The HTC Deluxe is rumoured to be a 5-inch, 1080p challenger to the Galaxy Note 2's phablet crown. But here's some bad news for anyone looking forward to getting their hands on it -- the device might not be coming to Europe after all.
That's according to HTC's Facebook page. A fan, glorying in the name of Ingo Hochheim, posted a link to the pictures that leaked on Friday showing the Deluxe in three colour variants. Sadly, the response from HTC wasn't quite what he was hoping for.
"Hi Ingo," reads the response from HTC, "has Deluxe wird leider nich nach Europa kommen." Putting that through Google Translate (my GCSE German is a little rusty), it comes out as: "the Deluxe unfortunately will not come to Europe." Bummer.
When faced with leaks like this, companies usually trot out the same line that they don't comment on rumour or speculation. So to see HTC write it off is a little disheartening. Of course it could be that 'Dennis', who signed the reply from HTC, is mistaken, or there were crossed wires in HTC HQ. Let's hope so anyway.
It does prompt the question: what is the HTC Deluxe, if it's not coming to Europe? Surely the HTC spokesperson wouldn't refer to the device by that name if it was called something different? Or maybe the handset will launch but under a different name? Curious.
It'd be a real shame if the Deluxe didn't make it to the UK. It's rumoured to have the same specs as the HTC J Butterfly in Japan, and the Droid DNA in the US. Anything with a 5-inch 1080p screen, 2GB of RAM and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean inside gets my vote of confidence.
When these last snaps leaked, there was rumour we'll hear an official announcement from HTC on 6 December. So stick around, phablet fans. Hopefully we'll know for sure then.
Would you like to see the HTC Deluxe on sale in Europe? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 12
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Ryan Simmons 25 November, 2012 11:51
Likely just coming under a different name/branding over here.
Matt Winston. 25 November, 2012 13:50
I think it's their flagship phone for 2013, and 5 inches will be the standard of most phones for next year. Although, I don't really see anything new, it's slightly powerful than the One X+ and slightly bigger (judging the specs of the Japanese and US phones) but what can this do the One X, S3 and the Note 2, can't do?
NickMUK 25 November, 2012 15:22
HTC would be foolish not to release this in Europe, a quick Google search by their marketing team would quite clearly show that there is a great deal of consumer interest in bringing this phone to Europe, there's even a Facebook group with nearly 100 people who wish to do so.
I remain confident that this is a simple mistake and expect the HTC DLX to be launched with a name other than Deluxe for its international release.
It is also possible although much less likely that it could be launched with updated specs such as improved battery, SD card slot or I have heard rumours of a 12/13MP camera. Then there is the question of whether European release will have 4G LTE capability.
Let's keep our fingers crossed, I don't think HTC will survive another failure.
anonymous 25 November, 2012 17:24
why is everyone being so inpatient 1080p HTC will come just not tomorrow
anonymous 26 November, 2012 05:00
just wait for mwc 2013, i m sure htc will launch this, maybe with improved specs.. just less than 3 month away..
johnbiber 26 November, 2012 06:32
I think HTC should release this in europe.if it will not then it will be a great loss for HTC......:)
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anonymous 26 November, 2012 16:20
good. htc phones are so bad its unreal.
anonymous 26 November, 2012 16:57
Consumer interest is very different from people actually planning to or being able to buy though. Either way we're talking about dozens rather than the towns that HTC need to actually buy the phone.
At the end of the day people say many things on the internet that have no relation to reality at all.
Looks a lovely phone though. I struggle to see why HTC are struggling so much. Great looking phones with performance to match.
anonymous 1 December, 2012 14:39
They are struggling because the might of samsung has the S3 on view, on displays in every store including Tescos, and if you ask, they dont even have an HTC in store exept in a box, which they cant get out to show you. Who will buy a phone without at least seeing it first? One store when i asked to see the One X told me they were not allowed to stock them or they would lose samsung phones.
So win one for the mighty corporations, wiping out the smaller, but far superiour companies with sheer marketing and bullying tactics.
NickMUK 3 December, 2012 17:38
"One store when i asked to see the One X told me they were not allowed to stock them or they would lose samsung phones."
That's quite interesting, which store would that be? I went into a Carphone Warehouse and a staff member told me that for some reason it appeared to him that corporate HQ were cutting down on the HTC devices they were selling. He couldn't answer any of my questions I had about HTC One X+ or EE's LTE network about one week before they were due to launch.
anonymous 30 December, 2012 09:14
hello,Of course the world's best HTC mobile phone, therefore we have the HTC today.
anonymous 30 December, 2012 09:16
Of course the world's best HTC mobile phone, therefore we have the HTC today.