In the world of smartphones, Apple and Samsung seem to be the big two rival powerhouses, however, some argue that HTC should be thrown into that equation. As new models and flagships set sail out of company stables, comparisons between the devices help consumers make the right purchase.

A comparison between the HTC M8 and the Samsung Galaxy S5 should help those prospecting buyers choose the device that's right for their needs.

In terms of outward design, the M8 has a sleek aluminum casing with a curved outline. It's 9.35mm thin and weighs 160 grams. The phone was initially available in metallic grey, and will soon be followed by color variants- silver and rose gold.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S5 sports a wider back and a textured battery cover. It comes in three colors-white, blue, and copper. The home button now has a fingerprint scanner for biometric input, and the phone's IP67 rating means that it is now water resistant.

The specifications and hardware for both phones show that they are equally promising devices.

The M8 is packs a big battery at 2,600 mAh, and is pretty fast with its Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 @ 2.3GHz.

It has a 5-inch LCD display, with 1920x1080 resolution at 441ppi, as well as more powerful lenses at 4.1UP and dedicated depth sensor. It's front camera is 5 MP and the device comes in a 16 or 32GB version with microSD expandable by up to 128GB.

The Galaxy S5 on the other hand, has a big and bright screen with a 5.1 inch Super AMOLED with 1920x1080 resolution at 432ppi, along with a powerful rear camera which has a 16MP at UHD @30fps with a 2MP front camera at 1080p.

In terms of features, the S5 edges over the M8, as it has a heart rate monitor, a pedometer and a calorie counter; this will definitely apply to those wishing to lead a healthy lifestyle, while still being tech savvy.

Price wise, the M8 starts at $199.99 on contract while the SIM-free versions cost $820, whereas the Galaxy S5 starts at $199 on contract and the unlocked version costs about $750.