HTC teases a new smartphone for 2023 after a long hiatus
HTC, once a major player in the smartphone market, has been largely absent from the scene for years. The company sold part of its mobile business to Google in 2018 and focused on niche products like the HTC Desire 22 Pro metaverse phone. However, it seems that HTC is not ready to give up on smartphones just yet, as it has teased a new device for 2023.
The teaser, posted on Twitter, shows a silhouette of a phone with the caption “HTC U 2023”. This suggests that the device will be part of the HTC U series, which was the company’s flagship line until 2018.
The last HTC U series phone was the HTC U12+, which featured a quad-camera setup, a pressure-sensitive frame and a Snapdragon 845 processor.
It is unclear what kind of specs and features the HTC U 2023 will have, or whether it will be a metaverse-oriented device like the HTC Desire 22 Pro, which had a dual-screen design and supported VR and AR applications. The teaser also does not reveal when exactly the device will launch or how much it will cost.
HTC’s comeback to the smartphone market comes at a challenging time, as the industry faces supply chain issues, chip shortages and fierce competition from brands like Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi and OnePlus.
HTC will also have to contend with the declining interest in the metaverse concept, which it has been promoting through its Viverse platform. The metaverse is a virtual world where people can interact through digital avatars and experiences.
HTC has not given up on its Viverse vision, as it recently announced a partnership with Meta (formerly Facebook) to integrate its VR headsets with Meta’s Horizon Worlds social VR platform. HTC also plans to launch its own metaverse marketplace called Viverse Store, where users can buy and sell digital assets.
HTC’s new smartphone could be an attempt to leverage its Viverse platform and attract more users to its metaverse ecosystem.
Alternatively, it could be a more conventional device that aims to compete with other flagship phones on the market. Either way, HTC will have to prove that it still has what it takes to make a compelling smartphone in 2023.
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