Big fan of first Desire (Nexus One), One S and M7... but: How do they manage to still be in the business at all? When was HTC's last commercial success?
The only HTC product I ever had was the first Desire, I liked it a lot until the promised 2.3 update was cancelled. After that I switched to iPhone 4s, switched to GS5 (worst decision ever), Lumia 950 and then to Honor 8.
I think the Desire was probably the most expensive phone I ever had, my first Nokia might have cost the same. But the Desire still works but I don't wanna use it because it's pretty slow and Android 2.3 beta is still rather buggy.
Seriously, I can't believe Google had the audacity to ape the HTC 10, then turn and market their phone like it was revolutionary. It's barely a GPE HTC 10. It might honestly be worse.
This is good. HTC is pretty terrible at making entry to mid-level phones. They always manage to ask ridiculous prices for phones with bottom-of-the-barrel SoCs.
Just look at the $200 Desire 650 and $300 Desire 10 "Lifestyle" launched a couple of months ago with a Snapdragon 400 (four hundred). That's a 3 year-old low-end SoC. Of course the user experience was going to be bad and it would tarnish the brand's reputation.
Commercially successful or not, the M8 and HTC 10 were/are brilliant phones. I will continue buying HTC as long as they continue making phones of this quality. And I'd honestly rather use my 2005 Nokia than go to an iPhone
What? Especially the HTC 10 was overpriced and mediocre at best compared to the competition. Huge bezel with on-screen buttons. $100+ more than competition.
The HTC One A9 had on-screen buttons, but the HTC 10 did not, home button is integrated into fingerprint sensor on the front, with a capacitive buttons on each side.
The low end market is too cluttered now with many of the Chinese phone makers dominating the market. It is not worth to try and undercut them in pricing since the margin is already razor thin now. I feel HTC is making a good decision to pull out of it.
Its not just the low end, even midrange is quite crowded. You've got Huawei, LeEco;s $200 phone with a Snapdragon 820 SoC and also Xioami. If you want something non-Chinese, you can get LG G4 or other phones for dirt cheap in new condition off Ebay.
Its a really cut through business to be a phone manufacturer right now and the only guys making money are Apple and Samsung (who makes the parts for Apple as well as for themselves like the SoC, screen, DRAM, battery etc.)
This is just the start of a slow decline as the competition who produce their own hardware are relentless while the emerging brands produce excellent devices at lower costs.
I will not be buying anymore HTC phones unless they get rid of the offscreen buttons, or include an option to turn them off. Whenever I use someone's phone that has offscreen buttons I'm always hitting them by accident.
I thoroughly enjoyed the One S on T-mobile US for 2 years, except for the horrid battery life and overheating issues that were common in smartphones in those years.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
27 Comments
Back to Article
Gich - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
Big fan of first Desire (Nexus One), One S and M7... but:How do they manage to still be in the business at all?
When was HTC's last commercial success?
Flunk - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
HTC is the OEM for a lot of other non-HTC branded hardware. At one point all they did was OEM manufacturing.Ariknowsbest - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
The only HTC product I ever had was the first Desire, I liked it a lot until the promised 2.3 update was cancelled. After that I switched to iPhone 4s, switched to GS5 (worst decision ever), Lumia 950 and then to Honor 8.I think the Desire was probably the most expensive phone I ever had, my first Nokia might have cost the same.
But the Desire still works but I don't wanna use it because it's pretty slow and Android 2.3 beta is still rather buggy.
I like the Speaker design of HTC.
hojnikb - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
Actually, desire got 2.3 android, but still retained older sense1 UIAriknowsbest - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
Yes but 2.3.3 with sense1 UI was not officially released, it was developer preview.lmcd - Tuesday, February 21, 2017 - link
This year, Google Pixel.Seriously, I can't believe Google had the audacity to ape the HTC 10, then turn and market their phone like it was revolutionary. It's barely a GPE HTC 10. It might honestly be worse.
Michael Bay - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
Hey, they are still alive! Quite a feat.sammy jio - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
Lack of focus and priorities. They have been subject to acquisition for long time. now it looks like everything is ok? not buying it.ToTTenTranz - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
This is good. HTC is pretty terrible at making entry to mid-level phones. They always manage to ask ridiculous prices for phones with bottom-of-the-barrel SoCs.Just look at the $200 Desire 650 and $300 Desire 10 "Lifestyle" launched a couple of months ago with a Snapdragon 400 (four hundred). That's a 3 year-old low-end SoC.
Of course the user experience was going to be bad and it would tarnish the brand's reputation.
fanofanand - Monday, February 20, 2017 - link
Snapdragon 400 was released in 2012 actually, ancient by mobile soc standards.Kit Carson - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
Commercially successful or not, the M8 and HTC 10 were/are brilliant phones. I will continue buying HTC as long as they continue making phones of this quality.And I'd honestly rather use my 2005 Nokia than go to an iPhone
beginner99 - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
What? Especially the HTC 10 was overpriced and mediocre at best compared to the competition. Huge bezel with on-screen buttons. $100+ more than competition.Moizy - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
The HTC One A9 had on-screen buttons, but the HTC 10 did not, home button is integrated into fingerprint sensor on the front, with a capacitive buttons on each side.lmcd - Tuesday, February 21, 2017 - link
At least his name checks out.Chaser - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
I agree. It wasn't par with the G7 and far from incredible. HTC's fame was the One M7 and it's gone down hill ever since.Despoiler - Monday, February 20, 2017 - link
IDK about downhill ever since. The HTC 10 is one of the best smart phones on the market and a complete steal at the price they sell it at.OCedHrt - Sunday, February 19, 2017 - link
Everyone is moving to on screen buttons. S8 and iPhone 8 too.3ogdy - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
Exactly. I'd rather shoot someone in the head than receive (much less buy) ANYTHING CrApple has coming out their assholes.fanofanand - Monday, February 20, 2017 - link
Quite the extreme take on things, I sure do hope you are never presented with the "buy this iPad or kill that man!" conundrum.watzupken - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
The low end market is too cluttered now with many of the Chinese phone makers dominating the market. It is not worth to try and undercut them in pricing since the margin is already razor thin now. I feel HTC is making a good decision to pull out of it.webdoctors - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
Its not just the low end, even midrange is quite crowded. You've got Huawei, LeEco;s $200 phone with a Snapdragon 820 SoC and also Xioami. If you want something non-Chinese, you can get LG G4 or other phones for dirt cheap in new condition off Ebay.Its a really cut through business to be a phone manufacturer right now and the only guys making money are Apple and Samsung (who makes the parts for Apple as well as for themselves like the SoC, screen, DRAM, battery etc.)
zodiacfml - Friday, February 17, 2017 - link
This is just the start of a slow decline as the competition who produce their own hardware are relentless while the emerging brands produce excellent devices at lower costs.flyingpants1 - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
OnePlus 3T is better than any phone HTC has ever made.These companies should all go out of business.
zodiacfml - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
I wouldn't say it is better but is a lot more exciting.gvanberkel - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
Perhaps to make room for pixel phone production.LordConrad - Saturday, February 18, 2017 - link
I will not be buying anymore HTC phones unless they get rid of the offscreen buttons, or include an option to turn them off. Whenever I use someone's phone that has offscreen buttons I'm always hitting them by accident.Retired Budget Gamer - Monday, February 20, 2017 - link
I thoroughly enjoyed the One S on T-mobile US for 2 years, except for the horrid battery life and overheating issues that were common in smartphones in those years.