HTC One: 5 More Things To Know

The HTC One is finally out on shelves, competing against the likes of the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4. However, it’s arrival doesn’t mean its story has ended. In fact, it’s only the opening salvo as we have seen numerous HTC One developments emerge over the past few weeks that will ensure that this device will be a topic of discussion for many months to come.

In February, HTC announced the new HTC One, a device that replaced the HTC One X and the HTC One X+ with a host of new hardware and software to boot. The device comes with a number of upgrades over its predecessors including a 4.7-inch 1080p display, quad-core processor, Ultrapixel camera, Sense 5, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and an all-new metal ZeroGap design.

Unlike the HTC One and the HTC One X+, the HTC One came to do battle against its foes with a number of different carriers attached. Instead of just AT&T, the HTC One has arrived on AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint, giving users more a choice when it comes to HTC’s flagship.

All three of those carriers released the device back in late April and thus far, the device has seemingly done well with HTC set to increase production to keep up with demand.

However, just because the HTC One has been released doesn’t mean that its story is over. On the contrary, the HTC One’s story is just beginning and we have some new developments to prove it.

Over the past few weeks, new details in regards to the HTC One have emerged, painting a picture of what current and future owners can expect from the HTC One brand in the days and weeks ahead. From a new HTC One model to a smaller HTC One to an impending Android update, the HTC One, like the Samsung Galaxy S4, is still very busy which means that there is a lot of information for users to digest.

Here now are the five most important things that current and future HTC One owners need to know right now.

HTC One Mini Still Rumored

Samsung is heavily rumored to be coming out with a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini sometime this summer to compliment not only the Galaxy S4, but also its Samsung Galaxy S4 Active that will be aimed at users who need a more rugged device. HTC has been rumored to be keeping pace with Samsung with a mini release of its own, a release that is apparently still on track.

The HTC M4, which leaked several weeks ago but has not since, is thought to be a smaller version of the HTC One and a device that will be hitting shelves in the months ahead.

Like the Galaxy S4 Mini, it’s said to feature lesser specifications than its larger flagship brother, but fortunately for those interested in a smaller HTC One, it’s thought to be keeping the same metal design to pair with its features.

Since its leak, the device has remained in the shadows but @LLabTooFeR, a noted HTC leakster, suggests that the device is still coming to market and may be called the HTC One Mini.

We’ve only seen one device emerge under the ‘One’ umbrella this year, so it would not be surprising to see another mid-range device arrive to compliment the larger one.

Verizon HTC One Release Up in the Air

Maybe the most important thing to know about the HTC One right now is that a Verizon model is still unreleased and while there are whispers of a release at some point. it’s still completely up in the air.

Here’s what we know about the Verizon HTC One right now:

• Verizon is hosting a May 22nd announcement at CTIA. It will be live streaming it.
• Verizon was rumored to be releasing an HTC One one to two months after the other carriers. May 22nd is one month after the other carriers.
• The Verizon HTC One is still coming, according to noted HTC insider, @LLabTooFeR. He cannot confirm May 22nd as a launch date, neither can we.
• We’ve seen a grand total of zero leaks in the build up to May 22nd.
• Verizon skipping an HTC One and releasing a Droid DNA 2 with a 5-inch 1080p display remains possible thanks to the leak of the HTC Butterfly S.

At this point, it’s a complete and utter mystery. Given that it hasn’t leaked out yet, we imagine that May 22nd may come and go without a launch. Keep those fingers crossed.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Coming Soon

When the HTC One arrived, it didn’t have Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on board but Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, an older version of Google’s Android software. Turns out, that might change soon, real soon.

HTC One owners should know that the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update appears to be just around the corner. HTC confirmed Sense 5 for the HTC Butterfly for May, an update that should bring Android 4.2 as well, and we doubt that the company would upgrade the Butterfly with Android 4.2 before the HTC One, its flagship.

Furthermore, rumors have suggested that an Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update for the HTC One is close, perhaps as close as the end of May. HTC is likely working hard to catch the HTC One up to the Samsung Galaxy S4 so it wouldn’t be surprising to see it roll out this quickly after launch.

HTC One Nexus Rumored

At Google I/O, we didn’t see a Nexus 5 but we did see the arrival of another new Nexus, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus that will be coming to shelves in late June. The Galaxy S4 Nexus will come with a Galaxy S4 design but will sport vanilla Android software, quick updates and an unlocked bootloader. And while HTC shot down the possibility of an HTC One Nexus right off the bat, rumors are suggesting that it may not have been telling the truth.

@LLabTooFeR has suggested that an HTC One with vanilla Android may be out by the end of summer. It’s a device that consumers would likely eat up, thanks to the metal design.

He claims to know that it’s a real possibility, it isn’t just a guess, though the rest of the details remain scarce. One cryptic tweet suggests that it may not even been called the HTC One but something else. According to him, the name won’t matter. He also replied to another inquiry saying that HTC would be singing a different tune in the next few months.

Whether an HTC One Nexus ever materializes is up to debate but at the very least, there remains a possibility, despite what HTC may have said last week during Google I/O.

Affordable Pricing Reigns

One last thing that prospective HTC One owners need to know is that the device is extremely affordable and will remain that way until its replaced at some point in the distant future.

Right now, the HTC One can be found for as little at $129.99, the price that Amazon is charging for the HTC One on AT&T. That’s a solid $70 off the asking price for the 32GB model through the carrier and a price that should be appetizing to those not looking to break the bank with their next smartphone purchase.

Even better, this is not as low as it will go. In fact, expect the price to continue to dip throughout the summer with retailers, and possibly carriers, targeting consumers coming off contract with some price cut deals, even lower than $130.