MWC 2015 – HTC Unwraps The One M9, Its Most Powerful Smartphone Yet

HTC has fired the first shot in the Mobile World Congress smartphone battle with the unveiling of its new flagship device, the HTC One M9.

Featuring an all-metal build, the One M9 sports a 5in FullHD screen powered by Android Lollipop 5.0 along with Qualcomm’s immense Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (which can be upgraded to 128GB via microSD), all of which will make it one of the fastest device on the market today.

This is backed up by a 20MP rear camera which is also able to shoot 4K video, emphasising HTC’s focus on providing a high-quality media experience, and a 2840mAh battery which should offer all-day battery life. The device also features HTC’s trademark front-facing BoomSound speakers, boosting by Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound.

More than just a phone

Unveiled at a Mobile World Congress media event in Barcelona today, the HTC hopes the One M9 will be able to help it restore its place at the top of the chain in the Android smartphone marketplace.

“HTC has built its reputation on challenging expectations in the mobile industry,” said Cher Wang, HTC chairwoman. “The HTC One M9 accomplishes this once again with stunning elegance and design, combined with smart features that help bring your world to life, connecting you in a deeper way to the things you consider most important. So much more than just a phone, the HTC One M9 is an extension of who you are”.

T-Mobile and O2 have both already confirmed they will stock the One M9 when it goes on sale, with the latter already offering up to £171 for customers looking to trade in their One M8.

All-body

As expected, the One M9 was also accompanied by HTC’s first entry into the wearable market. The fitness-focused HTC Grip smart band has been developed with renowned sportswear brand Under Armour, and is designed for athletes and keep-fit fanatics.

Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, which it communicates with via Bluetooth, the Grip features a curved 1.8in PMOLED screen that is available in three sizes to ensure a perfect fit. The device is waterproof enough to cope with swimming and showers and can also act as a sleep tracker asides from counting calories and steps taken.

The 100mAh device connects with a number of existing Under Armour accessories, and the company says it will last two and a half days on a single charge.

“Our partnership with Under Armour has allowed us to direct our combined ambition, talent and passion towards developing new ways to empower athletes to make the most of their training every day,” said Drew Bamford, corporate vice president of HTC Creative Labs commented, Grip is our first product to offer deep integration with UA Record, providing an experience that will surpass the high standards of even professional athletes.”

However, Grip will initially only be available in the US to begin with; with HTC only saying that UK availability is ‘to be confirmed’ at the moment.

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