Benchmarks: HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, Google/LG Nexus 4
We employ a battery of tests to evaluate how HTC's latest high-end smartphone stacks up to its Android competition, and also to Apple's current iOS devices.
The HTC One has a beautiful design, a quality feel and an excellent 4.7-inch display. If you're looking for an Android smartphone and are willing to part with £529.99 (inc. VAT; £441.66 ex. VAT), it's well worth considering.
But what about performance? Thanks to a fast 1.7GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, you should expect a smooth ride with the preinstalled Android 4.1.2 operating system. The benchmarks described here show how the device compares to top handsets like the Google/LG Nexus 4, Sony Xperia Z and Apple iPhone 5. For the performance analysis, we used AnTuTu, Peacekeeper, SunSpider, GLBenchmark and Geekbench 2.
Left to right: HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, Google/LG Nexus 4.
AnTuTu: overall
The overall AnTuTu result is the sum of the individual CPU (integer and floating point), GPU (2D and 3D), RAM (memory performance) and I/ O (SD card reading/writing and database I/O) tests. The HTC One comes out on top here.
AnTuTu: CPU (integer/FPU)
In the CPU test, which assesses both integer and floating-point performance, the HTC One again delivers the best result. All three handsets use quad-core Qualcomm processors, but the HTC One has the fastest CPU — a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T. The Nexus 4 and Xperia Z both use the 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064.
AnTuTu: I/O
All three handsets perform similarly in the I/O test.
AnTuTu: GPU
The HTC One is no better than its competitors on 2D and 3D graphics performance. All three handsets use the Adreno 320 GPU — the reason for the Nexus 4's slightly better result could be due to Android 4.2.2, which probably includes updated graphics drivers. The HTC One and Xperia Z currently run Android 4.1.2.
AnTuTu: RAM
In terms of memory performance, the HTC One delivers a slightly better result than the Nexus 4 and Xperia Z.
Geekbench 2.1.9: overall
With Geekbench, it's possible to compare the Android phones to Apple's iPhone 5 and 4th-generation iPad, as the benchmark is also available for the iOS platform. The overall result shown here combines the integer, FPU, memory and stream tests. The HTC One takes a clear overall lead, with the Nexus 4 and Xperia Z performing better in these synthetic tests than the iPhone 5 and 4th-generation iPad.
Geekbench 2.1.9: FPU
The HTC One heads up the floating-point test, followed by the Nexus 4 and Xperia Z. The iPhone 5 and 4th-generation iPad cannot compete with the Android handsets in this test.
Geekbench 2.1.9: Integer
The HTC One delivers the best integer performance, with little to separate the remaining products.
Geekbench 2.1.9: Memory
The memory test sees the HTC One in front once again, this time with the 4th-generation iPad and iPhone 5 separating it from the remaining Android handsets.
Geekbench 2.1.9: Stream
The Stream test measures floating-point performance and sustained memory bandwidth, a combination that's clearly handled best by the iOS devices.
GLBenchmark 2.5.1: Egypt Classic (Offscreen)
Although all three handsets use the Adreno 320 GPU, the HTC One, with its 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 CPU, delivers a slightly better result here.
GLBenchmark 2.5.1: Egypt HD (Offscreen)
The second 3D test delivers a similar result, with the HTC One just ahead of the Nexus 4 and Xperia Z.
Futuremark Peacekeeper (Browser performance)
Futuremark's Peacekeeper evaluates the browser using JavaScript code from YouTube, Facebook, Gmail and Meebo. Six different tests feed into the overall result: Rendering, HTML5, Canvas, Data, DOM operations and Text parsing. Apple's iOS devices take the lead here, with the HTC One heading up the Android challenge.
Sunspider 0.9.1 (JavaScript performance)
The SunSpider test measures the performance of the browser's JavaScript engine (including generating a tagcloud from JSON input, a 3D raytracer, cryptography tests, code decompression and more). Again, the 4th-generation iPad and iPhone 5 head up the results.
