + QHD = WIN 10/10

Do phone screens get much better than this? An OLED, QHD-res display gets you incredible contrast and sharpness. At ‘just’ 5.1in it’s pretty restrained in size. But then the Note 4 is there for big-screen thrills.

IN A NUTSHELL

Samsung hits the accelerator pedal with metal and glass

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Feeling a bit of deja vu? The HTC One M9 looks quite a lot like last year’s One M8. All that lovely textured aluminium is back, making this perhaps the smoothest, fanciest-feeling metal Android phone of the year. It’s a stunner.

This year it has a two-tone style, and comes in silver, grey or gold. HTC hasn’t gone overboard with the gold one either. No bling nightmares.

One other bit HTC hasn’t messed with too much is the speaker. You get the pair of BoomSound front speakers we loved so much last year. This time there’s a Dolby mode too, to squeeze a slightly larger sound out of them.

So what has changed? The camera is totally different. Rather than a 4MP UltraPixel main sensor, the M9 has a 20-megapixel one. That means way more resolution, but worse low-light skills. The UltraPixel camera has moved around to the front: it’s on selfie duty.

Despite having more megapixels than any other phone here, though, it’s not one of the top cameras. It struggles with reliability, often getting its settings a bit wrong.

Next to the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 you don’t quite get the same grade of screen either, using a 1080p Super LCD3 panel. It’s still great, but if you’re a screen fanatic you may well prefer one of those others. You pay for the ultra-premium design here, so make sure you like it.

Tech specs

Screen 5.0in, 1920 x 1080 LCD (538ppi) > Processor Snapdragon 808 Hexa-core 1.8GHz > Cameras 20MP rear, 4MP front > Storage 32GB (with microSD) > Battery 2840mAh  > Dimensions 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g

The detail

Design – Luxury time 9/10

It’s not skinny or particularly small, but the HTC One M9 looks and feels great thanks to its luxuriously curvy back. The back isn’t just beautifully curved, it also has a very fine brushed finish to get you that extra hit of quality. There’s a microSD slot too although no fingerprint scanner or other bonus bits, but stereo front-loaded BoomSound speakers get you the best quality of the lot. They’re not louder, but they are richer, more refined at less strained at max volume. The M9 ultimately cares more about acing the basics.

Camera – Problems with the meter 7/10

Awesome megapixel specs aside, the One M9 camera needs some know-how to get the most out of. Make the effort to learn to use it and you’ll get great shots, but it’s not fool-proof. The 4MP UltraPixel selfies are great, though.

OS and Apps – Talking Sense 8/10

HTC Sense is back, this time with themes. It’s starting to seem pretty dated in parts, having looked the same since 2013, but it runs like a dream. You can also de-fust with those themes and the usual Android tweaks.

Screen – Good enough? 8/10

With the smallest screen of the lot, and resolution we now see in much cheaper phones, the One M9 isn’t immediately impressive. Is the difference all that great? No, but you want the best when you’re paying £500-odd, right?

IN A NUTSHELL

HTC keeps what works, gets rid of what doesn’t

The verdict

There’s no doubt in our minds with this one. The Samsung Galaxy S6 just gets so much right, with virtually no elements that feel as though they could have done with a bit longer in the oven.

Camera, screen and build all ooze confidence and quality. This is a phone you’ll be proud to keep in your pocket.

Its only real issues are those bits where Samsung has been that bit too confident. Did it really have to get rid of the microSD slot? The money men probably said yes. We wish they hadn’t.

Battery life is also, well, normal. Not bad, not amazing. However, it’s not often we see a phone hit as many bullseyes as it aims for. This is the finest phone around right now.

The final scores

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 (£530) ✭✭✭✭✭

The S6 finally aces what Samsung has always struggled with: design.

2. LG G4 (£500) ✭✭✭✭✭

Big screen, optional leather back. It’s not a revelation, but it’s great.

3. HTC One M9 (£525) ✭✭✭✭✭

Not every change is golden but the gorgeous design makes it a winner.

4. Huawei P8 (£400) ✭✭✭✭✩

Huawei has earned its place in the big leagues with the P8.

What’s next?

One thing none of these phones really aced is battery life. Sure, some of them charge up super-quick, but you’ll drain the lot down in a day and change. There are a handful of amazing battery techs being worked on right now, from ones that charge in seconds to those that last for weeks. We can’t wait.

But what about in the shorter term? HTC has already announced an even higher-end version of the One M9, the M9+. It has a QHD screen, although it’s only heading to China at the moment.

There are also a few side contenders you might want to consider waiting for. The Galaxy Note 5 is likely to show up later this year and OnePlus is already talking-up its Two phone. Although you may have to beg for an invite to buy one if the OnePlus One is anything to go by.

So should you wait? Only if you want a much bigger one, or a significantly cheaper one.

Meet the contenders

1. Huawei P8 (£400) ★★★★✩

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

The verdict

The final scores

What’s next?

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

The verdict

The final scores

What’s next?

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

The verdict

The final scores

What’s next?

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

The verdict

The final scores

What’s next?

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

The verdict

The final scores

What’s next?

2. LG G4 (£500) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

The verdict

The final scores

What’s next?

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

2. LG G4 (£500) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 (from £530) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail

IN A NUTSHELL

4. HTC One M9 (from £525) ★★★★★

Tech specs

The detail