What you need to know

• HTC debuted its new AI-driven smart glasses, the VIVE Eagle, which lets users control them fully with their voices.
• Users can capture photos, videos, and more with the VIVE Eagle's 12MP ultra-wide camera, while also listening to music with rich sound.
• The VIVE Eagle sports a "premium" open-ear design that lets users adjust its temples and nosepads for a comfortable fit.
• The glasses are available for pre-order in Taiwan for NT$15,600 (~$518).

While HTC has stepped into VR headsets, the company is debuting something we didn't expect: AI smart glasses.

HTC is diving headfirst into the world of smart glasses with the likes of Meta and future players, such as Samsung and Google, with the VIVE Eagle. Launched earlier this morning (Aug 14), HTC highlights the VIVE Eagle as "AI-driven wearable eyewear." Since this is—let's say—an alternate route from HTC's VR headsets, the company's senior vice president, Chris Huang, said, “VIVE Eagle represents HTC’s newest exploration in the realm of intelligent living and personal wearables."

The VIVE Eagle touts a "premium design" at a lightweight 49 grams. HTC states users can alter its comfort by adjusting its nosepads and contoured temples for a fit that'll last you all day. Additionally, the post highlights the inclusion of ZEISS sun lenses, which provide UV protection "without compromising optical clarity."

Packed into the VIVE Eagle is voice-activated AI with support for Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT. HTC states its AI support can help users capture life's moments with a simple phrase: "Hey VIVE, take a photo." The VIVE Eagle will capture your photos using its 12MP ultra-wide camera, thanks to VIVE AI.

Recording is another capability of the VIVE Eagle. The press release states users can ask their glasses to record a reminder, take notes, and more just by using their voices.

Music & Prviacy

Other than capturing memories, HTC states its newest AI glasses can even carry your favorite tracks for you. The post highlights the VIVE Eagle's open-ear design with "large acoustic drivers and virtual bass" for richer audio. The company also states the glasses' audio capabilities help to minimize sound leakage, meaning you (hopefully) won't disturb others around you. While out, the VIVE Eagle's speakers can deliver your music in full volume; however, you should still have the awareness to understand what's happening around you.

Speaking of staying a little private, the glasses reportedly sport AES-256 encryption to safeguard your data stored locally within the device. More importantly, HTC says the content you capture with the VIVE Eagle is "never uploaded, tracked, or used for AI model training."

Some smaller AI specifications state the VIVE Eagle supports real-time translation for 13 languages. The content the glasses capture via the cameras is then translated and fed to the user through its speakers. HTC states its support encompasses Arabic, Traditional Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Thai, Turkish.

Taiwan Pre-orders

While staying lightweight, the VIVE Eagle contains a 235mAh battery with up to 36 hours of standby time. This battery is also said to last roughly 4.5 hours for continuous music playback purposes. In 10 minutes, the glasses are estimated to reach 50% charge.

The HTC VIVE Eagle glasses are available today (Aug 14) for consumers in Taiwan for NT$15,600 (~$518). Consumers in the region will find it in Berry, Coffee, Grey, and Black. At the moment, there's no word on whether or not global users will be able to get their hands on the VIVE Eagle.

What you need to know

• Google to bring some HTC VIVE engineers on board to develop Android XR.
• The search giant has already collaborated with Samsung and Qualcomm to bring reality headsets and glasses.
• The company is now adding HTC’s expertise in the VR space by bringing in a strong technical team.

Last December, Google first introduced Android XR in partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm intending to bring Gemini-powered reality headsets and glasses.

Today (Jan 23), the search giant has announced (via 9to5Google) that it is accelerating the Android XR platform with a new agreement with HTC. It means the popular HTC VIVE engineering team, who are behind the VR space, will be joining hands with Google to create a headsets and glasses ecosystem under its Android XR platform, the company mentions in the announcement post.

Google also acknowledges HTC’s “strong technical team with a proven track record in the VR space, ” and their collaboration in building the reality space, which the search giant is currently expediting after investing in XR for over a decade now.

According to HTC’s press release, Google is paying the company a whopping $250 million to acquire certain members of the HTC XR team to join Google. This agreement is believed to “drive the growth” of the XR ecosystem altogether. “As part of the transaction, Google will receive a non-exclusive license for HTC’s XR intellectual property (IP),” the press note states.

Furthermore, HTC’s current commitment to delivering VIVE XR innovative solutions, including the VIVE Focus Vision, will remain unchanged. It means the existing product lines will be supported and developed without any interruption.

It isn’t the first time Google has acquired HTC employees for its in-house development of products. Back in 2017, Google and HTC announced a definitive agreement under which certain HTC mobile division employees were acquired to develop Pixel smartphones. HTC received $1.1 billion in cash as part of the agreement.

Regardless, the latest announcement comes after Samsung demonstrated its Android XR-powered mixed reality headset that comes under "Project Moohan” at Wednesday’s (Jan 22) Unpacked event, where the company announced the latest Galaxy S25 series. The headset is believed to be available for the masses later this year, per the previous announcement.

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Sometimes, it's nice to sit back and reminisce about the old days. You know, the days when smartphones included things like headphone jacks, microSD card slots, and even removable batteries. Back when smartphones were fun, in the days of Moto Maker, LG G3, the HTC One, and so many more. 

It was definitely the Wild Wild West, but it was so enjoyable because there were so many options to choose from. I mean, we even had the Google Play Edition lineup, comprised of phones from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and even Sony!

Back in those days, we'd see some wild and crazy designs as companies weren't afraid of taking chances. The Galaxy Note Edge was pretty unique, but was Samsung's foray into the curved screens that we saw on the best Android phones until the Galaxy S24 Ultra, for better or worse. 

The Moto Z was so thin that I thought Motorola was going to have an iPhone 6S moment on its hands. Funnily enough, the Moto Z also seemingly laid the groundwork for MagSafe, but naturally, didn't take off in the same way.

We didn't have to worry about running out of storage because the microSD card slot was there. Bluetooth headphones were around, but why splurge on those when you could just plug in your wired headphones sans dongle? 

Sure, today, we have phones that fold and flip and don't need to carry a point-and-shoot camera. We just use the camera in our pockets or bags. That's all fine and dandy, but it hasn't been enough to make me completely forget about the past.

And don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade a foldable phone for the HTC One M8, even if the underlying hardware was modernized. I'm extremely grateful for how far smartphones have come, more than 15 years after I got my very first smartphone. 

Perhaps my biggest disappointment is that phones just aren't as fun anymore. Some of this has to do with the inability to get phones from Europe, Korea, or China in North America. Here, the flagship realm is just the Samsung and Apple show, with a sprinkling of Google and OnePlus.

Meanwhile, Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Vivo, and others are churning out new phones that put what we have here in the States to shame. Xiaomi is even gearing up to release its first Galaxy Z Flip rival. But the only way I'll be able to get my hands on it is to spend an exorbitant (to me) amount of money to have it imported. The same goes for the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, with its 100W charging and true flagship camera system. 

At the same time, I can't help but wonder about what the future holds for smartphones. Slabs are pretty much all the same and I couldn't really care less, with the exception being for phone companies to fix the displays so my colleague Nick can enjoy them again.

I would venture to argue that we've reached the pinnacle of what smartphones can do in terms of raw horsepower. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 seems to just about check all of the boxes, as it's powerful and efficient with little sacrifice.

It's also likely why phone companies are now putting more effort into AI capabilities. That's the next "great frontier," as only a little bit of those cool and new features are handled by the on-device NPU. The rest is done in the cloud, which is incredible in its own right, but not the point. 

However, the tradeoff to gaining more powerful and efficient phones is that we lose all the features we once cared about, and we continue to pay the price as the cost of these devices increases. It costs money to manufacture processors, and chips like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 aren't cheap as chipmakers include newer, more capable NPUs that could result in steeper costs to OEMs. 

On the one hand, we can now reap the benefits of on-device processing as a wave of new generative AI features emerges. Meanwhile, OEMs will continue to make the most of what little space they have in these phones to bring that power while chipping away at the things that used to make phones truly fun, then charge us more for it.

Before we know it, the Galaxy S27 Ultra Pro Max will be here with a price tag of $2,000. It'll have all of the bells and whistles, while Bixby will be able to read your mind and do things for you. But you know what it won't have? A headphone jack, microSD card, or removable battery.

What you need to know

• HTC has launched its latest midrange Android phone, the U24 Pro with a 6.8-inch OLED display with curved glass.
• The device's rear panel offers a triple camera array with a 50MP primary lens, a 50MP telephoto sensor, and an 8MP wide plus depth sensor.
• The U24 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC, packed with AI camera enhancements.
• Consumers in the E.U. can grab it for €564.00 (roughly $605).

HTC is back with another midrange Android device that's come out of the leftfield and has some interesting changes over last year's.

HTC's showcase of the U24 Pro begins with its 6.8-inch OLED display with a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. Design-wise, the U24 Pro offers a glass screen that slightly curves along the right and left sides of the device. The phone's edges have been upgraded with an angled design to help users grip the phone with security and comfort.

The company attributes the device's fluidity and performance to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC. HTC states the chip helps the U24 Pro with a 50% increase in graphical rendering and 20% better power efficiency.

The rear panel of the HTC U24 Pro has been upgraded in a few ways, such as its heat compression and sandblasting. The company states the latter should help the device resist fingerprints and impact if dropped.

Camera changes are made evident as HTC revamps its rear array, opting for a design that looks like an exclamation mark. The initial vertical array consists of two lenses: the 50MP main sensor and the 50MP telephoto lens. Beneath that lies the lonely 8MP wide plus depth camera sensor.

HTC states that its primary camera takes in roughly 130% more light to benefit those taking night shots for more "vivid" colors. The upgraded telephoto camera can reach up to 2x optical zoom for increased detail capture. Any videographers can utilize the U24 Pro's 4K resolution recording with OIS (optical image stabilization).

The front-facing camera sits at 50MP, which is stronger than what HTC offered in 2023 with the U23 Pro. However, this year's iteration forgoes the macro lens, dropping to a triple camera array instead of a quad configuration.

HTC has also thrown in some AI features such as AR stickers, blur and exposure editing tools, and a face selector for the best group shot. The group shot feature is similar to Google's Pixel Best Take, which lets users browse through the many faces folks made during a photo op and choose the right combination.

HTC's latest midrange isn't just for reality as the company states users can pair it with its VR headset, the VIVE XR Elite. The device can stream content to the VR headset, giving users access to their content in a completely new way.

Keeping your phone going through all of this is a 4,600mAh battery like its predecessor. Consumers are treated to a charging boost overall as the device features 60W quick charging support and 15W for wireless chargers.

Other details include a fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm audio jack, a microSD card slot, and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

The HTC U24 Pro delivers 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage configuration in Space Navy. In the E.U., the device observes a €564.00 price tag, which equates to roughly $605. It's currently unknown when (or if) HTC plans to bring this midrange to the U.S. market.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape. 

This week, the tech world saw Google's fresh round of layoffs, HTC's comeback with a new phone, Samsung teasing more of its devices, Qualcomm's Q2 point to a recovery, and Google messages just got better. Let's get into it. 

Google makes job cuts, again.

Read more here.

Not a week goes by when Google doesn't make it to the headlines. This time, in a fresh round of layoffs, Google let go of 200 of its 'core' employees to move faster and align with the company's goals.

These core teams were responsible for the technical foundation behind many of Google's products and services for security and online safety. The company has also reportedly started a "reorganization" that moves roles to India and Mexico.

Documents obtained by CNBC also suggested that employees found out about these cuts a week before they were announced, with Google stating that it would help it align with its "broader goals." Google's vice president of its Developer Ecosystem, Asim Husain, informed staff that "this was the biggest planned reduction" for the team in 2024, during a town hall. These cuts come at time, after Google's Q1 earnings report announced a whopping $80.5 billion in revenue with "strong performance" across services. 

Google confirmed these layoffs, and a spokesperson added that those affected can reapply for other roles within the company.

HTC's new phone could get a major upgrade

Read more here.

HTC is a name that you might think is off the market, however, they are still in the smartphone scene. While they don't churn out smartphones as often as other brands, a new leak indicated that its U24 Pro could give them another entrant in the market.

According to Android Headlines, it looks like the Taiwanese company might be getting ready to introduce the HTC U24 Pro this month. Even though there's no official word on the exact date yet, the U23 Pro was launch in May last year, which has could be a reason to expect the same with this year's addition.

A few days ago, MySmartPrice caught sight of a device on Geekbench and speculated that it might belong to the HTC U24 series. The phone has model number 2QDA100, but that doesn't give away too much.

On the design front, the HTC U24 Pro will probably look a lot like its predecessor. That said, it might sport a faster processor —the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3. As for the price, the U23 Pro hit store shelves at $350, and the U24 Pro is likely to stay in that range. We can expect the device to have Android 14 out of the box with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. 

Samsung's Q1 report gives more news on wearables

Read more here.

Samsung posted its revenue report for Q1 2024, and the company states it earned 71.92 trillion KRW in consolidated revenue and 6.61 trillion KRW in operating profits. During its earnings call, the company stated that its Q1 earnings saw a 12.8% jump compared to last year.

Samsung feels that Galaxy AI is the driving force behind its phone sales, stating it will "seek annual growth." The company also hinted at expanding its Galaxy portfolio by bringing Galaxy AI to "existing and new flagship" products like foldables and tablets. The other side of this business is its wearables, to which Samsung mentions the Galaxy Ring—something that could boost revenue later this year.

Smartwatches will also play a role, with Samsung stating it will look to "meet demand for upgrades through the launch of new premium models." It's unclear exactly what Samsung means here, but rumors of an expanded Galaxy Watch profile have been circulating, with talk of a Galaxy Watch 7, 7 Classic, and 7 Ultra. 

Qualcomm's Q2 earnings are looking up

Read more here.

Earlier this week, Qualcomm posted its fiscal year Q2 2024 financial earnings. The company reported $9.39 billion in revenue for the quarter, an increase of 1% over the same quarter in 2023.

Qualcomm's headset business, which makes up most of its overall revenue, also saw a 1% increase during the quarter, reaching $8.03 billion. While this may not seem like a large gain, it signals healthy growth in the smartphone industry after a bit of a slump just a year ago. By comparison, Qualcomm's FY Q2 2023 earnings revealed a 17% drop in headset and overall revenue, so the recent numbers look positive.

"We are excited about our continued growth and diversification, including achieving our third consecutive quarter of record QCT Automotive revenues, upcoming launches with our Snapdragon X platforms, and enabling leading on-device AI capabilities across multiple product categories," says Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon in a statement.

With its current chipsets, Qualcomm is focusing on AI, which it expects will enable more use cases in various devices, be they phones, PCs, or cars. The company highlights its AI hub for developers to help drive this adoption.

"I want to step back and say, in general, I think AI is going to benefit all the devices," Amon says. "I think AI, when extends to running on-device—besides the benefit of working alongside the cloud—they have completely new use cases privacy, security, latency cost, personalization, etc."

*Drumroll please* Audio emojis are here

Read more here.

Google is rolling out a unique new feature on its phone app that lets users express themselves with six new sounds.

As spotted by Google News on Telegram, the company is starting to roll out "Audio Emojis" in the Phone app. Users will be able to toggle the feature in the app's settings. From there, Google describes the feature as one that can help users "express emotions and moods with sounds like applause, laughter, sad, trombone, and more."

When enabled, users can call their friends and family and start experimenting with the new sounds. On the Phone app's call screen, there will be an option to expand the Audio Emoji's row of faces above the default toolbar.

However, the feature is arriving first in the app's beta version. According to DroidLife, Audio Emojis have been spotted on a Pixel 8 Pro running version 128.0.6 of the beta Phone app.

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Instagram's new Stories stickers let you turn your story into a music template
• There's a problem in tech, and it's your fault
• Samsung's customization app Good Lock is finally on the Play Store
• Samsung reportedly readies Wear OS 5 for the Galaxy Watch 6
• Gemini becomes a more capable Google Assistant replacement with latest update
• The Amazfit Helio Ring is set to go on sale very soon
• If TikTok is banned, a VPN may not be the solution you're looking for
• Google Pixel Fold 2: Rumors, specs, and everything we expect to see
• Amazon earnings boosted by AI, ads, and cost-cutting
• I never expected the Meta Quest to get this beloved gaming franchise

What you need to know

• A recent Geekbench sighting hints at a new HTC device, possibly part of the U24 series, labeled as model number 2QDA100.
• The HTC U24 Pro is tipped to improve upon its predecessor, the U23 Pro, with better hardware and upgrades.
• Data from Geekbench indicates the U24 Pro will boast 12GB of RAM and be powered by the "crow" chipset, likely the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3.

HTC isn't churning out phones like before, but it's not gone for good and could make a comeback next month with the U24 Pro.

According to Android Headlines, it looks like the Taiwanese company might be getting ready to introduce the HTC U24 Pro in May. This guess is because the HTC U23 Pro was launched in May 2023. Even though there's no official word on the exact date yet, this gives us a pretty good idea.

The new phone would follow in the footsteps of the U23 Pro, but with better hardware and some other upgrades.

A few days ago, MySmartPrice caught sight of a device on Geekbench and speculated that it might belong to the HTC U24 series. The phone has model number 2QDA100, but that doesn't give away too much.

Looking through the data from the benchmarking platform, it's pretty clear that the phone will have 12GB of RAM. The chipset running the new HTC phone has eight cores, and it's tagged with the codename "crow."

For the uninitiated, "crow" is the codename for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, which means that's what will be ticking inside HTC’s next mid-range smartphone.

Flagship HTCs might be a thing of the past, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 seems like a solid choice for this new phone.

On the design front, don't expect major changes with the HTC U24 Pro—it'll probably look a lot like its predecessor, maybe with some small tweaks. As for the price, the U23 Pro hit store shelves at $350, and the U24 Pro is likely to stay in that ballpark.

As for the rest of the hardware specs, the HTC U24 Pro will probably come with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. Expect it to roll out with Android 14 right out of the box. As for the camera setup, we'll have to wait a bit longer to uncover those details as we approach the phone's unveiling.

What you need to know

• Alleged renders of the HTC U23 Pro surface online.
• They reveal a familiar design and expected color options.
• The device's launch is expected sooner than later, featuring a quad-camera setup.

Early this month, we learned that HTC is coming with a mid-range smartphone dubbed HTC U23 Pro 5G. New renders now indicate that the launch is imminent.

Leaker Evan Blass has shared some new renders of the alleged HTC U23 Pro, which reveals two colorways for the phone. The device will have a prominent camera island on the back featuring at least four cameras next to an LED flash incorporated within. As per the previous leak, it is likely a 108MP primary sensor with OIS support.

On the design front, the shared renders from Blass tell us that the HTC U23 Pro will feature a pretty familiar design with a similar camera layout to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. It will feature a centered punch-hole display on the front and have a plastic build overall.

While we know HTC hasn't entirely quit making phones, it has been focusing on releasing mid-range smartphones like the HTC Desire 20 Pro and the Desire 22 Pro.

Besides, there isn't any confirmed information on the upcoming HTC U23 Pro besides these new renders. The previous leak, however, has suggested it is likely to be powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The device is also expected to ship with Android 13 out of the box.

The other expected specifications of the device include a 4600mAh battery that charges via USB Type-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.3 support, and a capacitive power button that acts as a fingerprint sensor for authentication.

While we don't expect flagship-level devices, the company might release a decent contender for the cheaper phones market. Since the forthcoming device is a Pro model, we hope for a standard variant during the launch as well, which could be more affordable and offer more value.

As for the launch, HTC has yet to reveal any information on the launch date; however, given the new renders, the launch is expected sooner than later.

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What you need to know

• HTC could be gearing up to unveil a new mid-range smartphone.
• The HTC U23 Pro 5G has figured in a leak, which spills the beans on its key specs along with live photos.
• It will apparently be powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, paired with at least 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
• Other standout specs include a 108MP main sensor and Android 13 out of the box.

While HTC has not completely exited the smartphone business, its recent releases have not been as popular as they once were. The company's focus has shifted to the mid-range market, and a new leak may have revealed details about an upcoming budget HTC handset.

Courtesy of the Chinese website ptt.cc, a few real-world photos of the upcoming device, dubbed the HTC U23 Pro 5G, have surfaced. As per the source, the phone's rear panel and frame are made of plastic (via GSMArena). This is unsurprising given that the device is expected to be in the mid-range price category.

A closer look at the back panel gives away a few details about the phone's shooting prowess. The HTC U23 Pro will boast a quad-camera setup featuring a 108MP primary sensor.

There's no word on the rest of the sensors, but leaked images of the phone's screen reveal a few key specifications. Images of the phone running the AIDA64 hardware detection tool show a 4,600mAh battery with wireless charging support. The device will also be powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, paired with at least 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

According to the leaker, the handset will run Android 13 out of the box and include a 3.5mm audio jack, which is a mainstay on many of the best cheap Android phones on the market.

The leaked photos also suggest that the device has model number 2QC9100, but there are two more variants bearing the model numbers 2QC9200 and 2QCB100, as per tipster Abhishek Yadav. These model numbers presumably refer to a regular model and another variant in the upcoming series.

HTC has scaled back its smartphone business in recent years due to stiff competition in the market. In 2020, the company only released a single smartphone, the HTC Desire 20 Pro, and it has since primarily focused on the mid-range market rather than high-end devices, with the Desire 22 Pro being its latest affordable offering.

It is hard to say for sure if HTC will return to the high-end smartphone segment in the future despite a long history of making premium devices. If they can come up with a compelling product that offers something unique, they may be able to capture a sizable portion of the smartphone market. However, the HTC U23 Pro doesn't hold that guarantee.

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What you need to know

• HTC A101 is a new tablet in store that is currently listed in its African store.
• It comes with a 10.1-inch display and is powered by Unisoc T1618 SoC.
• The A101 ships with Android 11.

HTC announced a new tablet, the A101, for the African market. The new device launch comes a week after the company returned to the phone game with HTC Desire 2022 Pro — a mid-range compatible with HTC's Vive Flow. Surprisingly, it comes pre-installed with HTC's own crypto wallet.

Meanwhile, the HTC A101 seems to be an entry-level or the only Android tablet in its product folio. It comes with the most basic specs that any Android tablet could get, Android Police reports. The device listing on the Wayback machine dates back to June 25 (via The Verge). The new tablet is followed by an HTC A100 tablet, announced in Russia last year.

Despite a new tablet from HTC, it doesn't bring any new aspects to make the device appealing. For example, the design is nowhere near new, as it comes with some chunky bezels around the display. It is enclosed in a metal body, and the design element towards the device's rear looks uninspiring. The HTC A101 comes in two colorways: Gray and Silver.

The display measures 10.1-inches and comes with 1920x1200 resolution. On the outside, the tablet measures 8.4mm in thickness and weighs around 530 grams. Underneath, the A101 is powered by the Unisoc T1618 SoC coupled with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It is further expandable to 256GB via a microSD card. 

The tablet ships with Android 11 out of the box, which is sad in 2022. There isn't any information on upgrades too. It would have been better if it could upgrade to Android 12 or the optimized version of Android 12L, which is ideal for big-screen devices.

The tablet relies on a dual-camera system for optics featuring a 16MP primary camera accompanied by a 2MP ultra-wide camera and an LED flash. Users will find a 5MP camera for selfies on the front. For authentication, the device further supports the AI Face Unlock feature.

The HTC tablet draws power from a 7000mAh battery, which doesn't come with any fancy fast charging capabilities. The connectivity options comprise Dual LTE, support for Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, a 3.5mm headset jack, and OTG support.

We all know that the company hasn't been in the spotlight apart from making its Vive series AR/VR products. It occasionally launched Android smartphones in select regions. The new tablet is also taking a similar approach as it's only available in Africa.

HTC was a company that made one of the best Android smartphones back then. It also made a Nexus smartphone and a Nexus 9 tablet right after Google acquired the company. And now it's sad to see the company launching such devices overlooked.

What you need to know

• The HTC Desire 22 Pro is a new mid-range phone from HTC that retails for £399 and ships on July 1 to Taiwan and August 1 to the UK.
• The phone ships with full compatibility with the Vive Flow and comes preinstalled with HTC's crypto wallet.
• HTC is also offering a £763 bundle that includes a Vive Flow headset, pair of earbuds, and a case, which is a 15% total discount.

HTC is back in the phone game with the HTC Desire 22 Pro, a new mid-range phone that retails for £399 and ships on July 1 to Taiwan and August 1 to the UK. The phone is advertised as fully capable with the future of the metaverse, including full compatibility with HTC's latest lightweight VR headset and the company's own Viverse metaverse.

HTC says you won't need a Vive Flow in order to visit the Viverse, though, as the phone's built-in web browser is 100% compatible with the platform. That sort of metaverse definition is similar to what Meta unveiled last Fall, which essentially creates a virtual world layered atop the physical world and can be accessed via several different types of devices, from the best smartphones to VR headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 or HTC Vive Flow.

As a mid-range phone, you shouldn't expect mind-blowing specs from the HTC Desire 22 Pro. It's got a modest 6.6-inch FHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 695 5G SoC, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, support for microSD cards, triple cameras on the back with a 64MP main camera, 4,520mAh battery, wireless charging support, and even includes an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. The phone launches with Android 12 but HTC didn't specify its update commitment with the announcement.

The Desire 22 Pro seems to be a low-key follow-up to its previous crypto phone, as the Desire 22 Pro is preloaded with HTC's Vive Wallet crypto wallet technology. This makes managing cryptocurrency, NFTs, and any other blockchain-related tech easy as opening a single app. It's also got HTC's Viverse app preloaded, which makes it possible to easily manage virtual avatars and other Viverse content. You can preorder the Desire 22 Pro at HTC's website right now.

What you need to know

• HTC is re-entering the smartphone market with a new announcement on June 28.
• Details are still light, but the phone purportedly has something to do with the company's metaverse, which is called Viverse.
• HTC first teased the phone way back in March after it first announced Viverse.

HTC sent out a date this week for an event the company will be holding on June 28 to announce its first major smartphone in some time. Little in the way of details were provided for the announcement, but the teaser shows a very clear outline of a smartphone, complete with what looks like a portal to the metaverse.

HTC previously teased the existence of the phone in March but, once again, didn't offer much in the way of details. This latest social media post at least comes with a visual of the phone's outline, including some comfy rounded corners and the presence of physical buttons on the sides. That last part is notable because HTC actually released a "buttonless" phone back in 2018 called the HTC U12 and it's been some time since HTC launched a truly great Android phone.

HTC's foray into its own metaverse drew a bit of criticism when it was first announced, as it looks to be a self-contained virtual world rather than one that's designed to work with other existing metaverse concepts. It's not clear yet what devices will support HTC's metaverse, but you can be sure this upcoming phone will make the list.

When Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Meta's vision of the metaverse, the company went out of its way to discuss the idea of allowing third parties to create content. Additionally, Zuckerberg stressed that the metaverse wasn't just something built for VR headsets but that other devices, like smartphones, would play an important role in bringing folks into the virtual world.

What you need to know

• HTC is working on its first flagship smartphone in years, according to HTC's Vice President, Charles Huang.
• The company recently announced its own metaverse, coined Viverse.
• This flagship smartphone is said to incorporate Viverse into its apps in some form.

It's been a good number of years since we've seen a flagship smartphone from HTC, but it looks the company is back in the flagship business. What's more, this smartphone looks to incorporate HTC's own vision of the metaverse — dubbed Viverse — which is named after the company's HTC Vive VR division.

Charles Huang, vice president of HTC, told Digitimes (via GSMArena) that the company was working on a phone that will integrate certain "metaverse" functions. At MWC this year, HTC announced the Viverse, a collection of technologies that is incorporated into a wider metaverse concept and includes many open standards.

While it's not clear how HTC would incorporate Viverse into a new high-end Android phone, building AR and VR capabilities — collectively known as XR — into a smartphone is something that was more commonly done a few years ago. With the advent of successful standalone VR headsets like the Meta Quest 2, it's entirely possible that HTC could try to challenge Meta by using its own all-in-one solution by putting the smartphone back at the heart of the tech.

HTC was unwilling to comment further on details for this potential flagship phone, which Digitimes says could appear as soon as next month, but the official Viveverse announcement could clue us in on how HTC could once again make one of the best Android phones.

Viverse is a collection of apps and open technologies that HTC hopes will fit well into the wider metaverse conversation. The company is utilizing OpenXR to better integrate with XR hardware and services, and is even working with VRM models to ensure that players can import and use their existing virtual avatars within Viverse instead of having to build yet another avatar.

Since Viverse is designed to be a cohesive metaverse that can be accessed from multiple types of devices, having a smartphone that'll tap right into it natively could help HTC's adoption rates. Whether that means another blockchain phone or something else entirely, it's exciting to see the possibility of HTC jumping back into the premium smartphone space once again.

What you need to know

• HTC unveiled the Vive Wrist Tracker for its Vive Focus 3 standalone virtual reality headset at CES 2022.
• The new accessory can track hands, is much lighter than the Vive Focus 3 controller, and will be available for $129 in early 2022.
• HTC is also working with Lumen Technologies for private 5G and edge computing on the Vive Focus 3, and with XRHealth and MyndVR for therapeutic applications for the Vive Flow smart glasses.

HTC announced new accessories and features coming for its Vive Focus 3 at the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 today. The first new product is the Vive Wrist Tracker to be used with the standalone VR headset.

The Vive Wrist Tracker works similar to the Vive Focus 3 controller, but can provide more accurate tracking from the fingertips to the elbow while out of view of the headset's sensors. The company said it can used for activities where hands would frequently not be in front of the headset such as yoga, training scenarios, or location based gaming.

It is 85% smaller and 50% lighter at 63 grams than the controller with a detachable strap that can be cleaned or replaced. It also features one button pairing to sync wirelessly with the Vive Focus 3 and the USB-C charged battery supports up to four hours of constant use. The Vive Wrist Tracker will be launching first in the United States sometime in early 2022 for $129.

The Vive Focus 3 will also receive two new accessories with an advanced charging case and a charger for multiple batteries. The Vive Focus 3 Charging Case features a rigid shell design where users can easily stack multiple cases on top on one another and an auto-pairing feature that syncs a headset and controllers while plugged into the case. Meanwhile, the Vive Focus 3 Multi Battery Charger will support charging up to four Vive Focus 3 batteries simultaneously, since the all-in-one headset includes a swappable battery.

HTC announced that it had partnered with Lumen Technologies and launched a new application that provides a "portable, private 5G experience" for the Vive Focus 3. The app offers data rendering that can be done wirelessly through the cloud via Lumen's platform instead of wired to a computer or done on the headset itself.

The company is also working with extended reality and therapeutic application leader XRHealth on new virtual treatment rooms that include "physical therapy, occupational therapy, and pain management," and with MyndVR, a developer of VR solutions for older adults, on the MyndVR Originals therapy app that can help improve moods and reduce isolation. The app will be coming to the Vive Flow in early 2022.

HTC just isn't the heavy hitter in the mobile space that it used to be. Despite once making some of the best Android phones around, the company hasn't made much noise in recent years. However, its existing lineup is still worth looking into, especially now that many of its phones are available at a fraction of their original prices. Here are the best HTC phones you can grab right now.

Phones that hold up surprisingly well

HTC may not be the mobile giant it used to be, but that doesn't mean its phones aren't still good for die-hard fans and casual users alike. The U20 is the closest thing we've seen to a flagship in years, packing 5G support, relatively powerful specs, and a huge 5000mAh battery.

The U12+ was a decidedly more high-end option when it was released in 2018, though, and despite a somewhat rough launch with problematic buttons, it's still a capable phone — just be warned, the U12+ was never updated beyond Android 9 Pie.

If you're simply looking for the cheapest phone you can get, though, the Desire 20 Pro is a surprisingly good phone that's running newer Android 10 software at the expense of less powerful specs — though the newly announced Desire 21 Pro 5G is right around the corner, and could breathe some fresh life into HTC's lineup.

What you need to know

• The HTC Vive Flow are lightweight smart glasses that wirelessly connect to Android phones to stream content and apps.
• The new hardware focuses on meditation, brain training, business collaboration, and watching TV shows or movies than running demanding games or apps.
• Coming this November for $499 with preorders beginning today.

HTC announced the new Vive Flow smart glasses at the company's Go with the Flow event on Thursday after teasing the hardware with pictures of its carrying case last month. The Vive Flow is not a standalone virtual reality headset like the Oculus Quest 2, but a pair of immersive glasses that connect wirelessly to a 5G Android smartphone and can stream apps, TV shows, and movies with the phone used as a controller.

The device contains screens that support a 100-degree field of view, 3.2K resolution, and 75 Hz refresh rate alongside full 3D spatial audio which can also connect to external Bluetooth speakers. The lightweight glasses weigh at just 189 grams, or almost half a pound, with magnetic connections to swap out face gaskets and an active cooling system that pulls warm air away from the person's face.

The Vive Flow looks to be the realized vision of HTC's Project Proton concept showcased last year. Flow is focusing more on health and everyday use than dedicated VR experiences since the physical Vive controllers cannot be used with it.

"With Vive Flow, HTC is taking technology in a new direction, focusing not on what we do, but on how we feel. Maintaining our wellness has come to the forefront in the last few years, with so many millions feeling stressed every day, so it has never been more important to take time out to calm our minds, and Vive Flow provides the perfect opportunity to escape our four walls and immerse ourselves in our ideal ambiance," said Cher Wang, Chairwoman and CEO of HTC in a press release.

"Meditation, gentle stretches, brain training, streaming our favorite shows or even meeting friends or coworkers in VR with Vive Sync can all be enhanced by a device light and compact enough to fit in our pocket," she continued. "Vive Flow represents the next evolution of technology, as we take a more holistic view of how we can make life better."

HTC is also adding another Viveport subscription plan following the Vive Flow launch that gives unlimited access to apps that cover "well-being, brain training, productivity, light gaming, and exclusive content like a Lo-Fi room designed to look and feel like a cozy café" for $5.99 per month.

The HTC Vive Flow will cost $499 and be available for sale through the official Vive website and retailers sometime this November. Preorders start today and come with an official Vive Flow carrying case and "a gift bundle of seven pieces of content."

As more industries adopt cryptocurrency as a legitimate payment service, more mainstream smartphone companies are likely to incorporate technology that will make it easier for users to hold and trade crypto, experts say.

On May 13, Samsung announced that blockchain users will be able to manage and trade virtual assets from third-party wallets on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung said that users who hold crypto on select cold hardware wallets (like the Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X) will be able to import them into the Samsung Blockchain Wallet, which uses software that will let them manage their wallet. A crypto wallet is a device or app that allows users to store and retrieve their digital assets.

But Samsung isn't the first company to offer this type of service. In 2019, HTC launched the first "blockchain phone," called Exodus 1, which could only be purchased with crypto.

Unlike Samsung's Blockchain Wallet, the Exodus 1 has its own crypto wallet called Zion to make the phone function as a hardware crypto wallet. The phone has a secure area that uses technology (created by SoftBank's Arm Holdings) in the phone's chip that is kept separate from the phone's Android operating system.

Phil Chen, HTC's chief decentralized officer and general partner at Race Capital, said in an interview that the blockchain phone was "ahead of its time," and even if it were released in 2021, it likely would have had the same slow success rate as it did when it was initially launched.

He said its success rate would not have been high because people still do not understand the nuances that come with holding crypto in a wallet.

"I would still say 90 to 95% of people still don't own their private keys, they own them on exchanges. People are not educated about the importance and how critical it is for you to own your private keys," he said. "So no, in that sense, its (success) would have been about the same (as before)."

A crypto exchange is a platform that allows users to exchange real money for cryptocurrency, while private keys are stored in your crypto wallet and are used to help trade digital currencies.

Chen explained that the phone was created with the purpose of not only holding bitcoin and other digital assets but also holding your private information.

"The idea came and it was like 'hey, what if we had a wallet or hardware wallet built into the phone with the simple idea of protecting your private keys?" he said, adding that perhaps in two to three years time it's likely that more phones will incorporate technology similar to the type of service that Samsung is offering today.

Exodus 1 separates crypto wallet from the OS, this is not what Samsung offers

Because the Exodus 1's crypto wallet keeps information separate from the operating system, HTC would never have access to it. Chen explained that the purpose of this is so users had a place to store their personal information beyond digital currencieis that would not be exploited by big tech.

Chen however doesn't think mainstream companies like Apple or Google will adopt the type of technology on smartphones that turns it into a crypto wallet separating it from the operating system.

"If I'm a big company, and I'm going to surrender all your transactional data, your payment data, what you buy, that's a big thing to surrender to your consumer. Whereas your competitor is probably going after it, who is going to give that up?" he said.

"Maybe in the software. Apple would still have access to your keys or Google. Their main business model like Facebook is making money off of your data. There's no way they're going to do it."

The Exodus 1 and Exodus 1S were among the last phones HTC launched. The company has been in the phone-making business for 23 years, but in 2020 the company announced a shift in its priorities to VR gaming. It now sells a wider range of Vive-branded gear and VR software. The company is in direct competition with Facebook's Oculus Rift and Sony Playstation.

"We expect HTC to continue to launch new smartphones and 5G networking devices, but there will be no flagship smartphones," Eddie Han, senior industry analyst with the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute in Taipei, told Forbes. "This is because HTC is set to focus on emerging application services built around augmented reality, virtual reality, blockchain and artificial intelligence."

And while the company's strategy has been re-focused, analysts predicted that HTC would still produce smartphones but mostly ones that cost less. HTC announced in early 2021 a new cheap Android phone, called the HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G.

Smartphones should have a reliable space to store private keys

Alfred Lehar, an associate professor of finance at the University of Calgary, said that the Exodus would have done better if it were released today, noting that mainstream smartphones will eventually have the functionality to store crypto wallets in a more reliable way.

"It's more like a way to store the private keys that you would use to access wallets to store crypto. I don't think we need blockchain technology on phones itself, but I think we do need a reliable space to store these private keys going forward," he said.

Samsung's Blockchain Wallet is the type of service Lehar explained will become more popular.

"Whether we're going to use it or not is a different question, but I think technology-wise, this should be available within a few years and on most phones."

What you need to know

• HTC Vive Pro 2 is a PC VR headset, while HTC Vive Focus 3 is a standalone enterprise-grade VR headset.
• Vive Pro 2 sports a 5k 120Hz display, 120-degree FoV, high-res audio headphones, an IPD knob, and debuts on June 4 for $749 / €739 / £659.
• Vive Focus 3 is an enterprise-grade standalone headset powered by a Snapdragon XR2, dual-2.5k 90Hz displays, 120-degree FoV, inside-out tracking, new headset design, and new motion-tracked controllers debuting on June 27, 2021, for $1300 / €1180 / £1060.

HTC's long-awaited next-generation Vive VR headsets have just been announced, meeting expectations in some ways, and falling short in others. HTC has been teasing the announcements for what feels like months now, giving users hope that it was ready to take on Facebook head-on with an Oculus Quest 2 killer. Turns out, HTC isn't ready to tackle the consumer standalone VR segment just yet, but the company says that its latest enterprise-only standalone headset the HTC Vive Focus 3, is building the foundations for this exact plan. Meanwhile, the HTC Vive Pro 2 could very well edge out the Valve Index for best PC VR headset.

The Vive Focus 3 is laser-focused on the enterprise market, delivering dual 90Hz RGB stripe 2.5k LCD displays (that's 5k resolution total) and a super-wide 120-degree field-of-view (FoV). HTC specifically outlines that it's delivering fine-tuned IPD adjustment — a clear dig at the Oculus Quest 2's IPD adjustment of 3 preset positions — but stops short of giving the full IPD range offered. A new strap design features balanced weight distribution, is easily adjustable via a single wheel on the back, and even tucks away a quick-swap battery inside the back padding. All the padding can be easily removed and cleaned, as well, making it ideal for an enterprise environment.

HTC says changing out the pads and batteries only takes a few seconds thanks to their new design, and even the battery will quickly charge to 50% in only 30 minutes, with a handy LED indicator on the battery, making it easy to know how much juice the battery has left. The Vive Focus 3's magnesium alloy frame is said to be 20% lighter and 500% stronger than traditional plastics, which should combine nicely with that even weight distribution. Inside the strap is a pair of dual-driver speakers that are designed to deliver audio without touching ears, similar to what you'll find on the Quest line of headsets.

HTC is using a new AI-powered inside-out tracking algorithm for the Vive Focus 3, which will hopefully work a little better than what was used on the Vive Cosmos. The controllers have also been redesigned and feature a long handle for better ergonomics, as well as a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 15 hours on a single charge. HTC says they'll be updating the Vive Focus 3 with hand tracking in the near future. All this is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 — the same dedicated AR/VR chipset found in the Oculus Quest 2 — and HTC will be selling the Vive Focus 3 on June 27, 2021, for $1300 / €1180 / £1060 on its website.

HTC's recent partnership with iFixit looks like it might come in handy for the Vive Pro 2, which can be pre-ordered right now for $749 / €739 / £659. This partnership was an extremely consumer-friendly move, invoking the Right to Repair that several big tech companies have fought against over the years. Just as with the original Vive Pro, HTC is splitting its efforts between the enthusiast PC VR crowd and the enterprise market, creating a tethered headset that plugs into a DisplayPort 1.2 port on a PC.

Like the Vive Focus 3, the Vive Pro 2 features 5k resolution displays but follows more in the footsteps of Oculus by using a single 5k resolution display instead of dual displays. It's still got that quick-adjusting IPD dial on the side though, which is great for adjusting IPD without having to remove the headset. The big upgrades are the 120Hz refresh rate, as well as a new 120-degree field-of-view (FoV), as well as some brand new dual-stacked lenses. In addition to that, the speakers on the Vive Pro 2's ultra-comfortable head strap design — that's the same great headset HTC used on the HTC Vive Pro — have been upgraded, now delivering even better high-res audio straight to your ears without the need for an additional pair of cans.

HTC is selling the Vive Pro 2 by itself for existing PC VR gamers looking for a headset upgrade. As with anything in the SteamVR ecosystem, the Vive Pro 2 headset works with all existing SteamVR-compatible controllers — including the Valve Index knuckles controllers — all Vive tracker generations, and both SteamVR 1.0 and 2.0 base stations. The full kit retails for $1399 / €1399 / £1299 and includes SteamVR 2.0 base stations and two Vive controllers, and will be available on June 4 on its website.

What you need to know

• HTC Vive Air looks to be the company's first major consumer-focused standalone headset in a long time.
• The Vive Air is made of lightweight, breathable materials that are all removable and washable.
• The iF WORLD DESIGN award that revealed the headset says it's due for release in 2021 in North America, Europe, and Asia.

It's been a long time coming, but HTC might finally have a viable competitor to the Oculus Quest 2 if these leaks for an upcoming headset called the "HTC Vive Air" are anything to go by. Per Engadget, an *iF WORLD DESIGN GUIDE award appears to have been published ahead of an official announcement from HTC, making this a bit more official than many other types of leaks.

Per the design award, the HTC Vive Air is specifically designed for virtual fitness in mind. That means the headset is made of lightweight, breathable materials, and it looks like everything but the computing module in the front can be taken apart and washed. That would certainly make for a much more cleanly workout than what you'll currently get with the best Oculus Quest workout accessories. These fabrics are said to be quick-drying as well as breathable, which will also help keep players cool during intense workouts on apps like Supernatural.

Those components come apart via a quick-release system HTC developed specifically for the Vive Air, which is said to be in development for at least the last 25 months. Being lightweight will also help with immersion and help prolong use for fitness purposes, especially if the headset's apps implore users to go for full-body workouts. The design award only showcases photos without controllers, so there's no official word on how players will interact with virtual environments just yet. It's worth noting, though, that the camera optics on this headset appear to be larger and could feature a wider field of view than what's on the Oculus Quest 2, making it more viable for hand tracking.

The iF WORLD DESIGN award says the headset is launching in 2021, meaning we should be seeing an official announcement from HTC in the very near future. With HTC's annual VIVECON happening in just a few weeks on May 11 and 12, it's highly likely we'll be seeing more info at that time. Whether or not this headset is a full-featured console-like headset like the Quest isn't yet known, but if HTC builds its Netflix-like ecosystem, called Viveport Infinity, into the Vive Air, we could very well see an Xbox Game Pass-type excitement built for VR gamers in the coming future.

What you need to know

• HTC this week released the Desire 21 Pro 5G.
• It's a sleekly designed phone that features the company's first 90Hz display.
• HTC is selling this phone in Taiwan for the equivalent of $430.

HTC this week quietly released a new cheap Android phone, the HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G (via Engagdet). It's a sleek-looking phone that's firmly positioned in the midrange in both processor and pricing.

The Desire 21 Pro 5G is a competent looking phone that adopts all the tropes of the midrange genre. Externally, it has a lovely glass sandwich design with a punch-hole selfie camera making for an uninterrupted screen. There's a large 5,000 mAh battery, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a quad-camera layout with the 48MP wide, 8MP ultra-wide, and pair of 2MP cameras we're used to. Most notably for the company, it has a 6.7-inch FullHD+ display running at 90Hz. It's nothing special in a world where phones that run at 144Hz exist, but it's a first for HTC.

As the name implies, it does have 5G support courtesy of the Snapdragon 690. That chip's not as powerful as a 700 or 800-series processor obviously, but HTC's aiming this phone at an everyday audience. Paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, it should be fine for most people.

While your mileage may vary on the hardware, HTC's most annoying fumble here is releasing the handset on Android 10. It may not matter now, but it means someone buying this phone is unlikely to see Android 12, let alone 13. At a time when we're starting to hold onto phones much longer, it's a shame.

The HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G is going on sale In Taiwan for NT$11,990 which is roughly $430.

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

With a massive 6.7-inch AMOLED screen and a huge 4,500mAh battery, the Galaxy A71 5G plays to the midrange even better. It's also available globally and should be supported for years with security updates.

• $499 at Amazon

What you need to know

• HTC launched two new phones in Taiwan today.
• The U20 is its first 5G-enabled mid-ranger and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765G chipset.
• HTC Desire 20 Pro is a mid-range 4G phone with quad rear cameras and a 5,000mAh battery.

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC today unveiled its first 5G phone in Taiwan, dubbed the U20 5G. It also happens to be the company's first phone to come with a hole-punch display and a 48MP camera.

The HTC U20 5G is powered by Qualcomm's 7nm Snapdragon 765G chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. It has a massive 6.8-inch sized FHD+ display with a hole-punch cutout on the top-left corner, housing a 32MP selfie camera.

On the back of the phone is a quad-camera setup featuring a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. It also comes with a 5,000mAh battery supporting 18W fast charging, NFC, and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Along with the U20 5G, HTC also expanded its Desire lineup with the new Desire 20 Pro. The phone has a smaller 6.5-inch FHD+ display with a 25MP selfie camera and runs on the Snapdragon 665 chipset. Just like the U20 5G, the Desire 20 Pro packs a massive 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack as well. Both phones run Android 10 out of the box.

The HTC U20 5G has been priced at TWD 18,990 ($640) in Taiwan and will be available to pre-order in the country starting July 1. HTC Desire 20 Pro, on the other hand, is set to go on sale in Taiwan on June 18 for TWD 8,990 ($303). HTC hasn't announced any plans of launching the two phones outside Taiwan yet.

Best HTC Phones in 2020

What you need to know

• HTC's first phone in 2020 is the decidedly 2017 Wildfire R70.
• The phone's key selling points are its large waterdrop notch display and a triple camera set-up.
• Ultimately, its uncompetitive specs and outdated Micro-USB connector make this phone a headscratcher.

HTC has a new phone in 2020 built for an audience that really wishes it was 2017. At least, that's what you can infer from the inclusion on a Micro-USB port where other OEMs are moving to USB-C, the new standard.

The selling points of this phone seems to be its camera set-up and big screen. On the rear, HTC has equipped this with a triple camera set up: a main 16MP with two other 2MP cameras for capturing macro images and portrait shots. At the front, there's an 8MP fixed focus camera for selfies and video calling.

Screenwise, you'll find a 6.53 HD+ (not full HD+) water notch display. It's a large display, but the resolution will likely let it down. Backing up the rest of this phone, we get Android 9 Pie powered by 2GB of RAM and a MediaTek Helio P23 processor. There's also 32GB of internal storage, and a 4,000 mAh battery. HTC has yet to announce pricing and availability.

Overall, the phone is a solidly low-end phone. HTC launching a Micro-USB phone is the kind of decision that brought it to where it is today, on the cusp of irrelevancy. Shipping with Android 9 is just the moldy cherry on the out of date cake. It could probably win some buyers based on nostalgia and the brand name, but given that other Chinese OEMs have stronger offerings for low pricing, it's hard to think of a price-point where HTC's Wildfire will be competitive.

Best HTC Phones in 2020

What you need to know

• HTC's most recent financial report shows the company made $333 million in 2019.
• Compared to 2018, that's over a 50% drop and a massive 87% drop from 2017.
• HTC switched tactics last year, focusing on selling mid-range phones to India and pushing its Vive VR headsets.

HTC was once one of the most prominent Android handset makers around. In the past, it pioneered some of the best hardware in the mobile space by innovating — creating phones with stereo front-facing speakers and metal unibodies.

Unfortunately, HTC's revenue has been in a steady decline since 2011, and 2019 isn't looking any better for the company. According to its most recent financial disclosure, HTC earned $333 million in 2019. That's over a 50% drop from 2018 where it posted $789 million in profits, and a massive decline from the $2 billion it earned in 2017, right before Google acquired a massive portion of HTC's mobile hardware division.

To help put that into perspective, Bloomberg columnist Tim Culpan points out that Apple now makes more selling Airpods in two weeks than HTC makes in an entire year. When speaking to TechCrunch last year, HTC CEO Yves Maitre addressed the company's decline in the mobile market, citing that it had stopped innovating with smartphone hardware because it was investing in virtual reality.

Currently, HTC sells a line of VR headsets under the Vive branding but has yet to disclose how many units it has sold. When it comes to the smartphone market, the company has switched tactics and is focusing on selling mid-range phones to India, the second-largest smartphone market in the world.

At this time, HTC still hasn't posted its results for the last quarter in 2019 which just ended in December. However, all signs point to it being another drop in profit for the once-popular and profitable Taiwanese smartphone maker.

Best HTC Phones in 2019

What you need to know

• HTC has stopped selling its phones in the UK due to an ongoing patent dispute with IPCom.
• All HTC products on the company's online store are listed as "out of stock" currently.
• Amazon, however, is yet to pull HTC phones from sale in the UK.

Struggling Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has temporarily stopped selling phones via its online store in the UK over a patent dispute with IPCom, an R&D company based in Munich. HTC had apparently agreed to resolve the issue by agreeing to only sell models with a workaround in the UK. As per the BBC, however, IPCom has alleged that HTC did not implement any workaround and failed to "play by the rules."

Responding to the allegations, an HTC spokeswoman said:

While Carphone Warehouse, O2, and EE had stopped selling HTC phones, you could pick them up from Amazon and HTC's own online store. All HTC phones on the company's online store are now listed as "out of stock". Amazon, however, is still selling them in the UK. The only HTC product that continues to be widely available in the country is the 5G home hub router, which does not infringe any of IPCom's patents.

HTC was found to have infringed IPCom's patent 100A by a UK court in 2012. The patent is related to controlling how UMTS mobile devices gain initial access to a network. Even though HTC had agreed that it will not sell smartphones in the UK without using a workaround, IPCom discovered that the suggested workaround had not been implemented by HTC after it tested a Desire 12 in its R&D lab. The R&D company has also found Xiaomi's Mi Mix 3 to be in infringement of the same patent, so it remains to be seen as to how this affects Xiaomi.

Best HTC Phones in 2019

At MWC 2019, Sprint announced that it's officially turning on its 5G network for commercial use in select cities across the U.S. in May.

In addition to the LG V50 and Galaxy S10 G5, another device that'll spearhead Sprint's 5G efforts is the HTC 5G Hub.

Also coming to Telstra, Three UK, Deutsche Telekom, Sunrise, and Elisa carriers outside the U.S., the HTC 5G Hub is a Frankenstein device that essentially combines a 5G router, smart display, and battery pack into one device.

Starting first with its 5G capabilities, the HTC 5G Hub can connect up to 20 devices at once and deliver 5G data to them. The 5-inch 1280 x 720 touchscreen display showcases information such as the signal strength, current download and upload speeds, and how many devices are connected.

The Hub is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 processor and running Android 9 Pie, and because of that, it also pulls double duty as a smart display of sorts. You'll be able to perform voice commands with it, stream video from apps like Netflix, play "Android and PC games", and at a later date, stream VR content from the Hub to HTC's Vive Focus headest.

On top of all that, the 5G Hub also comes with a 7,660 mAh battery so that you can take it with you wherever you want, you can plug your phone into it and have the Hub act as a battery pack, or connect the Hub to your TV to view its interface on a larger display.

There's currently no word as to how much the HTC 5G Hub will cost, but we do know that it's launching at some point in Q2 of this year.

Huawei Mate X first look: Three screen modes, four cameras and five Gs for €2299

HTC doesn't have the same big presence in the smartphone market the way it once did, but as we head into 2019, the company apparently has a few different plans to make sure next year is as successful as can be.

Speaking with DigiTimes, HTC President Darren Chen said that the company will be focusing on flagship and mid-range phones in 2019, specifically releasing a flagship device that improves upon the U12+'s formula and likely playing it safe as well with its mid-range devices. It's noted that sales for the 128GB variant of the U12 Life that was released earlier this year have been "robust."

HTC's other smartphone focus next year will be on its recent efforts with blockchain devices. 2018 saw the initial release of the HTC Exodus 1, which Chen says has already been sold out. Furthermore, DigiTimes reports that HTC is, "mapping new strategy and business model for further promotion of blockchain smartphones."

Seeing as how this year saw HTC reporting its lowest revenue numbers since 2003, we can only hope that 2019 works out better for the company.

Best HTC Phones in 2018

A little over five months since the phone was first announced, HTC is now opening pre-orders for the Exodus — it's mysterious new smartphone that's powered by blockchain.

Per a press release that went out today, HTC describes the Exodus as follows:

The back of the phone looks a lot like the HTC U12 from earlier in the year, featuring dual rear cameras, a fingerprint sensor, and a transparent back that showcases some of the phone's internals.

Pre-orders are available through HTC's Early Access Program, and if you want to pick up an Exodus for yourself, it'll cost you either 0.15 BTC or 4.78 ETH. In the true spirit of the blockchain, you can only purchase the Exodus using either Bitcoin or Ethereum. In USD, that comes out to around $950.

Shipments are expected go out sometime in December.

See at HTC

HTC may not be that well-known in the U.S., but if you ever take some time to look at what the company's kicking out, you'll see that it knows how to make an excellent phone. There's a reason it was chosen to create the first-ever Android device, after all!

HTC's last two flagships, the 10 and U11, were both top-notch phones that flew under the radar for a lot of people. The same will likely be the case for the U12+, and should you decide to pick it up, this is what you can expect.

The latest HTC U12+ news

August 17, 2018 — Flame Red U12+ now up for pre-order in the U.S. and Canada

Since its launch, the U12+ has been available in two colors in the U.S. and Canada — Translucent Blue and Ceramic Black. Now, customers in both countries can pre-order the drop-dead gorgeous Flame Red color.

Pre-orders are live right now, and as usual, the phone will set you back $799 and $1,099 for the United States and Canada, respectively.

See at HTC

July 24, 2018 — The U12+'s buttons are getting fixed

The HTC U12 is receiving an update in Europe, a few weeks after the same one was released in parts of Asia, to fix the unreliable volume and power buttons on the phone's frame. These buttons were largely the reason the phone was lambasted in our review, and a primary purchase concern for many people.

According to AC's Alex Dobie, who has been using the phone over the past few weeks, the buttons are "noticeably improved." There's no word when the update will hit U.S. units, but we'll keep an eye out for it.

We'll be updating our review soon, but in the meantime, take a gander at what else it can do.

All the big details

Read and watch our review!

The HTC U12+, when it was released, was a beautiful, feature-rich phone with one major drawback: its capacitive buttons were bad. And that's being generous.

But in the vein of other 2018 flagships, the phone had other benefits, including one of the best cameras on the market.

Now that there's an update to fix the phone's button problems, we'll be re-evaluating our review, but in the meantime, read up on the phone.

HTC U12+ review: Buttonless blunder

Take a gander at the specs

The U12+ is HTC's flagship phone for 2018, and as such, it's equipped with some of the best tech around.

Between the blazing-fast Snapdragon 845, an impressive set of dual cameras, IP68 dust/water resistance, and a large 3,500 mAh battery, the U12+ has everything you could ask for in a 2018 flagship.

HTC U12+ specifications: Dual cameras, BoomSound, Edge Sense 2 for $800

HTC's got three colors to choose from

If you like to make sure your phone stands out from the crowd, HTC's got you covered with the U12+.

The phone's available in three colors, including Ceramic Black, Flame Red, and Translucent Blue.

Ceramic Black is the most subdued of the trio, looking more gray than anything else. However, if you want something that really sticks out, the color-changing Flame Red and see-through Translucent Blue will be right up your alley.

There's no wireless charging despite the glass back

You might think the U12+ supports wireless charging thanks to its glass back, but similar to the OnePlus 6, wireless charging is nowhere to be seen.

Thankfully, HTC does offer Qualcomm QuickCharge 4.0 to help you refuel the U12+ in no time at all. We certainly would have liked to see wireless charging make an appearance, but c'est la vie.

A word on the U12+'s "buttons"

The power button and volume rocker on smartphones haven't really changed that much over the years, but for whatever reason, HTC decided to shake things up by removing physical buttons altogether and replace them with button-shaped nobs that don't actually move at all.

Similar to the Force Touch trackpad on Apple's recent MacBooks and the home button on the iPhone 7 and 8 series, putting force on the U12+'s "buttons" will trigger a vibration through the phone and perform the desired action — such as turning the screen off or changing the volume.

HTC says they made the change to help with the phone's IP68 rating, but we came away less than impressed with their performance during our hands-on preview. Thankfully, there's an update to fix some of the buttons' most glaring problems.

How does the U12+ stack up against the competition?

In a bubble, the HTC U12+ would easily be the best phone you could buy. However, the Android space is anything but.

We've seen a lot of excellent smartphones so far this year, and with prices creeping up all the time, it's important you spend your money wisely on something that's going to serve your needs as best as possible.

Here are the most recent phones we've put against the U12+:

• HTC U12+ vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?
• HTC U12+ vs. LG G7 ThinQ: Which should you buy?

Edge Sense is more powerful and customizable than ever before

The U11 was the first gadget to tout HTC Edge Sense, allowing you to squeeze the phone to open apps, take pictures, and more.

That functionality makes a return on the U12+ in the form of Edge Sense 2, and as the name suggests, lets you do even more than you could on the U11.

Most notably, Edge Sense 2 allows you to trigger certain actions with other gestures instead of hard squeezes, such as light taps. On the U12+, you can double-tap the left or right side of the phone to shrink the UI down to a one-handed mode. Double-tap the right, the screen goes to the right. Double-tap the left, it goes to the left. That might not sound very impressive, but it should prove to be incredibly useful in day-to-day use.

Something else we're excited about is a sub-feature of Edge Sense 2 called "Smart Rotate." The sides of the phone can detect how you're holding it, meaning that even if auto-rotate is on, the screen won't flip horizontally by accident. If you've ever been frustrated by your phone's UI flipping all over the place while trying to use it while you lie in bed, the U12+ just solved that problem once and for all.

The U12+ is expensive

There's a lot to like about what HTC's done with the U12+, but one aspect you may not be too keen about is the price.

If you'd like to own the U12+, you'll need to cough up a hefty $799 in the U.S. for the model with 64GB storage. Want more room with 128GB? Get ready to pay $849.

HTC does offer 0% interest financing through its website to stretch that price over the course of 24 months, but even so, this is a phone that's going to put a big dent in your wallet.

See at HTC

To make matters worse, you can't buy it on any U.S. carrier

The U12+ is being sold through HTC's own website in the States, but that's it. Unlike phones from Samsung, LG, and just about everyone else, you won't find this thing in your local carrier store.

HTC fans or people that want the U12+ bad enough will be able to purchase it just fine, but that lacking carrier support means HTC isn't getting the U12+ in front of eyes of potential customers that may not even know the phone exists.

Speaking of carriers, the U12+ works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon

On the plus side, folks that purchase the U12+ shouldn't have any trouble getting it to work on the carrier of their choice.

The U12+ is compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and any MVNO that uses those carrier's networks (such as Cricket Wireless, MetroPCS, etc.)

There's no support for Sprint, however, so Big Yellow subscribers are going to have to sit this one out.

Updated July 2018: This guide has been updated to reflect an important update for the U12's buttons.

HTC recently published its official earnings report for Q2 2018, and to not much surprise, things aren't looking too hot for the Tawainese company.

During this past July, HTC saw just NT $ 1.4 billion in total sales. While that may sound like a big figure, it's down 37.23% from June's sales and 77.41% lower compared to July 2017 numbers.

In other words, HTC just had its weakest month since August of 2003.

Disappointing sales throughout the first seven months of 2018 has resulted in a 53.98% decrease in revenue compared to this time last year, and as such, HTC's reported total net losses of NT $2.09 billion, However, thanks to capital gains and completing the USD $1.1 billion sale of 2,000 employees from its smartphone division to Google, HTC still saw a net profit of NT $19 billion.

If you've been following HTC's business performance for the past few weeks, you'll know that these numbers aren't surprising in the slightest.

The last earnings report prior to this saw June sales decreasing by 62%, and according to at least one source, HTC is in talks to completely exit the Indian market due to stiff competition from the likes of Xiaomi and Vivo.

HTC U12+ review: They fixed the buttons! [Updated]

HTC's struggles over the last four years are well documented. The business has declined sharply, the cadence of product releases has slowed, and while the phones themselves have continued to be pretty good they haven't garnered the public's attention on the scale necessary to run a massive international smartphone business. For some reason, this article on AppleInsider seems to think that Google's Nexus and Pixel phones are to blame for HTC's demise. Oh, and they also "gutted" Motorola. And by the way, they're bad products that nobody wants and are ruining the Android ecosystem one company at a time.

Okay, none of that is actually true. Take a deep breath and let me explain.

The primary assertion of the article is that a) HTC is failing as a business and b) it's been a partner with Google multiple times so c) HTC's failures are the cause of Google's partnerships for Nexuses and Pixels. It's the time-honored tradition of confusing correlation with causation. Yes, HTC is failing as a business. And yes again, it has partnered with Google many times to launch products. But that in no way means that the two are linked.

The article's primary evidence for this assertion that Google killed HTC is that Google purchased Motorola, released two Moto X phones that didn't do too well, and then sold it. This is, quite clearly, a completely different situation. Partnerships for individual phone releases is far and away different from purchasing a company outright — not to mention that one of the core reasons for purchasing Motorola in the first place was its staff and patent portfolio. And since selling the company, Motorola has done surprisingly well in the low- and mid-range segments across the world. Yes it's not the Motorola of old, but times change — and you simply can't argue that Motorola died (well, because it didn't) because of this "what if" thought process of the acquisition. This isn't relevant to the Google-HTC situation at all, actually.

Now let's cover the HTC situation. When it comes to Android, HTC was there from the very beginning. Google's first Android phone, the Sooner, was made by HTC. The second Android phone (though it was the first commercially-available one) was the Dream, also known as the G1, made by HTC. Google's first self-branded phone, the Nexus One, was made by ... you guessed it, HTC. In 2010 when the Nexus One came out, HTC's business was built on the back of Windows Phone — an OS that was well on its way to being a dead end. HTC's life ring was moving to making Android phones — its business would never have reached the heights that it did if it hadn't partnered with Google to get in on the ground floor of making Android phones.

From 2010 to 2014, HTC was synonymous with Android — and it was because of Google, not in spite of it. After the Nexus One, HTC launched a strong set of Desire phones, partnered with Verizon for successful Droid-branded phones and was a major influence in the Android world with the One line of flagships. HTC hadn't partnered with Google for a phone since 2010 (the Nexus 9 tablet was forgettable no matter who made it), yet it was able to build its business to its highest peak over the next four years.

But it didn't last. We remarked back in February 2016, some 8 months before the first HTC-made Google Pixel was announced, that HTC was having a tough time standing out from the competition. At that point, we were "almost two years removed from the last great HTC phone, the One M8" — indeed, HTC had started its downward trend in 2014. Well before the Pixel partnership was even put in place, and once again well after HTC and Google had last partnered for a phone. HTC had both risen to its highest level and also started its downturn in the time between the two Google phone partnerships.

Google seemed to be well aware that HTC was not doing well. But for some reason this article seems to make that case that Google is under some sort of obligation to make sure HTC doesn't go out of business. Despite the fact that Google is indeed under no such obligation, it has over the last couple of years invested heavily in HTC — first by contracting the company build the Pixel, Pixel XL and Pixel 2, then by investing over $1 billion in HTC directly by acquiring much of its engineering staff. It's easily arguable that without the massive influx of cash from Google for manufacturing these three Pixel phones that HTC would already be dead — the company's position was that bad in 2016 when it started making Pixels.

So what about the other Nexus and Pixel partners? By this flawed logic that Google kills its partners, Samsung and LG should be dead as well. Google partnered with Samsung for the Nexus S in 2010 and the Galaxy Nexus in 2011 — which subsequently kicked off Samsung's dominance of the Android market from the Galaxy S II onward, forming the iPhone's biggest competitor worldwide. Google partnered with LG for four different devices: the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 5X and Pixel 2 XL. The Nexus 4 kicked off a six-year partnership between the companies that still stands today — and LG itself isn't doing particularly bad. Sure it isn't Samsung, but it's also a massive leap above where HTC is right now.

Interestingly, the whole point of the article seems to be to simply spike the ball and point to the fact that the Pixel phones aren't as wildly popular or big as the iPhone. What it fails to recognize is that there's a very large middle ground between "unsuccessful product line" and "Apple iPhone" — in fact, it's the entire smartphone market, because no single smartphone has been as popular as the iPhone. The two generations of Pixels have yet to be massive retail successes, that's pretty clear. But they, and the Nexuses that came before them, have not been complete failures — particularly if you understand that the goal of Nexus phones was to lend a hand to Android manufacturers, not sell in large numbers. Their lack of retail success has in no way contributed to the death or misfortune of any of the companies that made them. Shockingly, this nuance has been lost on AppleInsider.

HTC plans to release the Exodus this October, and it will be the world's first blockchain phone. We know the project is spearheaded by Phil Chen, the genius behind the HTC Vive, and that blockchain means the phone will have something to do with cryptocurrencies like BitCoin. That's not a lot of information and it fails to answer the two biggest questions: What exactly is a blockchain phone and how does all this work?

There's a lot of "informed speculation" going on around the HTC Exodus. HTC isn't saying much because they need to surprise us come October, and it's hard to know exactly what the company means when they say blockchain phone and describe their vision around it. But we do know what blockchain technology is and how it could be used in a phone.

What is the blockchain?

Don and Alex Tapscott, the authors of Blockchain Revolution say:

The keywords here are incorruptible digital ledger because that's what the blockchain is at its core.

A blockchain is an encrypted and shared database that's spread across more than one computing device. This means that every person with access can modify that ledger without waiting for someone else to finish any edits. There are complicated algorithms in place to keep duplicate entries out based on the actual time they were created or changed, so the database updates and every client gets the changes and they are always in sync. A blockchain is considered to be secure not because the database is encrypted, but because there is no single "master" copy to edit or corrupt — the blockchain database on your computer is considered to be as valid as the database on any other computer.

With potentially millions of computers hosting the blockchain database, it's also available to the public and verifiable by anyone who has the need and means to verify it. Remember, no matter where the blockchain is accessed, it has the same data because of the software behind it that reconciles any and all entries every 10 minutes. This makes a blockchain a great way to host decentralized data for cryptocurrency. Anyone can access the chain and use software like a currency wallet to spend and manage their alternative currency. Nobody can hack into the chain because there is no master copy to hack.

As mentioned, the data is reconciled every 10 minutes. Every change to the data is accounted for, duplicate entries are sorted and separated by the actual time of the transaction, and every copy on every computer is updated. These changes or transactions are called blocks. The group of computers that host the data are called nodes and they form the chain.

The most important thing you need to know when you see anyone talking about the blockchain is:

• A blockchain is transparent and the data is available to anyone who has software that needs to access it.
• There is no master copy and as long as enough computers host the data, there would never be a computer powerful enough to find every copy and corrupt it.
• Any change to the data (such as a BitCoin transaction) happens through a validation system that apps like a coin wallet can interact with. Every node in the chain validates each transaction to ensure that it's valid.
• A blockchain keeps a record of every transaction (change to a data point) and each transaction holds information about where it originated.

This is why blockchain technology is the right way to keep records for cryptocurrency. It's decentralized — no person or group can manipulate it — and each node acts as an administrator so no single part of the chain can go "rogue" and foul things up. But there are other potential uses for a blockchain. Things like landholder records and title deeds could use a blockchain, or a complete stock market could be built using a blockchain and any middleman such as a broker would become unnecessary. Any type of database that has individual records that need to be assigned to an individual identity could use blockchain technology. Because a blockchain uses public/private encryption key pairing, each transaction is secure and easy to identify.

How will you use blockchain in a phone?

You can already make your phone act as a node in a chain through digital wallets for cryptocurrency, like the Coinbase app.

But let's face it — getting "in to" something like BitCoin or Ethereum is not easy for the beginner. HTC could change that dynamic by including a robust wallet in the phone with a user interface that's friendly and walks you through the process of investing in and using digital currency for everyday transactions. The company also mentions "Trusted Hardware" on the Exodus website so it's possible that there will be an extra layer of security to keep your identity safe as well as your digital wallet.

But it sounds like HTC has a higher set of goals in mind. There's talk of decentralized data for applications and secure on-device storage for your personal information instead of using the cloud. Seeing how HTC plans to secure data in a system that's open to the public, such as a blockchain, is going to be interesting is this is the case.

Depending on just what HTC plans to use blockchain technology to do there is also a chance that the company will have found a new and unique marketing angle — HTC is also a set of nodes in any chain and has unique access to your shared data and can offer a system similar to what Google does, where you're profiled and targeted when it comes to advertisements.

All of this is speculation. It's almost certain that the HTC Exodus will be a gateway into cryptocurrency use and include user-facing (and possibly unique developer options) apps and utilities to connect to large clearing houses like Coinbase. Past that, we;ll just have to wait until October and find out. I'm certainly interested in checking out the first blockchain phone, and I'm sure plenty of us feel the same.

If you're an HTC fan but aren't quite sold on the new U12+, now might be the time to pick up last year's U11 or U11+.

Right now in the United Kingdom, HTC's offering 10% off the U11 and U11+ for all customers — bringing prices down to £359.10 and £539.10, respectively.

That's not a terrible deal, but if you sign up for the free HTC Club, you can score an additional 10% off on top of that to bring your total savings to 20%. Under that scenario, you'd only spend £323.19 for the U11 and £485.19 for the U11+.

The U11 at that price is a pretty good offer, but if you're in the market for a bigger phone, we'd still recommend looking beyond the U11+. While it's a good handset, the newer OnePlus 6 costs just a few pounds more at £519.

If you're interested in either the U11 or U11+, HTC says its 10% offer for all customers will be good until supplies last.

See at HTC

This past May, HTC confirmed it was working on a new phone by the name of "Exodus." Rather than release another typical Android handset, Exodus is a smartphone that's powered by blockchain. Today, July 11, HTC announced it's opening up early access for Exodus during Q3 this year.

Per an HTC press release:

To help make Exodus a reality, HTC is partnering with Cryptokitties, Animoca, and Bitmark. HTC says its partnership with Cryptokitties "is the beginning of a nonfungible, collectible marketplace and crypto gaming app store."

By working with Animoca (the distributor of Cryptokitties) and Bitmark ("the crypto-based digital ownership project"), HTC will be able to further its advancements into the crypto world.

As someone who's not very invested in blockchain, none of this means that much to me. However, if this is a niche you find yourself getting excited about, are you interested in what HTC's trying to do with its Exodus project? Do you plan on signing up for the early access program? Sound off in the comments below.

HTC U12+ review: Buttonless blunder

When it rains, it pours for HTC. Early in the morning on July 2, 2018, the company revealed that it was laying off 1,500 employees.

All of those 1,500 people (around 22% of HTC's entire workforce) come from HTC's manufacturing division in Taiwan, and HTC says that it made the decision as part of its ongoing quest to become profitable once again.

An event like this would be bad enough on its own, but if you've been following HTC for the past few months, you'll know that all of 2018 has been a rough one for the once-great Android giant.

In mid-February, HTC's mobile president announced he was leaving to pursue a "personal career plan." Just a few days after that, it was reported that HTC had laid off up to 100 of its U.S.-based employees as part of the decision to merge the smartphone and VR divisions together under one umbrella.

As for the products HTC's been kicking out, it's been a mixed bag. The U12+ has the makings of a great Android phone, but the pressure-sensitive "buttons" that the phone uses results in an irritating user experience more times than not. The Vive Pro is undoubtedly one of the most powerful VR headsets you can buy right now, but at $799 for just the headset and none of the other required accessories, it's an incredibly tough purchase. Also, what the heck's going on with the blockchain phone?

HTC's not totally out for the count quite yet, but this most recent move sure doesn't leave a lot of hope for the company's future.

What do you think is going to happen to HTC?

HTC U12+ review: Buttonless blunder

It's no secret at this point that HTC's seen better days. The company knows how to make a solid smartphone, but consecutive quarterly losses and the departure of its mobile president has resulted in some pretty rough waters. In an attempt to turn the ship around, HTC has announced that it's creating a...blockchain smartphone.

According to The Next Web, HTC's blockchain phone will be called Exodus and is scheduled for a release at some point in October. Exodus will come equipped with its own universal wallet for managing various cryptocurrencies and special technology will allow it to run all sorts of decentralized apps.

Furthermore, all Exodus phones will also act as nodes to manage cryptocurrency trading that takes place through HTC's own blockchain network.

Phil Chen, (the creator of HTC's Vive headset) who will be leading the Exodus project, says –

HTC's yet to announce pricing for its Exodus phone, but when it does go on sale, customers will be able to purchase it using, you guessed it, cryptocurrency.

There's no doubt that HTC's trying something different compared to most other Android OEMs with Exodus, but I'm not sure this is the product that'll revitalize the company's mobile business. Cryptocurrency is an incredibly niche and volatile technology, and basing an entire phone around it seems like something only diehard blockchain enthusiasts will take to.

What do you think about Exodus?

A few days before Google unveiled the Pixel 2 at its October hardware event, it was announced that the company would be spending $1.1 billion to acquire around 2,000 HTC employees to beef up its hardware division. A little over four months since this deal was announced, Google's confirmed that it's been completed.

Google worked closely with HTC's hardware talent during the development of both the first-gen Pixel and Pixel 2, but now that they're officially working under the Google umbrella, the result should (hopefully) be even better hardware design and reliability than what we've seen from the past two years.

The employees that are joining Google are the same ones that helped HTC launch the first 3G-capable phone in 2005, the first smartphone that used a touchscreen as the primary input in 2007, and the first phone made entirely out of a metal unibody in 2013 (the HTC One M7).

The hardware improvements that Google made from the Pixel to Pixel 2 are awfully impressive, and while it's too early to truly speculate about what the Pixel 3 will offer, the completion of the HTC deal can only benefit the development of the phone.

Lastly, Google also says that the acquisition will allow it to expand operations further into Asia – specifically using Taiwan as a "key innovation and engineering hub" and Taipei now becoming Google's biggest engineering site in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Galaxy S9 will be great, but I'm waiting for Google's Pixel 3

CES 2018 is finally coming to a close, and now that we're done with all the announcements coming out of the show floor, it's time to dive right back into everyone's favorite topic – smartphone leaks. Evan Blass recently took to Twitter to shed some light on HTC's latest handset, the U11 EYEs, and for the most part, it seems like a fairly solid phone.

The front of the U11 EYEs is home to a 6-inch 1080 x 2160 Super LCD3 display, and above this is where you'll find its "eyes." Two front-facing cameras are found to the right of the earpiece for phone calls, and while specifics on these two sensors haven't been announced, they'll likely offer some sort of selfie portrait mode like we've seen on other devices.

There's a single camera on the back of the phone, USB Type-C should offer fast and easy charging, and the addition of IP67 dust/water resistance is always great to see. Edge Sense makes a return for all of you that love squeezing your phones, and packed inside is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652, 4GB RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, and a 3,930 mAh battery.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment with the U11 EYEs is that it'll ship with Android Nougat. We'd expect a fast update to Oreo from HTC shortly after the phone's release, but it just seems incredibly odd to release a phone in early 2018 that's still running Nougat.

The HTC U11 EYEs will be available in black, silver, and red on January 15 for a rumored price of around $510 USD.

This bundle on Amazon includes the HTC Vive, the Deluxe Audio Strap, and a $100 Amazon gift card all for $599. The HTC Vive alone is $599 at most retailers, including Best Buy and Amazon. So you're essentially getting the audio strap, which retails for $100 by itself, and the gift card for free.

The HTC Vive is one of the most popular virtual reality systems out there. The games you play will track the movement of your headset and the controllers you hold, giving you a full body virtual reality experience.

The Deluxe Audio Strap is designed to give you 360-degree realistic sound while still being comfortable and convenient. You'll even be able to adjust the padding with a dial to get it just right.

See on Amazon

We're currently in the best time of year for buying new tech thanks to the numerous savings and promotions that are being run in preparation for the holiday season, and one of the latest companies to follow suit with this is HTC. However, the savings being offered are on a phone you might have forgotten about.

The HTC Bolt was released just about a year ago, and it was one of the most peculiar phones of 2016. It featured a great, metal build, respectable cameras, and shipped with Android Nougat. On the other hand, it also came equipped with a heap of Sprint bloatware, lacked a headphone jack, and used a processor from 2015 (the Snapdragon 810 to be exact).

Of all the issues with the HTC Bolt, one of the biggest was with its price of $600. HTC has since lowered that to $500, but if you buy the phone right now and use the coupon code BOLT200 at checkout, you'll be able to pick it up for just $200.

$200 is a lot more reasonable than $600 or $500, but even so, make sure to shop around a bit before hopping right on this deal. Devices like the Moto G5S Plus can be purchased for as little as $240 right now, and for $40 extra you're getting a newer processor, dual-cameras, better chance of being updated to Oreo, and compatibility on all major carriers in the U.S.

With that said, if you're an HTC fanatic and the Bolt sounds like the phone for you, you can check it out at the link below.

See at HTC

Alex Dobie takes center stage this week as he, Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Jerry Hildenbrand talk about Alex's hands-on experience with some recently announced devices, the Razer Phone and HTC’s U11+.

Razer’s maiden voyage into the smartphone market is targeted towards gamers. With a unique 120Hz display, 8GB of RAM, and a huge 4,000mAh battery, it offers an opportunity for high frame rates on a mobile device. But can the Android gaming experience really take advantage of its potential? And how satisfactory of a phone is it in other respects?

The HTC U11+ has a lot going for it from a hardware perspective. On the software side of things, it includes Android Oreo and HTC Sense. But there’s a catch—HTC currently has no launch plans for the U.S., and there are no British carriers for it in the UK. In a market with so many excellent, readily available phones, how can this dark horse contender gain any mindshare with consumers?

Show Notes and Links:

• Razer Phone hands-on preview
• Razer Phone: Everything you need to know
• Razer Phone specs
• HTC U11+ hands-on preview
• HTC U11+ specs
• HTC U11 Life review
• The HTC U11+ started life as a Google Pixel 2 XL project — kind of

As bezels get thinner and cameras get better, prices of today's smartphones also get higher. Monthly payments when buying a phone through a carrier help to make these rising costs more manageable, but if you want to purchase a phone unlocked and directly through the manufacturer, these options sometimes aren't available. HTC is revamping its own financing program today under the new name of "HTC Financing", and it doesn't sound half-bad.

HTC is partnering with TD Bank to make the program possible, and the biggest draw here is that you can purchase a new phone for $0 down. You'll need to buy a phone that costs $599 or more in order to use HTC Financing, and at the time of publication, the only one on HTC's website that qualifies for this is the U11.

If you buy a 64GB U11 with HTC Financing, you'll pay $0 down and then $28/month for 24 months. You can pick up the 128GB model for the same $0 down, but your monthly rate will be increased to $31/month for 24 months. HTC Financing is available on the unlocked U11 and all of the carrier versions (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon), and better yet, there's a 0% APR no matter which variant you choose.

HTC Financing admittedly sounds like a great deal for those that want to pick up a U11 without handing over $649 or $729 upfront, and with the U11 Plus right around the corner, the timing for its release is just right. You could certainly pick up a U11 using HTC Financing right now if you wanted to, but seeing as how the Plus will be announced on November 2, we'd advise being patient for a few more days to see what it has to offer.

See at HTC

Update: HTC's head of PR, Jeff Gordon, noted to me on Twitter that "future production runs will include the headphone adapter in the box." Good to know!

The HTC Bolt is a pretty great phone, but the Sprint exclusive has one pretty major omission — one increasingly common these days — in the lack of a headphone jack. Worse, unlike the iPhone 7 and Moto Z, two other phones lacking in that ubiquitous circular port, the Bolt doesn't come with a headphone adapter in the box.

Thankfully, HTC has seen the error in its ways and is offering a free USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter to all Bolt owners through its rewards website. Just head over to the site, enter your purchase date, transaction number and phone's MEID, and you'll receive an adapter in the mail within a few weeks.

While it's not quite as good as getting one in the box, we're glad HTC understands the needs of its customers. In the meantime, the headphones included in the box are pretty good!

The offer is available to U.S. citizens only, and the Bolt's purchase date must be between now and January 31, 2017. The adapter offer then expires on February 28, 2017, which will come more quickly than you think.

As rumored, HTC today took the wraps off the HTC 10 Evo, a global version of the Sprint-branded Bolt. Aside from some branding changes, this is the same phone we recently reviewed, with a questionable assortment of hardware: HTC 10-style metal unibody, a bigger 5.5-inch screen, water resistance, USB-C audio only (#donglelife) and a nearly two-year-old Snapdragon 810 processor, with 3GB of RAM. There's also a big focus on audio in general, with the bundled Type-C cans debuting HTC's BoomSound Adaptive Audio.

At least the software is bang up-to-date, with the latest Android 7.0 Nougat preloaded along with HTC's Sense interface.

Here's what Florence Ion had to say in her review of the HTC 10 Evo's American cousin:

The HTC 10 Evo will launch in Europe this month, but there's no word of any carrier partnerships or SIM-free price just yet. To the latter point, the current £500 unlocked price of the higher-specced HTC 10 (not to mention competitively priced rivals like the OnePlus 3T3 could make things tricky for HTC. For what it's worth, the Bolt's $600 cost would place it around the same price point as the HTC 10 in the UK, if prices were converted over directly.

More: HTC Bolt review

The Bolt doesn't necessarily swing for the fences with all of the top-end specs, but rather has a mixture of the latest line items along with some (somewhat puzzling) last-gen components. The biggest head scratcher is the older Snapdragon 810 processor and just 3GB of RAM, which both fall short of the modern standard for late 2016. On the other end you get a great, big, high-resolution display, high-end camera specs and IP57 water resistance, together with BoomSound speakers and extra audio tuning through the USB-C port.

Here's the complete spec sheet for the HTC Bolt.

HTC has been decoupling its apps for some time, and the vendor is now sending out invitations for beta testers to try out Sense 8 Home — the launcher on the HTC 10 — on non-HTC phones. The requirements for the closed beta include a non-HTC Android phone that's running Android 4.4 KitKat and above.

Here's one such email forwarded to us by a reader:

With Freestyle layouts and a Material Design look and feel, HTC's Sense Home 8 offers an interface that's similar to vanilla Android, while providing a lot of customization options. It'll certainly be interesting to see if HTC actually manages to offer its stock launcher on non-HTC hardware, as it is one of the best-looking interfaces from a mainstream vendor.

What do you guys be interested in installing HTC's stock launcher on a phone by a different vendor? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks Andrew and Timothy!

Peter Chou, who was HTC's CEO through its dramatic rise and fall in the smartphone world, has departed the company. An HTC spokesperson provided Android Central with the following statement:

So that's that. Chairwoman Cher Wang took over the top job at HTC after Chou's departure, after which he briefly headed up HTC's Future Development Lab in a more product-focused role. Late last year he took up a new leadership role at Digital Domain, the visual effects studio co-founded by director James Cameron.

Since then, despite HTC's expansion into VR and connected devices, and the arrival of the critically praised HTC 10, the phone maker's financial position has remained precarious.

HTC is currently offering a few nice deals for Father's Day. Customers can get their hands on some discounted accessories, and in one case, they could get a free headset or pair of headphones with the purchase of an HTC 10.

Right now, you can get a free Jabra headset of your choice or a pair of HTC Pro Studio headphones while supplies last. You can also get discounts on two of the fitness accessories developed by HTC and Under Armour. The UA HealthBox, normally $400, is right now priced at $350. The UA Band is available for $160, down from its usual $180.

These offers are only available through Sunday, June 19, so you'll need to act this week in order to take advantage of them.

HTC is looking for the best selfies around and if they pick yours, you might just win an HTC 10. The company is asking U.S. residents to send in their best selfies for use in an upcoming video, and will be sending an HTC 10 to a lucky participant.

From HTC on Twitter:

If you head over to HTC's submission site, you'll find the criteria for entry. You'll need an interesting background, and you'll have to center yourself in the photo. HTC will be taking submissions until June 10, so be sure to get your entry in while you can.

When HTC first announced the HTC 10, we learned that the traditional audio setup we saw with the last few high-end models was gone. With a new external speaker configuration and a promise of better audio tweaks for listening through both the speakers and with headphones, we weren't quite sure what to expect. I've got some really good news — the new BoomSound is the best BoomSound. And I don't mean just the outside speaker configuration.

The HTC 10 speakers

The HTC 10 uses a new speaker configuration where a full range speaker is placed at the top of the phone (where the earpiece is positioned) and a bottom firing speaker for lower frequency sounds. This means things aren't as loud as previous models that had two front-facing speakers, but the tone is better balanced and has more separation. It's the same idea as putting a subwoofer behind the couch or under your desk while having full-range speakers pointed towards your ears.

HTC gives you two software modes for BoomSound when using the built-in speakers — Music mode and Theater mode. These do a decent job of emulating 2.1 channel and 5.1 channel audio, and flipping between the two you can hear the "spatial" difference. Theater mode sounds like you're using three other speakers placed around you, firing from different angles, while Music mode is more of a straight blast out of the front of the phone. In both modes, the bottom-firing speaker isn't a problem and you'll need to physically block the speaker port to muffle it.

Let's be clear here — I still think music played through tiny electronic speakers with no travel and a very limited cabinet still sounds horrible. But the new BoomSound is far less horrible than the distorted loud sounds that came from phones like the M9 with two full range front-facing speakers. A good part of this is because the volume is more limited and has better adjustment, and the system itself responds very well to tone and equalizer adjustments from your music player. The speakers also do a pretty good job while watching video, because the separating makes dialog and speech sound more clear.

If you liked the BoomSound speakers on HTC's prior phones, you'll probably like the new BoomSound speaker setup even more. I certainly do.

Headphone audio

I was very skeptical of HTC's claims of excellent headphone audio on the HTC 10. Not only was I surprised at the results of both audio benchmarking and listening, but I found out my skepticism (as well as most everyone else with the same concerns) was unfounded.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 does a lot of things right, but clear audio isn't one of those things. Something in the digital to analog converter circuit introduces an extreme amount of noise and crosstalk into the analog output, and phones like the U.S. Galaxy S7 and LG G5 sound pretty poor because of this. After doing some testing, I was presented with results that just didn't make sense from the HTC 10 — it was better than it should be, even with extra work and attention to the analog circuit that brings signal from the DAC output to the headphone jack. You can only do so much magic to a bad signal. I asked HTC how they did it, and found out that some assumptions about the HTC 10 audio hardware that the internet (and myself) has are incorrect. The HTC 10 uses a stand-alone DAC as well as headphone amp and isn't using the Snapdragon 820 DAC. This is pretty important, and why the HTC 10 sounds as good as it does.

So much for relying on the internet. That's a mistake I won't make again.

Needless to say, the results of my benchmark testing with the HTC 10 are pretty damn outstanding.

Let's explain what you're seeing here for those folks who aren't doing audio benchmarks. The first column is the testing parameter. The second column is the audio equipment I'm using to benchmark the HTC 10 — the equipment itself will inject it's own noise and distortion into the software, and knowing how much and where is important. The third column is the result from the HTC 10, and the fourth column tells you how the numbers should look. Also, remember that -100 is a lower number and further from zero than -90 or nothing here is going to make sense.

It's worth noting that my testing equipment shows as "perfect" in some tests, but that only means the software used isn't able to find the flaws. Hooked up to a scope or more sensitive (and expensive) audio testing hardware, it would show a much different picture. What's important is that it is better than the devices being tested.

For folks who would like to perform their own audio hardware benchmarking or talk about the equipment used we can discuss that in the forums. It's pretty fun, but a bit more complicated than something I'd want to write in a blog post.

The ultimate Android phone audio benchmarking thread

I can make it easy for those who aren't quite sure what words like crosstalk or harmonic distortion mean — the HTC 10 audio hardware scores as good or better than the LG G5 with the B&O HiFi audio module installed, and there is little discernible difference when compared to the LG V10 — a product that most agree offers some of the best audio hardware available in a phone. On the hardware side, the HTC 10 will satisfy almost anyone, and the RightMark Audio Analyzer studio gives every category an "excellent" rating. So do I.

Listening tests

Benchmarking audio hardware is just like benchmarking any other hardware — it only tells part of the story, and often does even that poorly. As an example, the HTC M9 spat out numbers better than the HTC M8, but most audio nerds would say the opposite was true and the M8 had a much better sound. What's important is how it actually sounds through your favorite headphones. (Spoiler: it sounds good. Damn good)

I installed PowerAmp, loaded some of my favorite HQ FLAC files (24-bit/48kHz or higher) and used my favorite mobile headphones — the Sony MDR-7506 studio model. I then kicked back and played some music for a bit while the wife and dogs were out having fun. As expected, the results were great.

Part of the equation here is what happens the first time you plug a pair of headphones in. The HTC 10 allows you to set a personal audio profile, and let's you do it by actually listening to reference tones if you like. You start the calibration, adjust things until you hear the sounds (both low and high frequency) then save it. You can choose this audio profile in tandem with HTC's Dolby effects, or choose one or the other. I choose my own profile but didn't apply the Dolby effects.

Of course, you can also do this with your own reference tones and an equalizer, and maybe get even better results if you know what you're doing and don't mind spending the time doing it. But the way HTC does it is simple and still very effective — especially if you want to use "flat" sounding headphones and adjust things to your liking by hand. Which I do. After setting things up, I made sure any eq and tone adjustments in PowerAmp were shut off and just listened.

All the music I tested — old "classic" Country and Western, heavy Rock and Metal, Classical and golden age tunes from Sinatra and the like as well as remastered songs from the '70s sounded great. Music sounded clear, with little to no distortion even at the highest levels, background noise was almost non-existent and the separation (hearing each tone and frequency without them blending together) was really nice. Even testing with a self-generated 30 seconds of silence or a track with quiet single instrument portions has no hiss or noise to drive me crazy. It's not perfect audio, but that's something I've never been able to experience from a handheld player (or any home audio equipment I can afford to buy). I'm sure someone out there can find fault with it, but in my experience it's every bit as good a music player as the V10.

If you're thinking about buying an HTC 10 and great audio is on your short list of must have features, you're good to go. If you already have an HTC 10, go ahead and snag a good pair of headphones and fill your SD card with some hi-res music files — you'll like what you hear.

HTC's latest earnings figures continue to illustrate the manufacturer's downfall in recent years. The Taiwanese vendor posted an overall revenue of NT$14.8 billion ($463 million), a drastic 64% decrease from the NT$41.52 billion ($1.3 billion) it managed in Q1 2015. Operating loss for the quarter was at NT$4.8 billion ($150 million), a far cry from the NT$360 million ($11.6 million) profit recorded during the same period last year.

The manufacturer is now looking to the HTC 10 as well as the Vive to boost sales heading into Q2, with both products not accounted for in the first quarter earnings. Chairwoman and CEO Cher Wang said that HTC will continue to streamline and optimize:

HTC is betting big on virtual reality, and has invested $100 million to boost the VR content ecosystem.

HTC is reportedly building a pair of Nexus products in partnership with Google, likely for release later this year. The devices are said to be built around Android N, and according to noted leaker Evan Blass, the devices have the codenames M1 and S1.

Apart from that, there's not much to say about these supposed devices. Previous rumors also point to HTC creating the 2016 Nexus phone (or phones), we as we've previously pointed out, getting into the Nexus game might be a smart move for HTC to make.