HTC has a lot to prove in 2016, and the company needs a strong flagship Android phone to do it. Rumors are gathering around the HTC 10, the long-awaited successor to the One M9. Now that the official launch date has been set for April 12, we’re closer than ever to seeing the new flagship. In the meantime, you can catch up on all the rumors and news here in our roundup.
Updated on 03-30-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in a leaked benchmark test revealing possible HTC 10 specs
Release date and price
HTC’s unveiling of its upcoming flagship may be right around the corner, but that hasn’t stopped a Romanian online retailer from jumping the gun.
QuickMobile listed the device as available for pre-order at 3300 Romanian Leu, which is about $831, or 739 Euros. That could easily change, and it’s important to keep in mind that we cannot verify this information from QuickMobile. Do note that the device is called, “HTC One 4G LTE M10” — it could be that HTC has stuck with its naming convention, and the M10 will follow the M9, but we’ll have to wait until the announcement on April 12 to confirm both the name and the price.
HTC sent out a tweet on March 22, teasing the launch of a new flagship. The teaser said to check HTC’s website on that date at 8 a.m. EST.
See what we’re obsessed about on April 12 on https://t.co/NMJMew9UvA. #powerof10 pic.twitter.com/J3ZFCALvUx
— HTC (@htc) March 22, 2016
What will it look like?
QuickMobile also has some images up on its site for the pre-order of HTC’s upcoming flagship, which you should take with a grain of salt as we can’t confirm it. The renders have “@upleaks” on them, which leads us to believe that QuickMobile may not have the most accurate, and up-to-date information from HTC. The images, however, do match almost every other leaked image we have come across.
The Romanian website lists the devices as available in gold, black, and silver, though the silver variant looks almost the exact same as the gold. For a better look at the purported silver version, take a look at the previously leaked images below.
These images come from a French tech site, Nowhereelse.fr, who received them from a Chinese sales platform called Taobao. The images are fairly high-quality, and offer a glimpse of what appears to be the HTC 10 from almost all angles.
The images show us a black and silver variant of HTC’s latest device, and although we can’t verify these particular images as real, the sheer number of identical leaks makes it seem as though the HTC 10 will indeed look like the device in these shots.
We got another glimpse of the phone earlier from Twitter, courtesy of @stagueve, with two HTC phones alongside each other. Both appear to be identical, and the tweet uses the #HTC10 hashtag, just in case there’s any doubt that’s what’s being leaked. The design is in-line with other leaks. There’s a metal body shell, dramatically chamfered edges, a large HTC logo, and a top-center camera lens.
#HTC #HTC10 pic.twitter.com/dnaw41zIFa
— Steve Hemmerstoffer (@stagueve) March 28, 2016
Before this, Twitter user @tanalibera also posted images of a reported HTC 10. They show the rear and front of the handset, and would seem to confirm many of the specifications that have been so far rumored: thick chamfered edges, sloping rear casing, and a large camera with dual flash. Perhaps most notably, the photos show two capacitive buttons: a back button and multitasking button.
Earlier in March, famous leaker @OnLeaks revealed a few more live pictures of what could be the HTC 10. The image of the back clearly shows the same chamfer on the back edge we have seen before.
We also get our first look at the bottom of the device, which is quite interesting. The presence of a speaker calls into doubt whether the HTC 10 will be as sonically impressive as past HTC phones. It also appears that HTC will switch to USB Type-C for the phone’s charging port.
OnLeaks did say these images are of a prototype so there could be differences in the final product.
Also in early March, Evan Blass leaked new press images of the front, back, top, bottom, and left side of the device. These images seem to confirm what the above live photos show. However, it’s our first look at the microphone jack at the top and either a SIM tray or MicroSD card slot on the left side.
HTC gave us an official glimpse of its next flagship with a teaser image it sent to media outlets in late February. Teaser images usually leave a lot to the imagination, and this one is no exception. However, it does show a chamfer on the back side, which is very similar to an earlier leaked image (see below).
The only other information HTC provides is the tagline, “Power of 10,” which seems to indicate that it could be called the One M10. It’s also possible that the “Power of 10” could be referring to a Windows 10 phone, but that’s unlikely.
You’ll also notice the hashtag #powerof10, which probably means that HTC will used it a lot in social media posts leading up the event.
A leaked image from mid-February shows a closeup of the upper backside. The image first appeared on Chinese site Weibo, but was pulled shortly thereafter. Thankfully, we were able to capture it from Techtastic.
The phone in the picture appears to feature an all-metal body with HTC’s familiar antenna lines. Other than the obvious camera lens, we see what looks like a dual-LED flash to the right of it along with a laser autofocus just below. The microphone jack is at the top center.
The edges of the phone are what we find most interesting. They sport a unique chamfer on the back side — something we have not seen before on an HTC One phone.
Unfortunately we have no idea if this phone is an older prototype or something completely made up.
In early February, a tweet from @evleaks gave us what could be the first glimpse of the phone itself. There’s not much to go on regarding the design, because it’s viewed from the front rather than the rear. The curvy shoulders and what may be a gold-colored chassis are evident, along with plastic antenna lines in the body, and a large camera lens next to the speaker.
Left: HTC One M10 leaked by @evleaks. Right: An HTC One A9
To illustrate the similarity between the phone which may be the One M10 and the existing One A9, we’ve put the two images beside each other above. The overall shape is certainly reminiscent. However, the leaked picture isn’t official, and the design may not be that of the final product.
Another hint came from @evleaks on Twitter in late January, who stated that, “If you like the A9, you’ll love the M10.” This suggests he has been provided with unofficial information on the phone’s design, and that it’s similar to the already announced — and very sleek — HTC One A9. That’s good news, if you like your HTC phones to look like an iPhone.
No Boomsound speakers?
Do you like your HTC phones loud? There’s a question mark hanging over the presence of Boomsound on the HTC 10. According to VentureBeat, BoomSound — the high-fidelity audio software driving stereo speakers on many HTC devices — is reportedly absent.
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However, HTC has dropped a hint that Boomsound, or something like it, will be a feature on the new phone. Tweeting from the official account, HTC said, “Here comes the new boom. You’ll hear it.” This came with an image saying Audio 10 with outlines of HTC’s well-known speaker grill design, plus several unidentified cutouts that may match the speaker grill on the base of the phone, spotted in leaks of the phone’s chassis.
Here comes the new boom. You’ll hear it. #powerof10 pic.twitter.com/Ln3XxWZ9BO
— HTC (@htc) March 23, 2016
Does this mean Boomsound will be included? Maybe, or it may also be news of a redesigned audio feature. HTC seems to be reinventing various aspects of the new phone, and Boomsound may be one.
Two models?
The HTC 10 may come in different versions, according to various leaks. In late March, a rumor appeared on the MyDrivers website that a lower-spec HTC 10 phone may launch in certain regions around the world. We’re told to expect an HTC 10 with a Snapdragon 652 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal memory, a step down from the Snapdragon 820-powered flagship also expected.
While “Lite” versions of top-end phones are common, the rumor states the price may not reflect the lowered specs of this mystery model, putting an approximately $585 price tag on the mid-range phone.
Prior to this, in late January, a tweet from @LlabTooFeR — a recurring name in the HTC 2016 flagship leaks — also stated two versions of the next HTC flagship phone may be released. In Europe and the U.S., a model with a Snapdragon 820 processor is most likely, while in China and Asia, a version using an unnamed MediaTek chip is possible. The tweet doesn’t mention a source for the rumor, outside of the Twitter account itself, so this may be no more than personal speculation.
Processor and specs
Expect the HTC 10 to pack plenty of power, at least, that’s the impression we get from the leaks. The latest is another set of benchmark test results, which presents an extensive potential spec list. It states the screen may measure 5.1-inches and have a 1440p resolution, and the Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM may provide the power.
Elsewhere, the camera’s listed as 11-megapixels on the rear, and 5-megapixels on the front, while Android 6.0.1 is installed. These details align with other leaks. Specs taken from QuickMobile’s listing of the device match, suggesting it has a Snapdragon 820 processor, a 5.15-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440, and 4GB of RAM.
A recent image posted online purportedly shows the front of the device, with AnTuTu Benchmark results.
The benchmarks put it higher than most of the other flagships available today — including the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and the iPhone 6S. Of course, benchmarks don’t always represent real-life usage, so we’ll have to wait and see if this data holds up. Still, the image is an unverified leak, so take it with a grain of salt.
The front of the phone seems to match up with previously leaked images and renders, with the same exact button on the bottom and rounded edges. It also looks as the the glass rounds out into the frame of the phone.
A previous leak in early March seems to confirm previous rumors. Famous leaker @OnLeaks knows of a particular HTC 10 prototype that features a 5.15-inch Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440p) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, Adreno 530 GPU, 4GB RAM, and a 12-megapixel rear camera. However, there is one more spec not mentioned in the past, and that is the presence of a USB Type-C port.
HTC’s One M10 is expected to be a high-spec flagship phone, and most rumors certainly point in that direction. In recent years, HTC has been one of the few phone makers that hasn’t increased the screen size on its flagship phone significantly. Earlier reports hinted at a 5.1-inch screen, but a tweet from an unknown leaker in early February suggests we may see a 5.2-inch screen on the M10.
HTC Perfume is going to have 5.2” WQHD screen instead of reported earlier 5.1” screen ;)
— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) February 8, 2016
According to an extensive VentureBeat report in late January, the Perfume’s specifications are of the high-end variety. It reportedly sports a 1,440 x 2,560 QHD AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor paired with an Adreno 530 graphics chip, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage expandable via MicroSD. The handset may pack impressive optics, too, opting for HTC’s proprietary, laser-assisted UltraPixel tech over the M9’s off-the-shelf sensor. Both the 12-megapixel rear shooter and front-facing camera apparently feature optical image stabilization.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor has been linked with all three different leaked HTC codenames, alongside 4GB of RAM, and the return of BoomSound speakers. It’s also possible that many of the other headlining specs from the O2, M10, and X9 rumors will be retained on the HTC Perfume.
These include from the X9 leak, talk of a 5-inch display with 2K resolution, while the O2 and M10 rumors mentioned a 6-inch, 2K display. Recent leaks have made the X9 seem less like a flagship however, with a TENAA filing showing a 5-inch 1080p display and 2GB of RAM.
Dual cameras
QuickMobile’s listing shows the device will have a 12-megapixel camera, with nothing specific attributed to the front-facing one, except optical image stabilization.
HTC recently dropped a tweet to further tease us about its upcoming smartphone’s camera. The company posted a picture with the text “Cameras” and the number 10 written as an exponent. The image is of two cameras, though one of them is cut off, and accompanying the image is the tweet, which says, “World First, World Class, Front and Back. You’ll see. #powerof10.”
World First, World Class, Front and Back. You’ll see. #powerof10 pic.twitter.com/qN9HN6OP5i
— HTC (@htc) March 15, 2016
It’s unclear what “world first” means, but it looks like the phone will have quality sensors for the camera on the front and the back. The image shows two cameras next to each other, so perhaps the device could even have dual cameras on the front and back of the device. “World first” could mean the cameras on both sides may feature OIS, but again, this is speculation based on HTC’s tweet. We’ll have to wait until launch day for confirmation.
HTC has also been known for its Ultrapixel cameras, even though they haven’t always produced the best photos. It’s not clear whether the next major HTC phone will continue with the Ultrapixel tradition, or if HTC will try something new. At the beginning of March, Techtastic.nl published a camera image sample that according to the EXIF data, was shot with the HTC 10. If it’s genuine and the data accurate, the 10’s camera will have an f/1.9 aperture, lower than previous HTC One phones, but still not quite up there with the Galaxy S7’s f/1.7 aperture or the LG G5’s f/1.8 aperture.
Previous leaks from people like @LlabTooFeR show that the HTC 10 will feature a Sony IMX377 12-megapixel camera at the rear. It will sport 1.55um (micrometers pixels), laser autofocus, and phase detection autofocus (PDAF). The front-facer will be a Samsung s5k4e6 5-megapixel lens.
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If correct, the rear camera appears to be the same sensor found on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, so it’s not clear why it would be considered an Ultrapixel lens. Furthermore, previous HTC One phones with Ultrapixel tech sported much larger 2.0 micrometers pixels. However the key here will be the sensor size, which is likely to be 1/2.3-inches. If so, it would be much larger than the 1.3-inch sensors found on past HTC One phones. The larger the sensor, the more light it can absorb.
The one spec that was left out of the leak was optical image stabilization (OIS). HTC doesn’t have a good track record in utilizing OIS, so it’s very likely the HTC 10 won’t have it. However, one XDA user reports that OIS is confirmed in the ROM.
Regardless, HTC seems very confident about the camera the device is set to come fitted with. At the recent Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, HTC chief financial officer, Chialin Chang said (via Cnet): “We can confidently say that HTC will have a very, very compelling camera experience. We’re making this comment after we’ve seen what’s going on in the market.”
Mr Chang went on to say that he hoped the release of the HTC 10 saw a better response for its camera than its predecessor, the M9, which was noted for its poor camera — despite the smartphone’s overall strong design.
What will it be called?
In early March, famous leaker Evan Blass said the name of HTC’s next flagship will be called HTC 10. This is a completely different direction for the company since its most recent flagships had the “One” and “M” naming scheme.
You heard it here first:
"HTC 10"
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) March 4, 2016
Although this name hasn’t been confirmed by HTC, it’s doesn’t seem all that crazy. The company’s first teaser for the phone was titled, “Power of 10,” so it’s obvious there will be a big emphasis on the number “10.”
A report in early February from Portuguese website, 4gnews.pt, indicated HTC’s next flagship won’t be called the One M10. Unfortunately the source didn’t say what the expected name will be, but it did say that “One” will be part of it. The codename of “Perfume” remains a possibility as well.
Closing in on the end of January, a tweet from @evleaks showed a partially redacted document with the codename Perfume listed alongside the model number HTC2PS650. The document also mentioned ‘ATT,’ indicating the phone may be destined for the AT&T network following its release. The accompanying tweet said, simply, “It’s ALIVE.”
It’s ALIVE pic.twitter.com/J8zLLKh6zo
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 25, 2016
A previous tweet from @evleaks, which mentioned the phone’s design, referred to the device as the M10. While not official, this could mean HTC will continue its unusual, but now familiar, naming strategy for its first 2016 flagship phone. The most recent camera leaks, and data found hidden on the HTC website, reference a phone named the M10.
There is quite a collection of possible names for HTC’s next flagship. The Perfume code name was late to the party, but has seemingly stuck. Before that, the phone was referred to as the O2, the M10, and the X9. All these names were attached to rumored devices apparently running high-end specs. It was the often reliable leaker @LlabTooFeR who posted a tweet in early December 2015 claiming the O2 flagship was dead, and HTC Perfume is the new 2016 flagship. HTC Perfume is an internal code name, and according to the leaker’s report in December 2015, the commercial name will be different.
We’ll keep you updated on the HTC 10 rumors right here, so check back often.
Previous updates:
Updated on 03/29/2016 by Julian Chokkattu: Added information from a Romanian online retailer’s listing for the HTC 10.
Updated on 03-28-2016 by Julian Chokkattu: Added in new leaked images.
Updated on 03-28-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in new image leak, news of a Snapdragon 652-powered model, hints of Boomsound speakers, and another release date rumor.
Updated on 03/24/16 by Julian Chokkattu: Added in a newly leaked image with benchmarks.
Updated on 03-22-2016 by Malarie Gokey: Added tweet from HTC saying the new flagship will arrive on April 12. The teaser says to check HTC’s website on that day at 8 a.m. EST.
Updated on 03-15-2016 by Julian Chokkattu: Added in a tweet from HTC teasing dual cameras on the front and back of the HTC 10.
Updated on 03-10-2016 by Kyle Wiggers: Added in leaked photos of a purported prototype
Updated on 03-06-2016 by Lulu Chang: Added in April 19 rumored launch date
Updated on 03-04-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in rumored HTC 10 name, as well as new leaked images and specs.
Updated on 03-01-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added leaked camera sample said to be from the M10, complete with EXIF data
Updated on 02-29-2016 by Jon Martindale: Added new camera details.
Updated on 02-25-2016 by Robert Nazarian: Added in HTC’s first teaser image.
Updated on 02-23-2016 by Robert Nazarian: Added in a leaked image of what could be the back side of the HTC One M10.
Updated on 02-11-2016 by Robert Nazarian: Added in rumors of Ultrapixel cameras and U.S. retail availability.
Updated on 02-10-2016 by Robert Nazarian: Added in rumored April 11 launch date and that it might not be referred to as the M10.
Updated on 02-09-2016 by Malarie Gokey: Added rumor of a 5.2-inch screen size with a WQHD resolution.
Updated on 02-08-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added leaked picture of a phone said to be the HTC One M10
Updated on 01-28-2016 by Kyle Wiggers: Added rumors of a 12-megapixel camera and QHD AMOLED display.
Updated on 01-26-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in news the M10 name may be used, and that the phone may share the HTC One A9’s design.
Updated on 01-21-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in news of two possible Perfume versions, using different processors