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UPDATE: 08/15/12: Check out our predictions about HTC’s Android 4.1 update strategy

UPDATE 02/09/12: The official HTC Android 4.0 update list now includes three more phones with the first updates being scheduled for delivery in March.

UPDATE 11/7/11: HTC has announced its first wave of phones that will receive the Android 4.0 update. Did you phone make the cut?

Here at HTC Source we like to write about all the new phones that HTC is working on.  There’s nothing more exciting than hearing about a rumored device for the very first time or watching those first hands-on videos of HTC’s devices right after they are unveiled.  The problem for us and most of our readers is that we already own HTC handsets or tablets and can’t afford to upgrade to the latest and greatest device every few months.

While it may not be as sexy or exciting, the news that really affects current handset owners typically revolves around system updated which can add new functionality to our devices. There’s no doubt that most of you have already seen all the amazing things that Google has packed into its latest Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update. We wish that HTC could bring the latest update to all of their Android powered phones, but that’s simply not the case.

HTC announced last week that they want to bring Ice Cream Sandwich to as many handsets as possible, but we know that quite a few devices will be left behind due to their hardware limitations or low sales numbers.  So what phones will be updated to Android 4.0? HTC isn’t quite ready to release that information, but we’ve done a little research of our own and have come up with a few different categories that we think could best describe each handset’s upgrade possibilities.  Keep in mind, this categorization is pure speculation on our part, based on our knowledge of HTC’s system updates in the past and the hardware specifications of each device.  Don’t come crying to us if HTC decides that your phone will not be updated to Android 4.0.

HTC phones that should get the Android 4.0 update

If you’ve purchased a new HTC phone within the past twelve months, chances are that your phone will be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich.  Our intuition tells us that the first phone’s in HTC’s lineup to get updated to Android 4.0 will be their dual-core equipped devices like the HTC Sensation, HTC EVO 3D, and the HTC Amaze 4G.  These phones have enough memory and processing power to run Android 4.0 with ease.

The second batch of HTC phone we believe will be updated to Android 4.0 are those powered by Qualcomm’s second generation 1GHz Snapdragon processor. This category includes phones like the original T-Mobile myTouch 4G, HTC Desire HD, HTC Thunderbolt and the recently launched HTC Rhyme. The specs on these phones may seem a little outdated compared to those of the upcoming Sensation XL and other devices currently on the market, but they are all comparable in performance to the Google Nexus S which will be getting its Android 4.0 update in the near future.

Other phones we believe are powerful enough to run Ice Cream Sandwich are the different variants of the HTC Desire Z.  This list includes the T-Mobile G2, HTC EVO Shift 4G and the HTC Merge.  The Desire Z and the Desire HD made their debut at the same time last year, but since the Z’s processor runs at a slower 800 MHz they may be slightly less likely to get the Android 4.0 update.

HTC phone that will not get the Android 4.0 update

If you own a phone that’s already been mentioned above, you’re probably feeling good about your handset’s Android 4.0 update prospect. But what about all the other Android powered phones made by HTC? Surely HTC wouldn’t abandon phones like the HTC EVO 4G or the DROID Incredible. Unfortunately, those who own a phone with a first generation 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor may want to start looking around for a new phone.

While EVO 4G and the DROID Incredible were trend setting devices early last year, they are powered by the same chip found in the Nexus One – the same phone which Google has deemed “tool old” for an update to Ice Cream Sandwich.  HTC may try to prove Google wrong and show how their older phones can in fact run Android 4.0, but HTC typically chooses to value stability and overall usability over having the latest version of Android.

Things look even bleaker for HTC’s mid to low-end phones like the HTC Salsa, ChaCha and even the brand new Explorer. These phones have only been on the market for a few months, but their slow processors and limited internal memory will most likely force HTC to keep the phones running on Gingerbread until the phones are killed off.

Check out list below to see if your phone will make the cut and be updated to Android 4.0. Again, we’d like to remind you that this information is based purely off of our knowledge of HTC phones and how HTC has updated their handsets in the past.  HTC is expected to announce the first wave of Android 4.0 upgrades within the next week or two. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on any new details that come our way. What are your predictions? Will your phone be getting Android 4.0?

Phones that will get the Android 4.0 update	Phone that won’t get the Android 4.0 update
HTC EVO Design 4G (Hero S) HTC Sensation (all models) HTC Amaze 4G HTC Rhyme HTC myTouch 4G Slide HTC EVO 3D HTC Incredible 2 (S) HTC Thunderbolt HTC Inspire 4G HTC myTouch 4G HTC Sensation XL HTC Desire S HTC Desire HD HTC Merge HTC EVO Shift 4G HTC T-Mobile G2 HTC Desire Z	HTC Wildfire S HTC Status (ChaCha) HTC Wildfire HTC Incredible HTC EVO 4G HTC Aria HTC Desire HTC myTouch 3G Slide HTC Hero HTC myTouch 3G (Magic) HTC G1 (Dream) HTC Salsa HTC Legend HTC Explorer