However, recent reports have suggested the Taiwanese firm’s new device will be priced higher than the 16GB iPhone 5 in the UK, a move industry experts have described as “madness”.
The likes of Vodafone and Orange are both offering 24-month data plans for the HTC One, ranging between £30 and £36, similar to the iPhone 5. However, if you want HTC’s new flagship you will also have to pay an additional upfront sum of £100, while the iPhone 5 is free with these packages.
So, will the HTC One prove to be worth its premium price tag? Judging by its spec sheet it certainly seems likely, but when up against Apple - one of the world’s leading smartphone manufacturers- HTC will have to work hard on its marketing strategy to justify the extra cost.
Compared with the iPhone 5 you will get more internal storage with the HTC One, with its smallest storage option being 32GB. But, with an ample offering of cloud-based storage solutions now available for those in need of more space, this element alone won’t be enough to encourage users to part with their cash.
Other HTC One specs:
• 4.7-inch full 1080p HD display
• 1.7Ghz quad-core processor
• Android Jelly Bean operating system
• HTC Sense 5.0
• UltraPixel camera
• 1080p video recording capabilities
• Beats Audio sound enhancing technology
Despite its impressive list of specs it’s surprising that HTC has stuck with its premium pricing strategy for the HTC One, after the firm failed to make an impact with it’s high-end offerings last year. Devices, including the HTC One X, were marketed at a much lower price than the HTC One, yet they still struggled to sell in volumes comparable to devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy S III.
Compared to the likes of Apple and Samsung the HTC brand still has a long way to go before it possesses anywhere near the amount of allure and attraction to demand such high prices, and expect potential users to pay them.
That said, the Taiwanese manufacturer has clearly put all its efforts into its new flagship and seems confident its latest offering will provide a much-needed boost to its sales which, according to a report published on the company’s investor website, plummeted during 2012 for the first time in two years.
It remains to be seen whether the new features packed in to the HTC One will be enough to convince users to commit to the extra outlay, but in the meantime you can check out our full review watch the video above to see the HTC One in action and decide for yourself.
Sarah Hazelwood