EXCLUSIVE: No HTC U13 in 2019, expect ‘something else’
With all the Samsung Galaxy S10 rumors floating around these days, you might be wondering what other smartphone makers are planning for 2019. Rumors and speculation regarding HTC’s next device have started spreading with quite a few HTC fans hoping the next HTC device will feature a full-screen display (we hope they skip the notch) the next stage of HTC’s “buttonless” design language that we saw on the U12+, VR/AR integration to complement the HTC Vive and of course the inclusion of Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8150.
What we know about HTC’s 2019 plans
Rumors are thin at the moment with HTC keeping their cards close to their chest, HTC will probably not release the HTC U13 in the spring. Instead, we should expect to see a mid-range device that would echo earlier year’s release schedules.
While we do not have any additional details at this time, our sources did hint at “something else” from HTC later in the year. There’s no indication as to what this “something else” actually is, but HTC has the chance here to completely re-group and start with a fresh plan moving forward in mobile.
Our take on this new information
Rather than continuing to compete with “the big boy,” HTC may change its focus to concentrate on the core network of fans and die-hard users. What we’re actually going to see in 2019 is anybody’s guess, but with recent industry introductions of hidden cameras, in-screen fingerprint readers and button-less design (U12+), perhaps we should start preparing for something similar to the HTC Ocean that was accidentally teased nearly 2 years ago.
One thing is clear, HTC needs to stop what it’s been doing and hit the reset button in 2019.
A few things you might not know if you are new to the HTC conversation.
- Long before HTC decided to go it alone, it manufactured devices for other companies, who then sold them under their own names. The list of early products it made includes the HP iPAQ Pocket PC and the Palm Treo 650.
- The HTC Wallaby, the first phone HTC ever made, was sold under many pseudonyms including – O2 XDA, T-Mobile MDA, Dopod 686, Siemens SX56, and Qtek 1010.
- HTC, until recently still made devices for other companies from time to time. These include Google’s Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Nexus One.
- HTC was the first company to add a customized skin on top of Android. Called “Sense” it debuted in 2009 on the HTC Hero. Almost every manufacturer has followed HTC’s example since then.
- HTC reached its peak in the Q3 of 2011. According to reports, the company was the biggest smartphone maker in the U.S. with nearly 25% of the mobile phone market. Shipping around 5.7 million devices in the period, 800,000 more than Samsung in second place. Apple came in third with sales of 4.6 million units.
https://twitter.com/darrenmillar/status/1063481783776354305
With less than 2 months to 2019 and less than 6 months until spring we can only imagine what is happening on the famous 16th floor of HTC’s HQ in Taiwan. Oh to be a fly on the pristine white marble walls. I’ll likely be attending MWC in Barcelona next year, I’ll meet up with my sources an see what’s coming, in the meantime, I’ll keep an ear to the ground. Here’s hoping HTC can turn it around in 2019 maybe they’ll even bring back some metal body variants.