Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has launched a new premium handset dubbed as One A9.
In the last few weeks prior to the unveiling day, we saw numerous pictures of One A9 getting leaked online, all of them indicated that the HTC device featured Apple iPhone 6 series design language, but back then there was no valid proof to authenticate then.
Now, with HTC One A9 officially unveiled, the handset does indeed look like a clone of Apple iPhone 6.
When HTC first launched One M series phone with an all-metal unibody, it received heaps of praise for its path-breaking design language. It also brought true premium device category in Android ecosystem and was rightfully hailed as the iPhone among Google mobile OS powered devices.
But, the new HTC One A9 has gone a step further by featuring near identical outlook design of Apple's 2014 iPhone 6 series, which is certain to hurt the company's image.
HTC One A9's all-metal body with curved corners and also the white antenna strips (top and bottom) on the rear-side are uncanny. The only difference is that the HTC phone houses the primary camera module in the top centre, whereas the Apple device features the camera on the top left-corner.
Thankfully, Apple iPhone 6 doppelganger HTC One A9 houses completely different hardware inside.
It sports 5.0-inch full HD display and is powered by the new Snapdragon 617 Octa-core processor backed by 2GB/3GB RAM, 16GB/32GB inbuilt storage capacity, 2150 mAh battery, which can keep phone running for close 18 days.
Key aspect of HTC One A9 is that it ships with the v6.0 Android OS, making it the first non-Nexus series ship with Marshmallow OS out-of-the-box.
The company (via Twitter) also confirmed that HTC One A9 will get new Android updates within 15 days after Nexus series gets them.
HTC One A9 price and release date detail:
The company has reportedly confirmed that the new HTC One A9 (32GB/3GB RAM) will be released initially in the USA for $399.99 (around €352/Rs. 26, 050) and later in other markets
HTC One A9 (16GB/2GB RAM) will also be made available soon in the UK for a whopping £429.99 (around $664/Rs. 43,235), reported The Verge.
There is no official word on when HTC One A9 will hit stores in India. Stay tuned for more updates.
Key specifications of HTC One A9:
| Model | HTC One A9 |
| Display | 5.0-inch full HD (1920x1080p) with Gorilla Glass 4 shield |
| OS | Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Sense UI |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 Octa-core SoC (1.5GHz quad-core +1.2 GHz quad-core) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 |
| RAM | 2GB/3GB |
| Storage capacity | 16GB (2GB RAM)/32GB (3GB RAM), expandable up 2TB |
| Camera |
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| Battery | 2150 mAh with Quick Charge 2.0 (forward compatible with v3.0 with future software upgrade)
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| Network | 4G-LTE |
| Add-ons | Finger-print scanner (on home button), Nano-SIM slot, Bluetooth v4.1, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; 2.4GHz & 5GHz), micro-USB 2.0 port, Dolby Audio with Hi-Res Audio, Internal GPS + GLONASS |
| Dimensions | 145.75 x 70.8. x 7.26 mm |
| Weight | 143 g |
| Colours | Topaz Gold, Carbon Gray, Opal Silver, Deep Garnet |
| Price | In USA:
In UK:
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