HTC is all set to launch its upgraded flagship “HTC One” smartphone. The newer version will have a larger screen, better software and more camera features.
The original HTC One received good reviews and was named the best smartphone of 2013 at the wireless industry’s premier trade show in Barcelona, Spain
Online orders start Tuesday, while most retail stores will get them by April 10. The new phone, officially the HTC One (M8), will cost about $200 to $250 with a two-year service contract, or about $650 without a contract.
Ben Wood, chief of research at telecoms analyst firm CCS Insight, said the new phone is a “make or break device” for HTC.
“While HTC still has a mountain to climb as it tries to recover its position in the smartphone market, early indications are encouraging,” Wood wrote. “However, there is no room for complacency.”
The new One will have a screen measuring 5 inches diagonally, up from 4.7 inches in last year’s model. It will help software improvements designed to anticipate your needs, such as offering lunch recommendations when it’s time for lunch. That will come through HTC’s hub for personalized content, known as BlinkFeed.
Like the original model, the new HTC One has a 4 megapixel rear camera, which is low for high-end smartphones. The front camera, for taking selfies, however, boasts 5 megapixels, compared to the 2.1 megapixels of its predecessor. .
