I’ve read many reviews comparing the iPhone 4S with the Samsung Galaxy S2, which was considered to be the best phone in the market for many months, and most of them said the S2 was cooler. Now I would like to find out if the iPhone 4S can win a fight against one of the latest and the most powerful phones manufactured by HTC – the Sensation XE.

Of course, both the iPhone 4S and the HTC Sensation XE have their advantages and shortcomings, but now we’ll try to find out which is cooler.

Processor and RAM

The HTC Sensation XE has a powerful dual-core 1.5GHz processor that is more responsive and faster than the 1GHz dual-core processor of the iPhone 4S. In addition, the amount of RAM in the new Sensation is bigger than that of the iPhone 4S – 768MB vs. 512MB. This makes HTC’s phone even more responsive and faster when multitasking. So obviously, the HTC Sensation XE is the winner here, although the iPhone 4S fares well.

Screen

The 4.3-inch Super-LCD screen of the HTC Sensation XE is bigger and more impressive than the 3.5-inch LCD of the iPhone 4S. Both screens have almost the same resolution, which provides a more impressive pixel density for Apple’s device – about 330 ppi vs. 256 ppi. Actually, both screens are very clear and bright, so there can be no winner in this category – those who like bigger screens might want the HTC Sensation XE, and those who want a smaller but a sharper screen can choose the iPhone 4S.

Memory

The HTC Sensation XE has a microSD card slot, which means you can expand the memory of your phone up to 32GB. The iPhone 4S, on the other hand, has no card slots and comes in 16/32/64GB versions.
If 32GB space is enough for you, buying the Sensation XE seems to be a better idea, since you’ll have to pay about $600 for the phone (via Amazon). A 32GB card will cost you about $29-30 on Amazon, so your phone with a 32GB card will cost you about $630. Meanwhile, the 32GB version of the iPhone 4S is sold for about $960-970 via Amazon, which is far more expensive than the Sensation XE with the same amount of memory. However, if you’re in the UK, and if you’re buying the phone on contract, both devices are given by mobile operators for free, so you won’t have to consider the prices.
On the other hand, if you need 64GB of memory, you’ll have to buy the iPhone 4S anyway, since 32GB is the maximum amount of memory for the Sensation XE.

Music

The iPhone 4S doesn’t have any FM radio, while the HTC Sensation XE does. The new Sensation phone comes with the famous Beats Audio system and good-quality headphones, which is also a big advantage.

Battery

Both smartphones have standard Li-ion batteries, but the HTC Sensation XE battery is bigger – 1730mAh against the iPhone 4S’s 1432mAh. The announced talk time of both phones is nearly the same (though many iPhone 4S users have noticed battery problems that are being fixed at the moment) – since the Sensation XE has a bigger screen, it requires a bigger battery. There is no clear winner in this category.

Flash

The HTC Sensation XE supports Adobe Flash, and this is a big advantage for many users who love playing Flash games online or watching Flash-based videos. Many websites use Flash too, so its absence in the iPhone 4S is a big shortcoming. The HTC Sensation XE is the winner here.

Other

The iPhone 4S supports the latest version of Bluetooth – 4.0, while the HTC Sensation XE has only Bluetooth 3.0. Both phones, however, have fast Wi-Fi support and Wi-Fi hotspots. As for the other connectivity features, they’re nearly the same. I guess the iPhone 4S is the winner here, thanks to its latest Bluetooth.

So …
As you have probably noticed, I didn’t mention the cameras of these phones and didn’t say a word about the operating systems. Well, both phones have the same 8MP cameras that take 3264×2448 pics and record 1080p@30fps videos, so they’re almost equal. The dual-LED flash of the HTC Sensation XE is a bit cooler, however, it can also record stereo sound. As for the platforms, the HTC Sensation XE runs Android and the iPhone 4S runs iOS5. I can’t compare these two operating systems, since it’s usually a matter of taste. Both have their fans and enemies, and I don’t want this comparison to turn into a typical Android/iOS war.

As we can see, in most categories, the HTC Sensation XE is the obvious winner. It doesn’t mean that the iPhone 4S is bad – on the contrary, it’s a very good smartphone, armed with many powerful features. If you’re interested in a more powerful and a more “musical” phone, the HTC Sensation XE should be your choice. And if you want a more stylish, Apple-branded phone, the iPhone 4S is what you need.

— About the Author —-
Amelia Hunter is a professional journalist interested in technologies, mobile phones, sports and health.