HTC is going for its guns in the shootout with the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3. Reports say a new flagship phone called the HTC M7 will come out all guns blazing in 2013.
The magnificent seven is still unconfirmed, but rumours have begin to circulate that HTC intends to take the fight to the iPhone, S3 and other rivals. Industry rag Focus Taiwan reports that HTC has briefed suppliers of casings and semiconductors to prepare components for 4 to 5 million M7 phones.
HTC exploded out of nowhere just a few short years to produce what were the definitive Android phones in the early days of Google's software for mobile phones and tablets. But as Android gained ground, Samsung took over the mantle of leading Android manufacturers with the phenomenally popular Galaxy range. And in the last year or so, the excellent HTC One X and its ilk failed to capture the public imagination -- and public purse -- in the same way as the iPhone and S3.
What then can we expect from the M7? Specs are still under wraps, but we can expect a high definition 1080p screen to match the HTC Droid sold in the US. If it is indeed intended as a flagship phone it must be quad-core, probably with 2GB of RAM and a high-resolution camera.
The new phone is almost certain to be 4G in the US, but whether it'll have the right flavour of 4G LTE technology for this country remains to be seen. The HTC One XL is in the first wave of 4G phones on EE, the first 4G network here in Blighty. But if the M7 turns up in the second half of 2013 it may well work on rival 4G networks, expected to launch as early as May.
Does HTC deserve to lead the Android pack? What would you like to see in the M7? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 17
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CaptainPicard 6 December, 2012 15:39
Brilliant specs! I think HTC should go back to the basic reason why the Galaxy range was popular this year: It had an SD slot and a removable battery. I personally can live without those but many people feel the HTC One X was limited and closed for an Android phone. And it has terrible battery life, it overheats during 5 mins of Temple Run, and earlier models had Wi-Fi problems.
And finally, I think price will be very important in 2013, it needs to price its devices competitively, against the Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy range.
anonymous 6 December, 2012 16:04
I seriously hope that HTC's release name for this phone has the a continued sense of brand. That's one of the many reason Samsung does so well, it has the galaxy range, people know what it is, whereas with HTC they jump from Desire to Sensation to One series, the Original Galaxy s didn't make as much of a splash as it's sequels but that's likely because at the time people understood it was a range of phones. HTC say they want to simplify their range, then make it obvious to the consumer what they are getting. For example cut the crap with stuff with stuff like the One x+ wait a year after the release of the one x and release the HTC two x, and two s ect. It makes it easier for the consumer to understand your product. Oh and provide better update support for your flagships
Reader 6 December, 2012 17:13
HTC don't get it though...they make phones with locked in batteries, no SD card and a silly heavyweight skin over Android. People don't want that. The S3 has a skin but it's not too heavy and at least it has a removable battery and SD card...there is literally no reason to buy the HTC One X...unless of course you favour design and 'feel' above functionality...but then if that's the case you probably have an iPhone.
Dave Phipp 6 December, 2012 19:04
i would like to see nexus 4 like pricing but i can't see it happening. it has to have 64gb and/or sd slot minimum, quad core 1.5ghz+ and 2gb ram. i quite like sense personally (but then i haven't tried vanilla android yet) but perhaps an option to disable sense?
anonymous 6 December, 2012 19:09
HTC should just go away and let the big boys play.. they are too weak and too much of a pretender to compete.
NickMUK 6 December, 2012 19:30
Having only just launched the DNA/J Butterfly in the US and Japan should we see this as an upgraded version of those, or do people think it will be an entirely new model. I was hoping the rumor about a DLX announcement today was going to come good but now it seems I'll be waiting until CES or MWC for this to be announced. I read somewhere that HTC may have an independent event if they want to push the model in Q1 before the S4 is announed at MWC.
Does anyone remember HTC's announcement, something about only releasing a few great models each year?
anonymous 6 December, 2012 20:03
It's ridiculous that they still can't get the naming right - they don't realise just how important it is to release phones that are part of one range like the galaxies and iphones are. Simply put, when we hear of the s3 we know it's the new galaxy phone and an upgrade of the s2 and s1, whereas names like One X and M7 are completely random and the consumer has nothing to compare them too.
They really need to start releasing phones under one name - a lot of people buy a phone because they know the phone's the latest in a range of phones rather than knowing the exact specs of it - it's baffling as to why HTC continues with the confusing naming of their phones.
anonymous 6 December, 2012 22:08
I want an HTC M8 with a slide out keyboard for easier typing, running Windows 8 with a full HD display 4.5 to 5 inches with 4G, NFC, and an SD slot that will take 64GB cards, possibly wireless recharge.
No way I'm paying for a phone without an SD slot and 4G, cause I buy my phones and keep them for a while.
Oh well have to stick with my Touch Pro 2 a while longer.
Daedalus
leoevs44 6 December, 2012 22:31
Ate htc fwcking stupid, a new blower to rival S3 and icrap 5 next year, for one anything blows the icrap 5 and samsung are releasing the S4 possibly next may so what are htc going to do then, they just playing catch up like crapple...
anonymous 6 December, 2012 22:41
HTC is simply, or rather quietly, brilliant, and always was. I remember my first HTC (hd2), then desire, desire hd and now the one series. It was always about the consumer - htc sense, which made the android experience more pleasant and innovative, and then there was hardware which was always top stuff, much better than any iphones released at the same time, or indeed most other devices. That is right, HTC was one of the first touch screen devices, first 3g device, first 4g device, first quad core, it has many landmarks in tech. On top of that, there comes build quality, and it is not only about luxury feel, something samsung devices lack, but also durability. I truly do not believe any other phone would withstand the number of times my desire hd or one x hit the pavement, unfortunately placing my phone in wrong hands too often (my gf's for that matter), with nothing except a minor dent in the casing. I had both iphone 4s and iphone 5 as well, so I am not biased, I gave them away after few weeks though, and would never have one replace an HTC phone again.
anonymous 6 December, 2012 23:05
Gunning for the Iphone 5 and S3 ?! Please, any company that releases a FLAGSHIP phone at this point in time to compete with phones that are 6 months old is bound to fail. This is clearly a move to jump the gun on the Iphone 5S or 6 and the S4 and if HTC can pack the M7 with a microSD slot they might just succeed at convincing everyone that they are the 3rd major player in the mobile world. Looking back at it now, the DNA was more of a showcase phone; HTC's way of saying look at what we can do with a beautiful full HD 5" screen. The M7 will be faster, have a better camera, an updated OS and a better build than the DNA. They might just have my attention...
anonymous 7 December, 2012 01:23
Let's face it, with a name like M7, they're doomed.
They need a definitive range and the One Series is and still could be that.
I have the brilliant One S and I bought it on the first day it came out. Why? Because it was the best all rounder, and that's what the general public want, a good looking phone that doesn't lag and gets the job done.
I've used a Samsung Galaxy S3 and TouchWiz doesn't seem as fluid & classy as Sense 4, nor is Vanilla Android as polished. But HTC is beginning to lack in software development & customisation and hardware implementation. It has the best contact synching, but no clever gestures like Samsung has for calling and messaging, no simple/clever software for using WiFi Direct or NFC. No SD card slot. And slow Android updates.
A lot of older people don't know how to use their Galaxy S3's because they were told it's the best phone to get by the salesman in O2 (or any other for that matter). It's a shame, because for the average user, HTC devices are fantastic phones.
anonymous 7 December, 2012 01:27
The HTC M7 sounds like a 7 inch tablet to me...
anonymous 11 December, 2012 17:28
HTC were a great brand, but over the last few years really lost a lot of support due to poor design.
As many have said, non-removable batteries, no Micro SD, and no slide tilt keyboards have caused many to move away from them (myself included GS3 owner).
I agree with many of the previous comments that for HTC to re-join the market place they need to simplify with one or two ranges of devices.
Keep two names one for high end one for mid end devices. Expand from there, also reintroducing the Pro sister phone for each of these ranges.
Such as HTC Daddy, and its sister phone the HTC Daddy pro (slide tilt qwerty with identical spec), then a min range device like HTC Girlfriend and again a Sister device HTC Girlfriend Pro.
[So many joke come to mind but ignoring the obvious pun’s the concept is sound]
Allow the consumer to understand what the device is without having to read a review or tech spec.
All devices with removable batteries, Micro SD, USB charging at the bottom, 3.5mm at the top, NFC….and a range of intelligent accessories.
What may also be a good idea is reintroducing the inbuilt stylus, and the central button to also be a biometric scanner.
I hope HTC find their way but like many think they are a very confused bunch.
anonymous 20 December, 2012 08:41
HTC release the One X+, which pretty ,much fixes all of the problems of the first one.
To be honest I wouldn't feel the lack of a micro SD slot with 64GB of available space, but anyway it is true that HTC naming is unintuitive, and they also need badly some advertisement, their phones are the iPhone equivalent for Android, and yet that plastic thingy
named Galaxy S3 wins.
Oliver Reynolds Gili 13 January, 2013 16:26
Will it have a look microsd card slot, a removable battery,and decent battery life oout of the box? If not then not interested.
anonymous 17 January, 2013 21:19
Power/Lock button on the side & not the top please.