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The UltraPixel camera of the M8 has been replaced by a much better 20 megapixel main camera, and the processor has been upgraded to an octa-core Snapdragon 810. The M9 isn't a great leap forward, but is one step closer to perfection.

What Mobile | Alex Yau

It's clear that the HTC One M9 is an outstanding smartphone. As the first major release of 2015, HTC has a natural advantage in getting its product onto the market unchallenged. Right now, the phone is unassailable. Still, we can't shake the feeling that in six months' time HTC might regret its "evolution, not revolution" approach. HTC doesn't enjoy Apple's luxury: people won't update their One handset on a yearly, or even two-yearly, basis simply because a new version has been released.

Stuff | Andrew Williams

The HTC One M9 keeps all the bits we loved most about the HTC One M8. Its metal body, top front-facing speakers and snappy performance all mark the One M9 out as one of the year's top phones.

Digital Spy | Spencer Hart

The company has implemented an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach with the M9, refining aspects of the previous devices in order to produce one of the best Android phones available. Yes, HTC has done it again.

Mobile Choice | Sunetra Chakravarti

With the HTC One M9 massive transformations internally are, sadly, thin on the ground. But then the One series already delivers on what key needs of the paying public is: size, performance, battery, camera and looks. We found its predecessors faultless and we find the latest addition faultless too.

The Independent | David Phelan

Speedy, beautiful, elegant and effective - the M9 is ready to take on Sams. Still the best-looking Android smartphone money can buy. Still, this is a handsome - the best-looking Android smartphone money can buy- , effective premium phone, just as HTC usually delivers, and performs like a dream.

NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt

The HTC One M9, unfortunately, lacks any real innovations, but the Taiwanese manufacturer can improve some aspects, so the M9 is a very good smartphone. Maybe there will be a software update that improves the quality of the camera, but the performance right now is a bit weak for a premium product. Another problem is the mediocre battery runtimes.

pocketnow | Michael Fisher

For the regular Joes and Janes shopping for an Android phone, the One M9 still stands out amid a sea of plastic-clad rivals. Its metallic fuselage catches the eye, and going hands-on is like a firm handshake: reassuring and not soon forgotten. The M9 is for these folks – people who haven't owned an HTC phone before.

The Street | Gary Krakow

A lightweight, dual-tone metal unibody shell protects the components and gives the device a luxurious feel. This new version, 7.0, brings a bit more restraint and refinement and much less intrusion into your daily smartphone routine. The refinements HTC has included with this year's model have improved what was had been a wonderful device.

Coolsmartphone | Dan

HTC perfected the design and build a couple of years ago. This adds yet more tech and polish to what is already a winning formula.

Engadget | Chris Velazco

Alas, the M9 is let down by a camera that isn't as good as it should be, strangely tuned BoomSound speakers and the occasional questionable design decision. And yet, despite those quirks, the M9 is still a very, very good phone.

phoneArena | John V.

Looks alone, the cost is more deserving than other phones, but we can't help but to think about the looming competition on the horizon. It is yet to be seen if the improvement will prove to be big enough in order to guarantee the phone's leading spot for the remainder of the year.

The Verge | Dan Seifert

For the third year in a row, HTC has produced one of the most visually alluring smartphones that feels as incredible as it looks. And for the third year in a row, it has show-stopping flaws, which bring the great experience you're having to a screeching halt.

Techdissected | Andrew Orr

Overall, this an average phone, and a small incremental update from the HTC One M8. There are no mind-blowing features here, but the M9 is a capable phone that works well in most situations.

AndroidPit | Robert Zak

The HTC One M9 is a solid high-end phone, but it does seem like HTC rested on its laurels a bit with the design and display. The One M9 is one of the fastest handsets available, and arguably the most luxurious-looking.

Toronto Sun | Adam Anick Jesdanun

It's difficult to justify paying for a high-priced, top-end smartphone these days - unless, that is, you want to take good pictures. The camera, though, is where these phones really stand out from the pack.

TheEffect.Net | Tony

If you're on an M7 and due for an upgrade the M9 is a really nice update and you will notice a big improvement in most areas. If you're currently rocking an M8, then it's a tougher one to call. Yes there is some upgrades, but enough to upgrade, it really will be up to you!

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

At the end of the day, the HTC One M9 is a great smartphone.

Expert Reviews | Christopher Minasians

The HTC One M9 is fast and the Sense 7 UI is a big improvement, but it doesn't do enough to make it really stand out

TechRadar | Gareth Beavis

A great phone if you're upgrading from two years ago, but doesn't deliver enough changes to be worthy of a perfect score.

Recombu | Alex Todd

HTC has created a good phone with the M9, it offers a balanced overall experience and plays to its strengths, but good might not quite be enough for those laying down the notable amounts of cash such handsets demand. We like the HTC One M9 a lot, we just haven't fallen in love with it this time around.

Brighthand | Dragan Petric

The HTC One M9 features more significant changes on the inside than its slight external tweaks suggest. It would be a shame if the stagnant design causes potential buyers to look elsewhere, because the HTC One M9's display, software, and chipset make it one of the best Android smartphones currently available.

Trusted Reviews | Evan Kypreos

HTC has undoubtedly produced yet another great handset for its One range. The HTC One M9 is let down slightly by an inconsistent camera and some software grumbles, but this is still a solid all-round flagship.

What Hi-Fi?

Its premium design and top-notch build quality makes it a seriously desirable handset, not to mention its slick performance, flexible interface and superb Boomsound speakers. However, we can't help but be disappointed with its camera and that less-than-ideal battery life, and while audio and video performances are good, they don't quite top the best of its competitors.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

Overall the M9's focus on manufacturing precision feels like something of a distraction: were smartphone fans demanding increasing precision in manufacture, or were they calling for better battery life and an improved camera experience? As pretty as it is, the HTC One M9 doesn't feel like it's taken a big enough step forward.

Gizmodo UK | Darren Orf

The One M9 is a pretty great update from the One M7. If you liked HTC's original flagship, and you don't mind a slightly bigger smartphone, then the One M9 is good! I think you'll be happy with it. And if you're a multimedia fiend-watching Netflix, streaming music, or whatever-the BoomSound speakers make everything better. But if you're looking for the best smartphone bar none, the One isn't at the head of the pack. This probably isn't the One for you. HTC played it safe this year instead of pushing things further.

T3 | Gareth Beavis

The HTC One M9 is a phone that takes the design heritage, DNA and all the other good bits of last year's phone and, well, does them again. It's again shown the rest of the competition how to make a premium smartphone, and if it can iron out some of the wrinkles around battery and speed, it's another great phone – but the competition is catching up quickly. HTC has merely polished last year's model without adding much new – a very good phone, but not brilliant.

SlashGear | Chris Davies

HTC took what was undoubtedly a handsome, capable phone in last year's M8, and thoughtfully polished away the rough edges. The One M9 smacks of HTC playing to the HTC faithful: a device that's designed to answer the lingering complaints of current users, and play up to their design tastes.

CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle

...for the two smartphone features you probably really care about -- battery life and camera quality -- the M9 doesn't rise above its two main competitors right now. Unless you're really in love with the physical design of the One M9, the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6 look to be better bets.

V3 | Alastair Stevenson

An elegant metal design, top-end octa-core processor and upgraded rear camera, plus the business benefits of Android 5.0 Lollipop, make the One M9 a solid choice for any business buyer.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

The [HTC One] M9 builds on the excellent qualities of the [HTC One] M7 and M8, design and performance chief among them, and expands them into what is one of the most solid smartphone experiences available today.

Wired UK | Dave Oliver

With its improved processor and cameras, beefed up battery and the ability to add more memory, the HTC One M9 is a worthy successor to the M8, correcting most of that phone's main faults and while retaining all its virtues.

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

The HTC One M9 is a genuinely desirable smartphone with the best design and build available in Android land, even with Samsung upping the ante.

PC Pro | Jonathan Bray

In order to command such a high price ... HTC needed to do much more with its flagship than this.

YourTechExplained | Ben Schoon

There's really not a single thing that grabs your attention. It has a great build and great speakers, but it had the same thing last year.

Register Hardware | Andrew Orlowski

The One M9 is a striking and attractive design, and I'm glad it hasn't changed it substantially.... Hopefully HTC can improve the image processing, pronto, and maybe even lose its tacky widget, so it can stay in the game for another swing at the market.

news.com.au | Harry Tucker

If you want to have a half-decent camera on you, whether it be for social media or to keep memories, the camera on the One is just too disappointing to make up for everything else great about the device. But if the camera isn't important to you at all, the rest of the One M9 is brilliant.

Neowin | Nirave Gondhia

The HTC One M9 is a curious smartphone; on the one hand, HTC have stuck to the design they know that's been very well received and updated it with the latest specs but on the other hand, HTC have kept to the same design without really innovating further.

Eurogamer | Damien McFerran

As such, the HTC One M9 represents something of a crossroads for its manufacturer. It's not a bad effort by any stretch of the imagination, but it risks being lost amid a sea of more capable and alluring competitors this year.

Digital Trends | Malarie Gokey

The HTC One M9 is a great Android phone, but there are options that are slightly better... HTC's One M9 shines in terms of software, and the hardware is nice... The HTC One M9 doesn't have the high ground in terms of design.

TechnoBuffalo | Brandon Russell

The HTC One M9 is a great phone, but it's so much of the same. The M9 is beautiful both inside and out, there's no denying that. But, like Phil Collins in Groundhog Day, it hasn't yet made a big enough improvement to get out of its self-inflicted time loop.

The Inquirer | Carly Page

There's no denying that the HTC One M9 is an excellent handset, much like its predecessor... However, the One M9 left us wanting more.

Know Your Mobile | Richard Goodwin

Part of me loves it; the way it looks and feels in the hand and the ease and elegance it runs Android Lollipop. But (...) the improvements that are present (the camera, for instance) are so negligible in the grand scheme of things it's very difficult to stomach the price tag

IT PRO | Adam Shepherd, Andrew Williams

The HTC One M9 looks and feels great, but issues with battery life and the sheer strength of competitors means it's only fair value

Mashable | Raymond Wong

HTC's One M9 is yet another beautifully-machined metal phone, but its camera lags so far behind its biggest competitors

Digital Versus | Romain Thuret

The HTC One M9 isn't a bad smartphone. It's elegant, well-built and doesn't have any major problems. Until some (significant) updates fix these flaws, we're unlikely to buy into an 'ultra-high-end' handset that proves as precarious as this.

AnandTech | Joshua Ho

...the One M9 is effectively a sidegrade of the One M8 at best.

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

HTC has crafted a fine phone in the One M9, but it's not without significant shortcomings. The classy industrial design and leading-edge specs are impressive, no doubt. A single flaw, however, might sink the entire ship.

Tom's Guide | Mike Prospero

Despite innovative software and booming speakers, there's little to recommend the HTC One M9.