HTC is working on another flagship device that's expected to be released in mid-April. After the disastrous reception of the recently released HTC U Ultra and HTC U Play, this new model could be the true HTC 10 successor we've all been waiting for.
VentureBeat reports that, according to a reliable source, the phone will be called the HTC U. Noted leaker Evan Blass has hinted that this new flagship is the rumored phone we've heard about over the last few months, which was code-named "Ocean."
The HTC U is rumored to be powered by the new Snapdragon 835 processor, the very same CPU used in North American versions of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ models. HTC has yet to confirm these rumors, and we don't know when the device will be announced, but early reports are definitely promising.
The rumored HTC U, code-named "Ocean."
According to rumors, the HTC U will employ a 12-megapixel back camera, a 5.5-inch WQHD (2,560 x 1,440) display, a 16-megapixel front camera, a microSD card slot, and Android 7.1 Nougat. But the most intriguing feature is a touch-responsive frame that may very well supplant hardware buttons like the volume rocker.
The metal frame has sensors that detect when you swipe, pinch, or squeeze the edges. Each of these gestures can be connected to apps, or tied to certain system actions like changing the device's volume. Altogether, this technology is known as "Edge Sense."
The HTC U's frame is rumored to be touch-sensitive.
The U is said to be running HTC Sense 9, a user interface that has proved to be a bit like Marmite; It makes Android look different, and people either love or loath it.
Furthermore, the Sony camera sensors found in the U Ultra will be swapped for more up-to-date versions when HTC releases its new flagship. The 12-megapixel IMX362 sensor around back, and the 16-megapixel IMX351 up front, should make for much improved picture quality.
The news comes after the preceding U Ultra model was absolutely destroyed in reviews. After its release, a Forbes article declared that "the phone gets just about everything wrong," and even the marketing campaign was savaged.
So the real question is, can the HTC U swing the public's current perception of HTC? We'll have to wait and see, but we'd be glad to hear your opinions in the comment section below.
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Cover image via Evan Blass/Twitter
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