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When it comes to flagship Android phones in the U.S., the options are pretty sparse. Samsung easily leads the way, Google is trying to find its footing, OnePlus seems a bit lost, and LG has already decided to exit the space. But we may be in store for a surprise, as a report from DigiTimes (via WinFuture) states that HTC is planning to unveil a new flagship smartphone sometime in April.
But instead of focusing on taking on other phone makers, HTC’s new focus is in the AR and VR space. This comes as no surprise given that HTC wants to continue expanding its Vive division, with executives stating that the phone will “integrate certain metaverse functions”. In fact, HTC has announced its own platform, called Viverse, at MWC 2022 while offering the following description:
“VIVERSE is here to connect people from all walks of life to an open and accessible virtual world. Through this new form of living, everyone is empowered to explore, work, and play in a safe environment; each experience is unique and your transactions and data are secure.”
Unfortunately, HTC didn’t provide any indication as to what the phone will look like, nor do we have any clue as to what will be powering the phone. At this point, all we know is that it will be a high-end smartphone designed with Viverse in mind, complete with plenty of power for the world of AR and VR.
While HTC hasn’t been focusing on Android smartphones as much, the company has released a few mid-range options in different markets. A patent filing back in 2020 showed that HTC might have some desire to launch a foldable smartphone at some point. But so far, there have been no indications of that design becoming a reality.
Even if HTC ends up only making this phone available in select regions, it could mean a surprise resurgence for the company that pretty much removed itself from the smartphone race. No matter how you look at it, this is really exciting if you’re a fan of HTC or AR and VR.
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