HTC just unveiled their latest flagship Android smartphone, the HTC 10. By all early accounts, the HTC 10 is an upgraded version of HTC’s past Android smartphones, the One A9 and One M9, but with one notable new focus: audio improvement.
But first, the normative specs. The HTC 10 has a 5.2-inch, quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) Super LCD 5 display, which HTC claims displays 30 percent more color than last year’s phone. It also supports the Snapdragon 820 processor (like many other 2016 smartphones), comes with 4GB of RAM, your choice of 32GB or 64GB of storage, and a larger battery. The front and back cameras are also much better; HTC claims the phone has “the world’s first optically stabilized, larger-aperture f/1.8 lenses on both the front and rear cameras.” All upgrades for sure, but the HTC 10 really sets itself apart in the audio sector.
The HTC 10 allows users to stream music to their AirPlay-enabled speakers, AirPort Express or Apple TV in higher quality than Bluetooth; it’s the first Android smartphone to license Apple’s AirPlay wireless streaming technology. Additionally, the HTC 10 is certified for hi-res, 24-bit audio recording and has a headphone amp that, according to HTC’s press release, delivers two times the power output of other smartphones. Don’t have compatible headphones? The smartphone comes with certified hi-res earbuds. In addition to the speed and screen upgrades, it’s clear that HTC is playing toward the user who has replaced the record player with the smartphone — and for many modern audiophiles on the move, that’s great news.
The HTC 10 is available for pre–order today, April 12. It is expected to begin shipping in early May. The phone comes in two colors, Glacier Silver and Carbon Gray, and will cost $699.
