htc-one-x9

HTC has finally launched the long-rumored One X9 in China, and it boasts some pretty decent specs in a package which costs 2399 Yuan, or roughly $370 USD when converted. There's very little revealed about the device that we didn't already know, and we're unsure if/when the phone will be launched in the US or other international markets.

Like the One A9, the latest smartphone from HTC features an all-metal body, but with a separate pill-shaped panel housing the camera on the back. The manufacturer claims it takes over 300 hours of work and more than 50 individual processes to make the unibody metal chassis. The company is  also keen to boast the return of capacitive buttons on the front panel, which avoids the virtual buttons onscreen taking up valuable display real estate.

Other key specifications include:

  • 5.5-inch full HD display
  • Front facing stereo BoomSound speakers
  • 64-bit MediaTek octa-core Helio X10 processor
  • 3GB RAM
  • 32GB storage (expandable to 2TB via MicroSD)
  • 13MP rear camera with OIS
  • 5MP front camera
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
  • Dimensions: 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.99 mm
  • Weight: 170 grams (approx)

The HTC One X9 was leaked a number of times prior to today's launch. Most recently, it showed up in a hands-on video and in a TENAA listing. Most of the details shown off in those, and in a more detailed pre-release overview, gave us a good idea of what to expect from the newly announced mid-tier phablet.

With the One X9 and One A9 both featuring premium all-metal build, and being obvious mid-tier devices, it's clear HTC is moving away from its insistence on releasing plastic devices in the mid-range market. Whether or not this means the death of the Desire range is yet to be seen. It seems an obvious move given the rise of cheaper metal alternatives from manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi and BLU.