HTC has officially announced the One A9 today, with a 5" Super AMOLED 1080p display with Gorilla Glass 4, a fingerprint scanner, microSD slot, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow with a revised version of sense. This will make the A9 the first non-Nexus device to launch with the latest version of the Android OS. The One A9 will be available in 4 colors, pictures below (we're not sure which markets will get which colors, yet). It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz for the high-power cores and 1.2GHz for low-power, and is available with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage and 2GB or 3GB of RAM, respectively, though the US is only getting the 32GB version, which has an introductory price of $399.
Non-US pricing is emerging, as well, and it's not pretty. Most regions will get the 16GB/2GB version, and in the UK, that edition will cost you a slightly insane 429GBP, around $665 US, according to The Verge.
HTC made vague references to a more powerful amplifier for increased audio quality, OIS for the 13MP rear camera (plus phase-detect AF), and RAW capture. The front-facing camera is an UltraPixel unit, presumably similar to the One M9's. The phone will support quick charging via HTC Rapid Charge 2.0, and the PR makes a reference to future Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support, presumably when accessories for the standard become available (they aren't yet). The battery, by the way, has a rather anxiety-provoking 2150mAh of rated capacity. We'll have to see what that means in real-world usage. NFC is on board for Android Pay.
The phone will be rolling out globally starting the first week of November. The unlocked version of the phone will be available on HTC's US site, and comes with an unlockable bootloader that will not void the warranty when unlocked. HTC's "uh-oh" protection is included at no cost as usual, offering you protection from damage. The unlocked edition is promised to get the newest version of Android within 15 days of the first Nexus phone getting that update. Pretty bold. You'll get 6 months of Google Play Music, too. Worth noting, also, is that the unlocked version is only compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile, so it's not a Motorola-style CDMA-all-in-one kind of deal. The unlocked US version will support LTE bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, and 29. The unlocked global LTE variant will have bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, and 28, and TDD bands 38, 40, and 41.
You can pre-order it starting today (here), for a "limited-time" $399 promotional price, which presumably means it will get more expensive at some point. Only the opal silver and carbon gray versions will be available initially, with the deep garnet and topaz gold versions not scheduled for a few more weeks post-launch, though the garnet version does show up for pre-order on HTC's site right now. The US version will be the 32GB/3GB RAM model. It doesn't look like the 16GB/2GB configuration will be available here.
So far, it looks like Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T are on board as carrier partners. Oddly, HTC's own site features two unannounced colors for the phone, a black version and a definitely-very-gold color. HTC only mentioned four colors in its launch and press release. After speaking to HTC, they've confirmed there are only 4 colors for the A9, so it's possible the black and yellow-gold were ditched entirely or will launch later as regional or operator specials.
Here is a full spec sheet from HTC's site. Note that references to storage and memory are based on region - the US will only be getting "configuration 2," which has 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. Buy link.
PRESS RELEASE
BE BRILLIANT WITH THE NEW HTC ONE
HTC delivers a bold new choice for people who want stunning design without compromising on style, performance or personalization: the HTC One A9
NEW YORK – October 20, 2015 – HTC today unveiled the latest addition to the award-winning HTC One family, the HTC One A9. Melding the best of HTC’s acclaimed design and innovation with the latest from Google’s Android, this is a stunning, no-compromise smartphone that stands out from the crowd. Built for people who want a better choice, the HTC One A9 is a smartphone that combines striking design on the outside with the newest features of Android 6.0 Marshmallow with HTC Sense on the inside to create an unrivaled smartphone experience.
“HTC is a smartphone pioneer, having delivered the first Android smartphone, the first Windows smartphone, the first 4G smartphone, and the first all-metal smartphone,” said Cher Wang, chairwoman and CEO, HTC. “Today we’re taking that heritage of innovation to the next level, unveiling a phone that stands apart in a market increasingly dominated by a company which controls every aspect of your phone. The HTC One A9 breaks from this trend by offering an incredible design, fantastic performance, cutting-edge software features and the freedom to take full control of your smartphone experience.“
Metalmorphics: A new standard of all-metal design excellence
An evolution of the iconic HTC One family design, the HTC One A9 draws on the natural beauty around us, by using rich, striking colors and unique finishes – an approach called “metalmorphics.” New curves, refined edges, and precision-cut ridges on the power button flawlessly combine with the super-thin metal frame giving the phone a natural and lightweight feel. The elegant dual finish, available in a Carbon Gray, Opal Silver, Topaz Gold and Deep Garnet1, is painstakingly brushed with hairline detail and bead-blasted before the sides are polished, giving additional depth and richness that is unique in the smartphone market. Finally, in a stunning fusion of metal and glass, a 5-inch, edge-to-edge, 2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4, Full HD AMOLED screen cascades into the metal frame, giving you brighter and more vivid colors for brilliant graphics and gaming, even in direct sunlight.
Unleash your inner photographer
Your best camera is the one you use whenever the moment strikes, so it should be able to capture stunning shots in any situation. The HTC One A9’s front and rear cameras, coupled with powerful yet simple editing tools, mean epic photos and videos are only a tap away. Its main 13MP rear camera features Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which automatically minimizes hand shake and corrects vibrations to give you a crystal-clear picture every time. Meanwhile, the front UltraPixel camera delivers the best self-portraits in any lighting condition, using HTC’s UltraPixel sensor to capture 300% more light than conventional smartphone cameras.
With the HTC One A9, no detail is too small. Offering an optional Pro mode to capture the perfect photo without being a photography expert, you can also save photos using RAW capture – a tool used by professional photographers – for an unmatched level of detail and post-shot editing flexibility. Or you can keep things simple with Photo Editor’s one-button enhancement feature, which automatically brightens colors and sharpens edges for unbelievably clear and crisp photos2.
Sometimes a still photo just isn’t enough. With the HTC One A9’s Hyperlapse editing tool you can speed up your videos to 12 times as fast for a dramatic time-lapse effect, creating an immersive video that perfectly captures the moments that matter. Speed through your video or use capture mode to edit in slow motion, highlighting those unforgettable memories. Or use HTC Zoe to easily and automatically mix your best shots and videos into one professional-looking highlight reel that can be shared with friends and family to tell the story of any moment from every angle.
Awesome audio: music the way it’s supposed to sound
Game changing audio has always been core to the HTC One family - the HTC One A9 delivers amazing sound quality, with HTC BoomSound™ integrated into the headset combined with Dolby Audio™ surround technology3, delivering immersive, vibrant sound that matches a live experience in your headphones by taking high-resolution audio to the next level4. With a built-in DAC that delivers audio at 24-bit, 192KHz quality – better than CD quality – it provides a richness and depth like you’ve never before heard from your music collection. A powerful high-output headphone amplifier, with double the output of other handsets, provides more power and dynamic range so you can hear every nuance of your favorite music, videos and games. Optional high-resolution audio certified HTC Pro Studio Earphones deliver both noise isolation and truly immersive sound.
Cutting-edge software: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
The first non-Nexus smartphone powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the HTC One A9 brings Google’s latest innovations and the simplicity of HTC Sense right out of the box. Combined with a multi-directional fingerprint scanner, Android Pay makes purchasing items as secure and as easy as “tap, pay, done.”5 Google’s Now on Tap feature also intuitively provides contextual information about whatever is on your screen – look up reviews for a movie from a text, hear a song mentioned in a blog post, or book seats at a restaurant from an email, all at the press of the home button.
With so many new features, the HTC One A9 has also been designed with all new power-saving capabilities to maximize battery life. Doze automatically turns off power hungry applications when your phone is left idle, such as when charging overnight, while App Standby knows when an app open in the background isn’t being used and shuts it down until you need it again. In addition, the phone’s new processor, AMOLED screen and support for the optional HTC Rapid Charger 2.0, for up to 75% faster charging6 are all optimized to maximize battery life throughout the day7. In real terms this means, for example, that you can play 12 hours of HD video on one charge.
Performance designed for the way YOU use your phone
Featuring the newest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 617 processor with integrated X8 LTE and 64-bit octa-core CPUs, the HTC One A9 is designed to deliver a perfect balance of powerful performance, fast connectivity and better battery life. With support for epic LTE wireless speeds through next-generation carrier aggregation technology, it delivers more high-definition streaming videos, more pulse-pounding high-resolution audio and more storage in the cloud to hold everything your heart desires. The phone is available in both 16 and 32GB configurations and features expandable memory, supporting up to 2TB in SD card storage, perfect for storing all your apps, games, photos, music and videos.
To protect your smartphone, pair it with the HTC Dot View™ II case, available in Obsidian, Deep Garnet, Sea Coral and Turquoise Blue. Its retro-inspired dot matrix cover reveals instant notifications, weather updates, caller ID and more, even while closed, and simple gesture controls bring music, flashlight, radio and voice recording tools closer than ever.
The HTC One A9 and accessories will be available worldwide, both at retailers and at htc.com, beginning November 2015.
In the U.S., the HTC One A9 will be available across multiple carriers and retailers. They will announce colors, availability and pricing for their respective channels. In addition, HTC will be making a special Unlocked edition available on www.HTC.com. This edition will be SIM Unlocked and will also allow you to unlock the bootloader without voiding your warranty, giving our customers an even greater level of freedom. And, in order for customers to experience our best-in-class sound quality, this version will come with 6 months of unlimited music on Google Play Music and UH OH Protection, which includes one free replacement within the first 12 months of ownership for a cracked screen, water damage or carrier switch. You can pre-order the HTC One A9 on htc.com today for a special, limited time promotional price of $399.99 and it will be available in Opal Silver and Carbon Gray initially. Deep Garnet and Topaz Gold will be made available in the coming weeks.
