Over the past month there have been a few rumors regarding HTC’s 2015 flagship smartphone. While a few of them were interesting, we have not reported on them since the sourced of the rumors have not been credible. That changed this morning when @upleaks shared some information regarding the successor to the HTC One (M8).
The rumor
Contrary to popular belief, the code name for HTC’s next flagship isn’t the HTC M9. The device is currently known as the HTC Hima and has well-equipped spec sheet. The HTC Hima is said to features Qualcomm’s new snapdragon 810 with an octo-core setup (4 cores running at 2GHz and another 4 core running at 1.5GHz), 3GB of RAM, VoLTE capabilities and a massive 2840mAh battery. The report claims the HTC Hima will have a 5-inch 1080p display – the same size and resolution as the display found on this year’s HTC One (M8). If the rumor is correct, the HTC Hima will not feature an UltraPixel camera sensor on the back of the phone. Instead, the device is expected to sport a 20.7MP sensor on the back with a front-facing 13megapixel or UltraPixel camera on the front. To top things off, the phone will be running on Android 5.o (Lollipop) with HTC Sense 7.0.
The HTC Hima is apparently already undergoing testing in carrier labs and is expected to launch on all major US service providers after its March launch. If that wasn’t enough good news, a second device named HTC Hima_Ace is also in the works. The HTC Hima_Ace will be a more affordable version of the HTC Hima with dual-SIM support for markets like China.
Our take
This is the first credible rumor we’ve seen regarding HTC’s next flagship phone. We’re a bit surprised that the phone isn’t carrying the HTC M9 code name. This could be an indication that HTC may not be sticking to the HTC One name since the brand hasn’t really lived up to HTC’s expectations. Then again, a code name doesn’t have any real bearing on what the final product name will be.
On the hardware side, we were expecting that HTC would use Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 810 processor. From what Qualcomm has shown, the new chip is a must-have for all flagship smartphones in 2015. The reference to a 5-inch 1080p display may look like HTC isn’t keeping up with the times when LG, Samsung and other competitors are pushing flagships with higher resolution displays that range from 5.2 to 5.5-inches. But we don’t see it that way. To have a broad appeal, a flagship smartphone can’t be too big and keeping a 1080p panel will help the HTC Hima conserve battery power and improve performance.
While the 2015 calendar does push Mobile World Congress out to March, don’t expect the HTC Hima to be revealed during the show. HTC will most likely hold its own event a few weeks after Mobile World Congress in order to ensure maximum media exposure.
We have about three months until the HTC Hima is unveiled. What other specs or features do you hope HTC will incorporate into its next flagship smartphone?
Source: @upleaks
It looks bad, very bad. By 2015 those will be midrange specs. LG and Samsung won’t go easy next year. What is HTC thinking?
What’s midrange about the specs? If you’re gonna say the screen, that isn’t really the case as 720p is still the midrange screen resolution, and most likely still will be. In any case what else makes it midrange?
Couldn’t agree less. QHD is a gimmick for such small screens and as a big impact on battery life. This specs are great. I wish they would launch a 8 ultrapixel camera, manual settings during night shots with a tripod are great on my HTC one m8
As far as I’ve read the QHD screen on the Note 4 had no impact at all on the battery life and it’s damn gorgeous
It does. But it’s a technology samsung has developed and did not share with the rest of the phone makers yet. And, besides of not being really needed (human eye cannot distinguish pixels at such on such small screen) can you imagine the bump on battery life if they do stick with full HD?
Just my opinion
I know it’s not exactly necessary but think about the average consumer who only cars about specs. If the S6 and the G4 pack a better display for the same price why choosing HTC? Even if it’s made of metal
What matters to me is if I get to choose it. I don’t really care if loads of people buy it because of specs only.
Do you own a htc one m8? I’ve had the Galaxy S3 and S4 and this is the only phone I had that I am still in love with after 7 months of owning it. I don’t see anything wrong with it and the performance and battery life still impress me. The only thing I am curious it the Lollipop with Sense update.
Some days ago techradar decided which were the best phones of 2014. Guess what, even if it was one of the first high end phones of the year, they still chose it has the best, in the editors opinion. That says a lot.
QHD on a phone is just rubbish. Pixel density is much more important than resolution anyways.
Have a look on power use by new 4K tvs. They use double what 1080p. You cant drive fast car whithout extra juice whatever they write in marketing folders.
I will be more than happy if they stick with 5″ screen size. IMO that’s the ideal size for most consumers. And I am glad HTC is bumping up the camera although I love ultrapixel.
1080p = 1080p not always so M7 has 1080p and M8 has but picture is better on M8. So M9 using this conclusion can have better 1080p.
Liked LG 2K screen but after use M8 think is not far to use at this time of technology. Heavy files network data allowance and all to see 2K on little screen.
I think the battery will get a bigger bump up, and I don’t think the camera rumour holds water imo. Would love to see some extra multitasking functions, with that soc and ram.
The specs are great! Now I just hope HTC can make the bezel thinner than the M8, and make it a better design than M8, though I’m not sure what direction they could go since the M8 already looks so good.
Bazel thinner and will bend like iBanana. Ibanana has major flaw. Cant go bigger thinner and flat like ice. Looking nice when on desk with no use but no good in pocket etc.
Multi-tasking features for Sense 7! I probably won’t use them, but just to keep up with competition. I’m diggin the rumors, hopefully they turn out to be true. I just wish they could go for at least 3000mah in he battery. That would be ideal for me.
Not happy with the specs but they are just rumors so will have to wait and see, my ideal M9(Hima sounds so stupid) would have an 8up camera, 3500my battery,810 processor, 5.5 inch 2k screen and of course a bit less bezel. I don’t buy the rubbish that 2k drains the battery the Note 4 does pretty good in the battery department. I certainly don’t see the point of upgrading everything but the screen it’s kinda useless
The Note 4 goes well in the battery department, because it is a phablet, and as such has heaps of space for a big battery.
IMO the 1080p screen on the M8 is perfect, I cant see a single pixel on the screen, and the LCD tech is miles better than Samsungs AMOLED displays. The only thing I hope HTC do is keep the 1080p display, but increase the pixel density,
The same source says there could be a Windows Phone version along with the Android one
With other manufacturers make ridiculous phones *cough *cough nexus 6 I am hoping htc stick to a 5 inch display. My only gripe about this spec sheet is that ois isn’t mentioned.
OIS is slated and 21.4MP sensor.(“source”BGR/Pocketnow)
Don’t know if duo cam tech will remain the norm though. Front facer will get ultra pixel tech. I wish HTC would stick with Ultra Pixel as well in the main and bump it to 8 Ultra Pixel. Low light performance of UP sensor is awesome. Like the fingerprint scanner of One Max, HTC listen to the few media nay sayers and did away with it. Having that fingerprint scanner saved me a couple of times. Bummed M8 did not come with it.
Lets hope that is the case would be awesome. Also it they remove that black bar they could slim the device’s physical size.
HTC needs to stick with a mini, max, normal size version of flagship devices. Keep it simple, keep them awesome, and keep making money. Done and done!
Loving the 20.7 MP on the camera but a 5″ screen size is asking for trouble. Got nothing to do with functionality and everything to do with market share. I love HTC my main phone has always been an HTC for just on ten years. But if we want to continue to use them then the company needs to turn their fiscal position around – simply catering to their current market isn’t going to do it. HTC need to produce some products that steal the market from Samsung, LG etc. To do that the next phone needs to stand out in your generic websites comparing phones and specs. A standard 5′ screen with nothing special in resolution or battery life will simply see HTC maintain market share which will also see it go under (or worse, get bought by Samsung or LG) and we all miss out.