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Verizon HTC One Could Be Supercharged

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One of the biggest mysteries in the smartphone world right now is the elusive, unreleased, unconfirmed but still rumored Verizon HTC One. Despite the release of the HTC One in the United States, details about the rumored Verizon HTC One remain scarce though new information has emerged today, information that has lead to some new theories about its whereabouts.

Read: HTC One Review.

Prior to the HTC One release in the United States, which took place a few days ago, there were rumors of a Verizon version of the highly anticipated smartphone. Rumored specifications surfaced, the device was said to be in testing for a release in the coming months and the reliable AllThingsD pegged it as arriving one to two months from the initial HTC One release in the United States.

The HTC One is on shelves right now, but not for Verizon.

The HTC One is on shelves right now, but not for Verizon.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that a new HTC Butterfly, the device that Verizon launched as the Droid DNA, is seemingly on the way. HTC actually confirmed that device for arrival a few weeks back.

However, since that flurry of activity, news of an HTC One for Verizon has been scarce, leaving consumers with few answers, and lots of choices not called the HTC One, including the Samsung Galaxy S4 which is set to be released on Verizon during the month of May.

Today though, the rumor mill is at work again, this time in the form of an OTA test from a device called the HTC Butterfly X920d, first spotted by the HTC centric site, HTCSoku.

The Verizon Droid DNA 2, which could be the HTC One, has surfaced again.

The Verizon Droid DNA 2, which could be the HTC One, has surfaced again.

That OTA has apparently revealed three variants of the supposed HTC Butterfly 2, a device that again is said to be replacing the HTC Butterfly on shelves at some point this year.

One of those variants is the DLXPLUS_WL, a device that, according to HTC insider @LLabTooFeR, very well could be Verizon’s version of the HTC One. Armed with this new information, it’s time to present some new theories about Verizon’s missing HTC One, a device that could very well wind up being a completely different device than the other HTC One models. Or not.

Droid DNA 2 Could Be Verizon’s HTC One

HTC-DDROID-DNA-1-575x3821

Verizon could replace the Droid DNA with the Butterfly 2 which could be the Verizon HTC One.

All along, we’ve heard insiders and leaks point to the DLXPLUS_WL as being Verizon’s HTC One. And now that we’ve seen that name appear with models that are said to be the HTC Butterfly 2, it’s looking like these two devices could very well be one in the same.

It would be strange to see Verizon release the exact same phone one to two months after its competitors without at least acknowledging its existence. It would have also been strange to see Verizon release a high-powered HTC phone just a few months after releasing the Droid DNA, a device with a 5-inch display and 1080p resolution back in November.

HTC and Verizon would have risked alienating consumers with an early HTC One release so perhaps the carrier chose to wait for HTC’s other big time smartphone.

So rather than do that, Verizon may be waiting for an HTC One-like phone in the form of the HTC Butterfly 2, or as Verizon might call it, the Droid DNA 2.

Larger Display

At this point, we believe strongly that the HTC One for Verizon could be the HTC Butterfly 2 and thus, the Droid DNA 2. And if that’s the case, we expect it to be different than the HTC One device that is already on the market.

Thus far, leaked specifications pointed to the DLXPLUS_WL as having the same specifications as the other HTC One models. A 4.7-inch display, Ultrapixel camera and more. However, if the HTC One is indeed the Butterfly 2, then that spec sheet is likely inaccurate as the Butterfly 2 will need to differentiate itself from the HTC One.

As we saw with the original Butterfly and Droid DNA, it could mean that the screen size is 5-inch 1080p display instead of the 4.7-inch display found on the HTC One. That would give Verizon a unique option over the other HTC One models.

Wireless Charging

One of the big things that is missing on the HTC One is wireless charging. Despite the Droid DNA rocking wireless charging, HTC decided, for whatever reason, to not include the feature on the HTC One for AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Verizon did include it on the Droid DNA and it would be odd to see the Butterfly 2 come without the feature, especially now that the Galaxy S4 features it.

Devices like the Nexus 4 already feature built-in wireless charging.

Devices like the Nexus 4 already feature built-in wireless charging.

So, that could mean that the Droid DNA 2 could come with built-in wireless charging which, like the larger display, could be a unique feature that could draw in consumers to Verizon’s version of the HTC One and make it worth the wait.

Android 4.2

It would be extremely weird to see a device, that’s supposed to come one to two months after April 19th (the HTC One release date in the U.S.), launch with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board. It was odd to see the HTC One touch down without it and it would be even stranger to see Verizon’s HTC One/Droid DNA 2 come with Android 4.1.

That said, expect Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, something that none of the other HTC One models have yet.

Similar Design

The HTC One features a sleek metal design.

The HTC One features a sleek metal design.

Perhaps the biggest question that consumers have is about the design of the Verizon HTC One, if it will be like the others. So far, rumors are non-existent so we aren’t sure if Verizon’s model, be it the current HTC One or the upcoming Butterfly 2, will feature the same slim all-metal design. The Droid DNA featured a plastic design, which while nice, wasn’t on par with the HTC One’s.

If we had to guess, we’d say that this might be why reports have referred to the Droid DNA 2/Butterfly 2 as Verizon’s HTC One as it may feature a similar metal design but will combine that with a larger display and wireless charging, making it a supercharged HTC One.

It’s only a theory, but it’s one that makes sense in our eyes.

Release in June, After Galaxy S4

And finally, what about its release date? Well, at the moment, Verizon has its hands full. There are rumors of a Nokia Lumia 928 launch next month and the carrier has promised the Galaxy S4 for for May. HTC hasn’t announced the Butterfly 2 yet and Verizon hasn’t confirmed the HTC One for arrival which means that we could be several weeks or months away.

Verizon has confirmed a launch for CTIA in May, on May 22nd to be exact, though we aren’t sure what it has in store. A likely candidate is the Lumia 928 which has been rumored for months and has started leaking out on a daily basis.

The Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 is official, but not release is available.

The Galaxy S4 is hitting Verizon in May.

That said, May 22nd also lines up with the one to two month time frame that we’ve heard about for the Verizon HTC One launch. So, it could be that we see it announced there as well.

Whatever the case may be though, we expect the Verizon HTC One or Droid DNA 2/Butterfly 2 launch to take place after the Galaxy S4 arrives in May. Signs have pointed to a May 30th release date which seems to hint at something coming before hand, but that remains to be seen.

We also don’t expect Verizon to release both an HTC One and a HTC Butterfly 2/Droid DNA 2 so unless the Droid DNA 2 comes far later in the year, we don’t expect Verizon’s “HTC One” to be the same as the others. Instead, we expect it be the Droid DNA 2 with some different, unique features.

19 Comments

19 Comments

  1. JR

    04/23/2013 at 1:32 pm

    I want that bad boy

  2. CJ

    04/23/2013 at 2:41 pm

    A metallic body would essentially preclude wireless charging

  3. amg503

    04/23/2013 at 2:44 pm

    DNA2 right after DNA?
    RAZR right after Bionic.

    Not unusual at all for Big Red

  4. Mike Giasullo

    04/23/2013 at 3:28 pm

    Now that i saw this and know for sure that an HTC phone is on the way for Verizon, I’m waiting it out and seeing what this really is. i have a Samsung phone and have had one for about 8 months, if Anyone is going to help me jump ship it is going to be HTC.

  5. Susan Koch

    04/23/2013 at 4:58 pm

    I too will wait it out. I was going to switch to Samsung, but am now rethinking it. If Verizon or HTC are listening please bring the HTC One to Verizon. Hoping for more memory than DNA. Than I can stay with HTC.

    • Rich

      04/30/2013 at 3:10 pm

      same here. ive had 2 HTCs in a row. now ive been planning to jump to the S4 for months. i already preordered my S4, but i might cancel it and wait it out a bit to see if Verizon gets the One. Maybe HTC can keep me afterall.

  6. stevecall45

    04/24/2013 at 3:11 am

    Chase. I just agree… Clarence`s rep0rt is unimaginable, on thursday I got a top of the range BMW after having earned $7426 this past 5 weeks and-more than, ten thousand lass-month. with-out any question its the most-comfortable work I’ve ever done. I actually started three months/ago and almost straight away began to bring in at least $79 per hour. I follow this website,. ,,,,. .,………… Zoo80. ℂom

  7. Bobby

    04/24/2013 at 1:20 pm

    If the DNA 2 is as fragile as the DNA – forget it! Everyone who owns a DNA has had the screen crack – easily. I called all over asking about replacing it, and one guy says the phone cannot be fixed without replacing the digitizer and the lcd. I took it in to a place that promised me a repair for $96 only to open it up and decide they wouldn’t do the repair without charging me for an lcd also because they are basically glued together. I will not support a company that prevents me from repairing my own device at a reasonable rate. $300 for a screen repair is unacceptable, especially when it seems to be VERY common for the screens to break very easily. Make sure you get insurance if you get a new HTC.

  8. okamsrazor

    04/24/2013 at 3:03 pm

    Adam mills is the worst. He makes #$%& up just to get page clicks. He has never been right. Ever. Unless he is repeating facts pointed out by other reliable sources months after they released them. Stop paying attention to this arse.

  9. A

    04/24/2013 at 3:13 pm

    After speaking with an HTC employee I can confirm a Verizon release in the third quarter. This will be a super charged, droid branded, 5 inch screen version of the htc one. Look for this around Mid July to roll out. As he put it ‘Verizon always waits to get the best, so be patient when you think about upgrading.’

    • Timothy

      04/24/2013 at 4:37 pm

      Really? How did you get the employee to talk? I have an upgrade now but I really want an HTC phone, I’m on Verizon…can’t wait!

  10. Sk8rat

    04/24/2013 at 8:15 pm

    I don’t want a damn droid DNA 2 I want a htc one. If they don’t release it as the htc one I’m getting a galaxy s4 that’s some bullshit. When will Verizon learn nobody wants a stupid droid and they don’t have to change everything.

  11. tonyZ

    04/24/2013 at 8:41 pm

    Please, please don’t let it be a 5in phone.

  12. Fred K

    04/25/2013 at 11:01 am

    5 inch phones are too much. Oddly enough, a 4.7 inch display just seems right. I’ll be jumping ship with all 5 lines if it doesn’t come to Verizon looking close to what it does now.

    • Sk8rat

      05/05/2013 at 11:31 am

      That’s invalid. The htc one and s4 are about the same size. The htc one is taller. They’re about the same width.

  13. Tim

    04/25/2013 at 1:10 pm

    I couldn’t care less about wireless charging. I’d actually prefer the smaller screen. I hate big phones.

    Just give us the damn phone already. Verizon should be embarrassed they’re missing a new flagship phone, when everybody else has it.

  14. Tyler

    05/05/2013 at 6:08 am

    Pretty sure the reason it doesn’t have wireless charging is because the aluminum unibody interferes too much with the coils. If this phone has the aluminum body, it won’t have wireless charging.

  15. Drew

    05/10/2013 at 6:44 am

    Fed up with Verizon. Waiting it out for now. If it turns out to be an exclusive Verizon only phone and not the ONE, then bye bye Verizon. Will not purchase another phone on any carrier that is not a flagship offered across carriers as it is more likely for flagships to receive updates. Verizon you can keep your DNA/Butterfly.

  16. gordon

    05/10/2013 at 4:07 pm

    does anyone know the exact date a new htc phone will be coming out for verizon?

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