HTC once, as a company, was considered as a synonym to the word quality. From a lively developer community, due to their infamous bootloader unlocking options to its uh-oh damage protection, everything seemed to going its way but the funny thing about the tech world is that nothing seems to be set in stone.
HTC’s sales plummeted massively due to the presence of upstarts like OnePlus and Huawei capturing the mid segment with Samsung and Google Pixel starving it of recognition in the high-end price bracket. Even it seems that the company’s best offering, HTC 10 massively undersold as company recorded its seventh consecutive quarterly loss — with rumors circulating that they might drop their cheap mobile phones altogether.
Fortunately, HTC hopes to change their fate with the release of HTC U Ultra, a reminder to our readers that this year HTC won’t be releasing another iteration of HTC 10 but will instead be going with the HTC Ultra lineup.
Talking about HTC U Ultra, the device in its ‘Brilliant Black’ color got listed today, up for preorder in Slovakia, at Alza e-retailer. The pre-orders were only briefly available as the site currently shows the device to be out of stock when trying to purchase it.
The HTC U Ultra ticks all the right boxes with a 5.7” QHD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 with 4GB RAM, and 64GB internal memory with expandable storage up to 2 TB. The device also includes a 12MP rear mounted camera. Interestingly, the front camera can switch out between a 16MP shooter and an Ultrapixel 2 type of shooter, which in theory, is four times more sensitive than normal Mega-pixel mode.
The device also includes a USB Type-C port and a rather gimmicky ‘second- screen/dual-display’ thing. Feeling that even a 5.7-inch screen isn’t enough for you? Want some contacts on the top of your device even though you could call them as easily? There you go. Also missing are the bottom dual speakers which is a disappointment for the audiophiles. Talking about disappointments, the device is also missing a headphone jack.
What you make of HTC’s marketing strategies and their naming schemes is entirely up to you, but one thing seems certain, in times of uncertainties and revolutions, HTC needs to bring something special to the plate and removing basic ‘features’ like headphone jack is not what we mean. Reminiscing about the past and holding on to it is one of the reason why the device maker is struggling right now. Unless HTC steps up and actually listens to the people, the manufacturer is headed for a hard fall.
