There have been reports earlier this month that Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC will be launching its upcoming flagship handset, the HTC One M10, in March next year after its predecessor, the HTC One M9, completes its customary one-year market cycle.
However, it seems that there will be a change in the launching calendar of HTC next year, as latest rumors have it that in addition to the HTC One M10, the Taiwanese tech company shall also be rolling out the HTC One X9.
Speculations about the HTC One X9 started making the rounds on the internet after its supposed leak appeared recently on a Chinese website based on the country’s telecommunications equipment certification center, TENAA, reports Yibada.
Just like the HTC One A9, which was launched in September, the HTC One X9 shall be a mid-range handset which would likely be launched during the first quarter of next year.
As such, HTC will have to defer the launching of its upcoming flagship smartphone to either May or June next year because the rumors say that the HTC One X9 will either be launched and released in February or March 2016.
A leak on HTC’s other upcoming smartphone
Based on the same leak from the Chinese source, the HTC One X9 shall feature a design quite similar to the HTC One A9, with the same slim unibody and dual front-facing BoomSound speakers.
It will also sport a 5.5-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a pixel density of 401 ppi. It shall also be powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core processor, a 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage with provision for expansion through a microSD card slot.
The HTC One X9 shall feature a 13-MP rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and shall come out of the box with Android 5.0.2 Lollipop for its mobile OS, which seems like a downer considering that the HTC One A9 came out with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop in September.
There are also reports that the HTC One X9 shall sport a curvier design than the seemingly straight edges and corners of other HTC smartphones, notes the Christian Today.
The leak image of the smartphone also showed its back which shall have a raised strip along the top of the device, housing the camera and flash modules.
However, all information regarding the HTC One X9 is merely speculation at this time until the Taiwanese tech company makes the official confirmation or announcement about it. What is certain is that there will be an HTC One M10. Whether there will be an HTC One X9 or not remains to be seen.
Putting the brand back on track
HTC apparently wants to put its flagship brand back on track after the dismal showing of the HTC One M9 following its launching in March this year.
Upon its rollout to the global retail markets in April this year, the HTC One M9 did not live up to the expectations of its Taiwanese maker, in terms of sales and ultimately consumer reception.
Because of the minimal upgrade from its predecessor from last year, the HTC One M8, the HTC One M9 experienced the same fate as the Samsung Galaxy S5 last year, when the Korean tech giant only made minimal upgrades to the Samsung Galaxy S4 the year before.
As smartphone users have now become more intelligent and discerning, current flagship devices need to be on top of their game if they are to pass the rising standards of consumers and any half-baked and run-off-the-mill smartphones will wear itself out in the market long before it completes its customary one-year cycle.
As early as August, there were reports that HTC would be launching another flagship smartphone to redeem the HTC One M9. However, less than a month later, the HTC One A9, also known as the HTC Aero came out of the market. But instead of a flagship smartphone, it came out as another mid-range handset, thus officially quashing previous rumors that it is to be HTC’s next flagship smartphone.