HTC's next-generation One M9 flagship smartphone will reportedly boast improved camera and audio features, and launch alongside the company's first smartwatch.
The HTC One M9 is one of the most highly-anticipated smartphones of 2015, as it is expected to boast top-notch specs and features all around. The general belief is that HTC will take the wraps off its new flagship close to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2015, which will take place in March this year.
According to a new report, HTC is also planning to launch its very first smartwatch along with the One M9 smartphone in March, as part of an effort to counter decreasing sales.
"HTC Corp. plans to unveil a marquee phone in March with improved camera and audio features, and its first smartwatch, according to a person familiar with the matter, as the Taiwanese company tries to stem three years of falling sales," Bloomberg reports.
"Code-named M9, the phone features a 20-megapixel rear camera and an HTC UltraPixel front camera, the person said, asking not to be identified because the details aren't public. The smartwatch will link with Under Armour Inc.'s fitness service, building on a partnership announced earlier this month, the person said."
While the HTC One M9 is widely expected to debut around the time of the MWC 2015, a smartwatch from HTC would make for a nice surprise. The wearable device market has seen a steady growth and continues to expand, with an increasing number of heavyweight companies joining the race, and it would make sense for HTC to join in the action. An HTC smartwatch has been rumored before, but nothing materialized so far.
At the same time, this purported smartwatch also marks HTC's latest effort to expand its reach beyond the smartphone market after introducing its RE camera last year, Bloomberg further points out.
When it comes to the upcoming HTC One M9 flagship smartphone, meanwhile, the company is expected to stick to the highly-acclaimed design of the One M8, and also offer the new iteration in the same color options - gold, gray, and silver. The One M8 should pack a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor under the hood, which will deliver advanced video capabilities, Bloomberg learned from its source. The handset will also sport Dolby 5.1 audio technology, as well as the latest HTC Sense 7 UI with better location-based services.
