In what is a clear indication that the HTC 10 launch is right around the corner, more images of the beautiful looking device have leaked online. After the previously leaked images which gave us a glimpse into what the back of the phone would like, the latest batch from today, courtesy a tweet from Steve Hemmerstoffer, reveals the phone’s back and the front in all its glory.
Today’s leak reveals a very interesting development in the HTC 10’s design scheme. The front of the phone carries a home button below the display of the phone which, by the looks of it, also houses a fingerprint scanner. This is an important development as this move will see HTC move away from its usual three capacitative button system.
Other than this, previous renders, and leaked benchmark scores peg the phone to come with a 5.15-inch Quad HD display with a top of the line Snapdragon 820 SoC paired with 4GB RAM running the show. The phone’s camera is also being touted to be something of a breakthrough, and HTC will be seen fitting a 12UP (Ultra Pixel) camera sensor with proprietary tech which will enable the phone to click amazing photos.
There is very little left to know about HTC’s upcoming flagship smartphone, HTC 10. Courtesy popular leakster Evan Blass, we now what the device is going to look like as well as the fact that it will drop the ‘One M’ from the title for a simpler ‘HTC 10’. We’re still not sure about what the new name signifies, but what we do know is the various colors the device will be offered in.
Blass today tweeted four colour options for the HTC 10: carbon gray, glacier silver (white face), glacier silver (black face), topaz gold. Apart from showing us the colours, the image also confirms that this is what the HTC 10 will look like and much like the One A9 and the One M9, the HTC 10 looks rather underwhelming. The most obvious disappointment comes from the disappearance of BoomSound front speakers and from the (still) large bezels on he top and bottom.
The HTC 10 will instead have a single speaker grille at the bottom and a USB Type-C port. Over at the back we see the camera placed at the center and chamfered edges. Another popular leakster, @onleaks, started a leaking spree of the actual handset and Antutu benchmark scores that pin the device at 109,936 points on the famous benchmark app.
This all leaked along with the following information : 5.15? QHD / SD820 / Adreno 530 / 4GB RAM / 12MP / USB Type-C. Which means that HTC might finally be on the right track as far as specs are concerned, and we also see a home button fingerprint scanner like last year.
HTC has also stated that it’s working hard to bring a “very compelling camera experience” with the HTC 10. HTC’s Chief Financial Officer Chialin Chang is confident about the HTC 10’s camera “after seeing what’s going on in the market.”
The rear camera is rumoured to sport a 12UP (Ultra Pixel) module with OIS and autofocus while the front still is unknown. If HTC wants to be a contender in the camera department, knowing that Samsung has upped its camera specs in the Galaxy S7, then nothing short of 5UP for the front and some absolutely spectacular images that compliment a Quad HD AMOLED display will be accepted by fans. HTC needs to get the pricing right if it wants to compete in a market that has already seen the new Samsung Galaxy S7 series, LG G5, and Xiaomi Mi 5 flagships.
We all knew that there a lot was riding on HTC to deliver with its upcoming flagship, the HTC 10. It seems that HTC has its hands full a lot more now that Google has returned to it to manufacture the next set of Nexus devices until 2019, at least. According to rumours, HTC has signed a 3-year contract to build Google’s Nexus phones for 3 years. Given that HTC was responsible for the first Nexus device way back in 2010, it’s not an entirely strange decision for Google to come a full circle.
Last year, LG and Huawei were in charge of building the Nexus phones. The LG 5X and Huawei 6P Nexus phones were received with mixed reactions. The devices came with impressive specifications for 2015 but the designing was less inspiring than most other smartphones out there. This could be why HTC is now donning the thinking cap. But is this the right time for HTC?
HTC Nexus One (2010)
We’ve seen that HTC has recently been receiving very underwhelming responses towards its latest devices. The One M9 and One A9 were both criticised for its lack of creativity in terms of design. Meanwhile, the upcoming HTC 10 flagship also seems to be influenced by the One A9 while fans were really hoping for a great new design by the company, more in line with the One M7.
However, Google seems to feel that HTC has what it takes to make great looking devices. The Nexus 5X made by LG came with a very flimsy looking plastic body and didn’t give too much aesthetically. The one made by Huawei, on the other, came with a premium feel to it with a metal unibody though the long, black rear camera bar on top gave it a slight unattractive quality.
Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X
It has been rumoured that Google plans on launching, at least, two Nexus devices this year. While we’re still not sure whether HTC will be in charge for both (Huawei could still be in the game), the company will still be responsible for at least 4-6 Nexus models until 2019.
If we go by rumours and HTC’s design philosophy in the past (which is in a dubious state as of now), we can expect that the upcoming Nexus device will feature 3D Touch functionality, a metal construction, solid build with minimalistic design, and powerful specs. HTC has usually tried to keep things simple when it comes to looks and you can perhaps expect slimmer bezels as compared to the Nexus 5X and 6P. And how about throwing in some BoomSound speakers as well?
HTC has a lot on its plate this year. After launching the HTC 10, the company will shift its focus on the Nexus. Add to this, it also looks like HTC is going to focus on virtual reality a lot more, given that its Vive VR headset is among the best in the nascent VR game. The company is looking at ways to incorporate VR in its flagship which we may get a taste of in the upcoming Nexus device, and you can bet Google is very interested in that as well. After all, Google has the Carboard for it and has been reportedly working on a new virtual reality headset much like the Gear VR.
Google will also likely release an Android VR software along with the VR headset that will look to enhance the VR experience by making the software native to the Android operating system. This will not only help Google’s own VR product but HTC’s as well. From where we see it, the timing for the two company’s could not have been better. We wait and see what HTC and Google have in store for us this.
The HTC One M10 now belongs to the list of worst kept tech secrets. The phone has been leaked and rendered all over the internet. A press render of the next HTC One flagship has been leaked by Venture Beat’s Evan Blass aka @eveleaks
This all happened right after @onleaks started a leaking spree of the actual handset and Antutu benchmark scores that pin the device at 109,936 points on the famous benchmark app. This all leaked along with the following information : 5.15″ QHD / SD820 / Adreno 530 / 4GB RAM / 12MP / USB Type-C. Which means that HTC might finally be on the right track as far as specs are concerned, and we also see a home button fingerprint scanner like last year. Now let us hope that HTC gets the pricing right and makes 2016 a year for recovery and not its demise.
Many would say that Apple was the first to bring 3D Touch pressure sensitive screens to smartphones. There are those who contest that the technology has been employed much before that. While you are free to choose your side, there is no denying that 3D Touch or Force Touch technology is here to stay. This fact has been accepted by companies like HTC, Meizu, Xiaomi, Oppo and many other OEMs as they all are rumoured to launch smartphones this year with pressure sensitive screens.
HTC is among the most well-known and established brands. While the world awaits the launch of the One M10 flagship smartphone, it seems the company is already busy working on its next Nexus device. In fact, the last known rumour that circulated a few weeks ago suggested that HTC will not release one but two Nexus handsets, and both will likely feature 3D Touch functionality.
Huawei Mate S features 3D Touch functionality
Rumours also say that Google plans to incorporate the pressure sensitive technology as a native feature in Android. This will help make the technology common for Android users, and will boost adoption rate. Furthermore, this will also push app developers to come up with creative ways to allow users to fully utilize the technology.
It will still be a while before we hear anything more on HTC’s Nexus device(s). Before that, it is said that Meizu will be among the first this year to ship its upcoming Pro 5 handset with 3D Touch feature in the first half of 2016.
The future of HTC is currently in a very precarious state. Among all the well established mobile brands currently in existence, none of them have had a dry spell as bad as HTC of late. The company has had a series of disappointing launches ever since the launch of the One M9. Both that and the One A9 failed to please its fans.
Of late, we’ve heard a lot about HTC’s upcoming flagship device, the One M10. We’ve seen a lot of renders and heard a lot about its rumoured specifications that have been quite coldly received. One of the reason could be that the One M10’s design language (from what the leaked images tell us) is going to be a lot like the One A9, which was criticised for its apparent iPhone-like design. Secondly, the specifications aren’t too hot, especially coming off the MWC 2016 where the likes of Samsung, LG and Xiaomi blew the audience away with gorgeous phones, next-gen specs and at least one brand new technology, mostly in the camera department.
Vive VR
HTC was present at the MWC as well, but did not unveil its flagship as many had hoped. Instead, the company unveiled some mid-range Desire phones and presented its Vive virtual reality headset. HTC has lately been promoting the Vive VR a lot and everything seems to be about that. It’s understandable that HTC would look to its VR technology to help save a dying company which is why the company has recently stated that it is deeply involved in mobile VR solutions that might end up in future HTC flagship phone.
HTC demoed its Vive VR ecosystem at the MWC and also revealed the pricing which stands at $800 and will go on sale in April. The Vive VR may be a great new product from HTC that is entering a very nascent virtual reality market with only a handful of competitors (think Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift). But is its focus on VR potentially hurting its flagship smartphones?
HTC One M10 Render
Last month, HTC CEO, Chairwoman and co-founder Cher Wang said that VR is now more important to the company than smartphones are. But VR technology alone may not help save the company for long. If it needs to survive, it needs to bring out a flagship device that will once again captivate the audience as it once did with the One M7. HTC has stated recently that the One M10 will have a “very, very compelling camera”.
When HTC announced the UltraPixel technology with the One M8, fans were expecting a camera that would deliver some spectacular photographs. But the One M8 failed to deliver. The company went back to the traditional megapixel with the One M9 which again wasn’t well received, not when the market is incredibly tough with the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple.
It is now rumoured that HTC will once again use the UP technology in the One M10. But if the company has managed to learn from its mistakes, the UP technology could be exactly what HTC had intended. The rear camera is rumoured to sport a 12UP module with OIS and autofocus while the front still is unknown.
But “compelling camera” aside, how about a brand new design that at least brings back the BoomSound speakers? We’ll just have to wait and see what HTC plans on revealing in April. This year will indeed be the deciding factor for the future of the company.
HTC has been busy finishing up and polishing its upcoming flagship device, the HTC One M10. So much so that it refused to unveil the device at the MWC along with other heavyweights like the Galaxy S7 and LG G5. This, however, may be an interesting play on HTC’s part in order to see what its competitors brought out first. We can all agree that the MWC saw Samsung, LG and Xiaomi unveiling flagships all with new camera technologies. And it looks like HTC plans on doing the same with the One M10.
According to HTC’s Chief Financial Officer Chialin Chang, the One M10 will offer a “very, very compelling camera experience.” This statement comes following the MWC 2016 that saw some groundbreaking new innovations in camera technology. Chang is confident about the One M10’s camera “after seeing what’s going on in the market.” He further agreed that he experienced other new handsets unveiled at the MWC 2016, including the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the LG G5.
When HTC announced the UltraPixel technology with the One M8, fans were expecting a camera that would deliver some spectacular photographs. But the One M8 failed to deliver. The company went back to the traditional megapixel with the One M9 which again wasn’t well received, not when the market is incredibly tough with the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple.
It is now rumoured that HTC will once again use the UP technology in the One M10. This may be a huge gamble on the part of HTC to back its camera technology. But if the company has managed to learn from its mistakes, the UP technology could be exactly what HTC had intended. The rear camera is rumoured to sport a 12UP module with OIS and autofocus while the front still is unknown. If HTC wants to be a contender in the camera department, knowing that Samsung has upped its camera specs in the Galaxy S7, then nothing short of 5UP for the front and some absolutely spectacular images that compliment a Quad HD AMOLED display will be accepted by fans.
In order to wow the mass, the One M10 will need to come with some truly redefined features and design language. HTC is well aware of the competition now post MWC and will no doubt be busy for the next few weeks until the April launch to tweak and perfect its flagship device.
The MWC 2016 might have come to an end with some great flagship launches from the likes of Samsung, LG and Xiaomi. However, HTC is yet to have its day in the sun and has instead saved itself for a solo event in April where it will debut its One M10 flagship device.
HTC posted a teaser of the One M10 on Twitter with the hashtag #Powerof10. The teaser itself doesn’t reveal much at all and is simply a silhouette of the device that shows off the metal edge. The teaser’s main purpose, in fact, is in the hashtag that tells us the One M10 will come with some powerful specifications and features.
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen leaked images and renders of what the One M10 will look like and it’s almost certain that the device draws inspiration from the One A9 with a home button and ditching the BoomSoud dual front speakers. We’ll still have to wait and see for the actual unveiling before making a hasty judgement, but the design so far is fairly underwhelming.
The rumoured specs of the One M10 suggest a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset powering the device with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a microSD card slot. On the camera front lies a 12 MP UltraPixel rear camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. The device will likely run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8 atop.
HTC at the Mobile World Congress has unleashed a new lineup of mid-range smartphones with great designer looks but modest hardware. The lineup includes three new phones the HTC Desire 530, 630, and 825.
Of the three, the 530 and 630 are quite similar and come in a 5-inch form factor. Both come packing a 720p Super HD display. The Desire 530 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 1.0GHz processor which is paired with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
The Desire 630, on the other hand isn’t too great on specs either and comes with a Snapdragon 400 1.6GHz processor paired with 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage.On the camera front, the desire 530 comes packing a 8-Megapixel camera while the Desire 630 comes with a 13-Megamixel camera on board.
The Desire 825 is the bigger sibling, and features a 5.5-inch form factor but disappointingly, the Desire 825 also has just a 720p HD display which is sure to be a turn-off for a lot of users.On the specifications front, it is equipped with a Snapdragon 400 1.6GHz processor and is matched with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. There’s also a large 2,700mAh battery, which coupled with a low-resolution display promises good battery performance.
The standout feature of these phones is their design which includes the “micro splash” paint design that HTC claims is unique to each and every of these new phones built which will be designed with special nozzles that sprays colorful dots on the phone’s rear plastic casing. No pricing details have been revealed so watch this space for further details.
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen a lot of leaked live images of the HTC One M10, some in a dimly lit setting and one in white. Now, we have the One M10 in black captured in broad daylight, revealing the front of the phone absolutely clearly as well as the Sense UI that the device will come with on top of the Android Marshmallow OS.
The picture pretty much confirms past images of what the device is going to look like. HTC has ditched the M-series design language and has instead embraced the A9-like design with a home button and ditching the BoomSoud dual front speakers. This may not work in HTC’s favour seeing as how the One A9 received poor responses and did not really appear as anything unique for the company in terms of design. We’ll still have to wait and see for the actual unveiling before making a hasty judgement, but the design so far is fairly underwhelming.
The picture also shows the handset running HTC’s Sense UI, which hasn’t undergone any major changes. This is good news for those who have a soft spot for HTC’s custom UI. The HTC One M10 will sport a Snapdragon 820 chipset under the hood along with a powerful graphics card.
Other rumoured features include a Touch ID fingerprint scanner housed inside the home button, 4 GB of RAM with 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage variants and a battery capacity of 3,500 mAh. The device is expected to come out sometime in April.
While the world is busy thinking about the One M10, HTC’s upcoming flagship smartphone that is scheduled for an April launch, a new HTC device has just been leaked by popular tipster @evleaks. The device is called A16 and is likely to be one of the mid-range smartphones from the company and could be HTC’s MWC product.
The image posted on Twitter shows the device in six great colour options. The different options combine two to three colours for a very funky looking phone. Apart from that, you get a nice look at the front and back of the device and there’s plenty to see here. What’s more, looking at the A16, there is plenty that isn’t seen in the One M10. The A16 shows a very HTC Desire-like design.
The front shows off some large bezels and the HTC logo on the front. The top and bottom house the BoomSound speakers and the grills look a tad different which isn’t such a bad thing. The right side has the volume rocker and power button. Over on the back, one notices something interesting on the bottom. There are two holes which may just be a third speaker or strap holes though it’s hard to tell at the moment. Meanwhile, the camera is placed at the top left corner with the LED flash just below it.
Now, from what the images reveal, the A16 does look pretty funky and looks to aim a younger demographic with its look. The design of the A16 on first glimpse looks a lot more appealing than what the alleged One M10 renders and live images have revealed. We’re not sure when the A16 will come out yet and we have no detail on its specs. The A16 could be unveiled at the MWC seeing as how the One M10 has been pushed to April.
A couple of weeks ago, popular leaskster Evan Blass leaked a live image, albiet poorly lit live image, of an alleged HTC One M10 in black. Today, Blass posted another image of the device in its white option. The image is a lot clearer and shows off the front really well, although we still do not know what the sides or the back look like apart from some renders.
Right off the bat then, the live image of the HTC One M10 is similar to the previous one and supports rumours that the device is based on the HTC One A9. It’s safe to say that HTC has created an uninspiring new flagship, at least on the design front. The One M10 clearly ditches the BoomSound dual front speakers for a cleaner, bezel-less look, and you also see a physical home button there.
However, it is necessary for HTC to come out with an absolutely special phone if it wants to make a dent in the market, seeing how the One M9 and the One A9 did not fare well. What was expected from the company is an absolutely original design, something unique more along the lines of the One M7. We’re not sure if HTC has played it safe, going with an A9-like design and standard 2016 specifications. We’ll have to wait until April for the company’s standalone event to see just how the One M10 (otherwise called Perfume) will turn out.
The rumoured specs of the One M10 suggest a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset powering the device with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a microSD card slot. On the camera front lies a 12 MP UltraPixel rear camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. The device will likely run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8 atop.
Last year saw some incredible smartphones that pushed the boundaries of design and specification, making it difficult to pick out just one favourite. This year promises to do the same. We take a look at some of the most anticipated smartphone launches expected in 2016 and what we know about them so far.
iPhone 7
Apple’s iPhone 7 and Samsung’ Galaxy S7 are perhaps the most talked about flagship devices today. There’s just a lot of anticipation attached to the upcoming handsets and along with it a lot of rumours as well. The first round of rumours a few months ago suggested that the iPhone 7 will lose the home button and will sport an OLED display thereby giving up on LCD display that it has relied on so far. Apple followers will know that the Apple Watch is the only Apple device to sport an OLED display currently. Furthermore, the OLED display will either be supplied by LG or Samsung, or both.
Next up, the iPhone 7 is rumoured to be waterproof and will feature 3 GB of RAM. More recently, there have been talks related to Apple’s decision to ditch the headphone jack. This is part of Apple’s plan to improve the quality of music streaming. Furthermore, the loss of a headphone jack means more space for Apple to add a larger battery to the iPhone 7, as well as make the device thinner. We’ll just have to wait and see how this strategy plays out.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
There have been a lot of rumours and a lot of questions regarding the launch and specs of Samsung’s upcoming flagship Galaxy S7 devices. What everyone is expecting is Samsung to pull out another stunning flagship that pushes the boundaries of design and power, like it did with the Galaxy S6 series.
It’s almost confirmed that the Galaxy S7 will arrive in two variants – one powered by the new Snapdragon 820 chipset and the other by Exynos 8890.
Among the many rumours that have been making the rounds, some that have caught our attention is that the S7 devices will feature Apple’s 3D Touch-like pressure sensitive display called ClearForce that’s being developed by Synaptics. Additionally, the Galaxy S7 will have a Type C USB Port which means the device will charge significantly faster.
The flat Galaxy S7 will likely sport a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display while the ‘Edge’ variant will come with a 5.5-inch display of the same kind. In terms of design, Samsung is sticking to the S6 design language only upgrading the specs, which we’re not complaining about. The flagship devices are slated to be unveiled on February 21 at the MWC ‘Unpacked’ event.
HTC One M10
Being a successor to the One M9, the HTC One M10 will look to improve on specs wherever it can. The new iteration is said to come with a 5.5-inch QHD display. You can expect some bright, crisp colours under a Gorilla Glass 4 protection.
On the design front, the device will have the all-metal, unibody form associated with HTC flagships, along with curved edges and bezels to give it an attractive look. The One M10 will look a lot more like the One A9 than the One M9. From what recent renders tell us, HTC is ditching the BoomSound front speakers as well as the much-hated logo on the front that was found on the One M10. The HTC One M10 will sport a Snapdragon 820 chipset under the hood along with a powerful graphics card.
Other features include a Touch ID fingerprint scanner housed inside the home button, 4 GB of RAM with 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage variants, and a battery capacity of 3,500 mAh. The device is expected to come out sometime in March.
Xiaomi Mi 5
Xiaomi fans have been eagerly awaiting the Mi 5 flagship smartphone, which has been delayed due to the launch of the Snapdragon 820 chipset. Since Samsung has claimed exclusivity of the new chipset for the first quarter, the Mi 5 along with any other device sporting the new, powerful processor will all likely see a post-March release.
Recent rumours about the specs of the Mi 5 are contradictory with some claiming the Mi 5 will sport a 5.5-inch screen with quad HD (2560×1440) display and the others pointing to a 5.7-inch with Full HD display. What’s almost confirmed is a Snapdragon 820 chipset, 20MP primary camera and an 8MP front cameras. The device will also come with 3,800mAh battery and 4G LTE support. RAM is set at 4GB and the phone will offer 16GB/64GB/128GB storage options.
OnePlus 3
OnePlus 3 Render
OnePlus has done so much in so little time. The company, still in its infancy, has already released 3 spectacular devices -OnePlus One, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X in the span of two years. This year, OnePlus will look to reclaim the title of the ‘flagship killer’ with the upcoming OnePlus 3 smartphone. Not much is known about the third flagship device, and only a couple of leaked renders have appeared giving rise to possible hardware specs.
The image above shows a brushed metal back instead of the usual sandstone panels. The new OnePlus might also feature a front speaker. The render shows that the handset could possibly come in two different colours.
From what we’ve heard so far, the new OnePlus device will sport a 5.5-inch UHD display with 5GB RAM. Sources also reveal a little about the hardware and display citing that the handset could arrive with the Snapdragon 820 chipset and a 1080p display resolution.
LG G5
LG G4
A Redditor recently leaked some specs and images of the LG G5. The device will sport a 5.3-inch Quad HD display, powered by the new Snapdragon 820 SoC with 3 GB of RAM and an 8 MP front camera. Other specs include a full metal body, SIM and MicroSD slot, heart rate sensor that’s under the camera module, a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, a USB Type-C port, bottom firing speaker and an IR blaster on top.
Some recent rumours have suggested a modular design for the LG G5 where the bottom is detachable so as to easily remove the battery pack. This, however, is still a long shot and nothing has been confirmed on that front.
A leaked image also suggests that the LG G5 will sport a dual camera set-up at the back – 16 MP and 8 MP. LG will launch the G5 flagship smartphone at the MWC next week.
Sony Xperia Z6
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
It looks like Sony is planning to launch a slew of devices under the Z6 line. It is rumoured that a total of six Z6 devices will be launched this year: a 4-inch Xperia Z6 Mini, a 4.6-inch Xperia Z6 Compact, a 5.2-inch Xperia Z6, a 5.8-inch Xperia Z6 Plus, a 6.4-inch Xperia Z6 Ultra, and a 5-inch Z6 Lite. Now, Sony is yet to confirm the rumours, but you can expect some, if not all, to be true.
What you can expect from the Xperia Z6 is a build that’ll reflect the Z5 with a squarer, flatter design rather than the traditional rounded edges that Sony had previously stuck to with the older models. The Z6 will also come with a fingerprint scanner added to the power side button.
The burning question is whether Sony will go for a 2K display with the 5.2-inch Xperia Z6 or will it continue with a Full HD display as it has with the Z5. Doing the former would mean having to sacrifice battery life, which Sony isn’t all too fond of doing at the moment.
Nokia C1
Nokia C1 Render
Nokia is all set to make a comeback with a new smartphone. This new device, allegedly called the C1, will be the first flagship device to bear the Nokia logo since the Finnish company was sold to Microsoft a few years ago.
There have been a number of leaked renders that claim the design of the C1, though each source has leaked different designs. One of the more recent renders show a very minimalist and sleek design, which actually looks pretty good, if confirmed as legit. The C1 is also depicted running both Android and well as Windows 10 OS.
Rumours suggest that the Nokia C1 will come in two variants. The first one will sport a 5.5-inch Full HD display and a 13 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera. The device will also come with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory expandable via microSD card slot.
The second variant will have a 5-inch Full HD display and will sport an 8 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory.
HTC is just a couple of months away from unveiling its next flagship smartphone, the HTC One M10. A lot is riding on the company to deliver a device that is truly groundbreaking. Indeed, HTC needs to have something great in the One M10 if it still wants to compete in the highly competitive smartphone world. We’ve seen a bunch of leaked images and rumoured specs that haven’t really excited the masses so far. But the final device could be a different case. In order to have a winner on its hands, here are some features that we expect to see in the One M10.
A New HTC Design Language
HTC One M7
For a moment let’s forget about the recent leaked images and renders of the One M10. Let’s forget that HTC has gone with a design language similar to the One A9, which was heavily criticised for being an iPhone 6 rip-off, though HTC would contend that Apple copied them first. Such is the way inspiration works in the tech world. There was a time when HTC had a great design language with its M-series, the One M7 being one of the company’s best in design. It was something that was truly HTC’s own.
Barring the fact that HTC messed up with the One M9, the M lineup (especially the M7 and M8) was praised for its metallic unibody build, BoomSound dual front speakers that were widely appreciated, and a premium feel attached to it. But the company has recently hit a block in terms of design. What the company needs is to rely less on what companies like Apple have achieved with the iPhone and more on coming up with a new design language while still having traces of the old.
Latest render of the One M10
Honestly, fans would still appreciate the BoomSound dual speakers on the front only a little more refined. A curved metallic back for a better hold, a minimalistic and sleek design, and an almost bezel-less screen could together have made for a great-looking phone. If LeEco can manage that with the Le 1s than HTC can too.
HTC’s UltraPixel Technology Needs to Shine this Time
When HTC announced the UltraPixel technology with the One M8, fans were expecting a camera that would deliver some spectacular photographs. But the One M8 failed to deliver. The company went back to the traditional megapixel with the One M9 which again wasn’t well recieved, not when the market is incredibly tough with the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple.
It is now rumoured that HTC will once again use the UP technology in the One M10. This may be a huge gamble on the part of HTC to back its camera technology. But if the company has managed to learn from its mistakes, the UP technology could be exactly what HTC had intended. The rear camera is rumoured to sport a 12UP module with OIS and autofocus while the front still is unknown. If HTC wants to be a contender in the camera department, knowing that Samsung has upped its camera specs in the Galaxy S7, then nothing short of 5UP for the front and some absolutely spectacular images that compliment a Quad HD AMOLED display will be accepted by fans.
At Least One Bumped Up Specification
Let’s be honest, life in today’s world is all about getting there first. This though applies even for technology. People are wowed with a device that manages to beat its competition in bringing out the a first in something. Either that or you try to make an existing technology even better. LeEco took everyone by surprise when it brought out the Le Max Pro – the first smartphone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset – when everybody was looking towards Samsung’s Galaxy S7.
The rumoured specs of the HTC One M10 aren’t all that special. They’re pretty much what is expected from a flagship device in 2016. You have a Snapdragon 820 chipset in the One M10 which will also be seen in the Galaxy S7, LG G5, Xiaomi Mi5 and many more to come. If HTC wants its device to stand apart, it needs to offer one specification that other OEMs aren’t. Maybe bumping up the RAM to 4GB might do the trick, or maybe it’s just not enough. Even if HTC manages to fit in a battery big enough to handle a Quad HD AMOLED display and gaming without giving up completely by the end of the day, it would be appreciated.
Thinner, Sleeker BoomSound or a Multi-Purpose Fingerprint Sensor (or Both)
One M10 Early Render
It was the BoomSound speakers that gave HTC’s M lineup a new direction. HTC now needs to introduce a new unique feature that will give the M10 purpose. If you’re going to replace the speakers with a physical home button that might also house a fingerprint scanner, then the sensor could do a lot more than simply unlocking the phone. In fact, having the BoomSound front speakers and the fingerprint scanner at the back would have been perfect. Alas, that’s perhaps asking too much.
HTC could have indeed kept the BoomSound speakers, making the grill thinner and closer to the top and bottom edges so as to save space and deliver on sound at the same time. Some renders (like the one above) also showed the same imagination, but the new images that reveal the One A9-like design show no trace of a speaker at all. It could still be that HTC has moved the speakers to the bottom, and if it manages to get the same quality it just might do the trick. Furthermore, if that indeed is the case then the headphone jack would have to move to the top.
Now while these may still not be groundbreaking changes or additions, it is something that would get fans a lot more excited than they are right now. The One M10 will essentially decide the company’s future in the smartphone market, and perhaps the delay to launch the device is due to some last minute tweaks that could work in their favour. We’ll just have to wait and see if HTC has a winner with the One M10 or not.
Have any particular feature you want to see in the HTC One M10? Let us know in the comments below.
For a long time now, there have been rumours and speculations regarding HTC’s own version of a smartwatch. Back in July 2014, popular tipster Evan Blass revealed that HTC had ditched the idea of a smartwatch. Back then, the renders available were of a square-shaped Android Wear watch. Last year, Yusuf Catalkaya displayed a render of the HTC One W1 ‘Superwatch’ that had a BoomSound speaker on the front, but nothing much was spoken about it ever since.
However, a recent tweet by Evan Blass stated that the HTC smartwatch will be available for purchase before the end of April. This comes after the mild response towards leaked images of HTC’s upcoming One M10 flagship. Clearly, fans are not all that kicked about the smartphone that looks like it doesn’t bring too much to the table, specification and design wise.
From what we know about the smartwatch so far, the watch will feature a circular design and will be powered by Android Wear. All of this should be taken with a grain of salt until HTC confirms the rumours.
