We’re nearing the end of the year, and we have to start shifting our focus accordingly. Just last month we could have kept our eyes on the handsets that companies launched earlier this year. Now that we’re inching ever closer to the holiday shopping season, though, it’s time to start talking about what those companies have coming down the pipe. Thankfully, we’ve got rumors and leaks to fill our time with. And if you are part of the Android army, and a fan of HTC’s recently released devices, then you probably have a bit to be excited about this week.
Two devices have made their way into the limelight recently, both of which will be running Android whenever they manage to get released. However, there are some major differences to pay attention to.
The first is the lesser of the two. It’s codenamed “Proto,” and it will fit snugly between the One V and One S. It reportedly features a 4-inch WVGA Super LCD display, and there is a 1GHz dual-core processor under the hood. A 5MP camera is said to be tucked away on the backside, and the device is said to measure in at only 9.62mm thin. Other features include 512MB of RAM and 4GB of built-in storage. It will also come along with Beats Audio, but there’s no surprise there. As far as which version of Android it will launch with, it’s suggested it would be some version of Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.
And then there’s the next flagship device, or what HTC could very well market as their next flagship device. It’s being called the HTC One X+ right now, and that’s probably a fitting, yet remarkably uncreative name. Features wise, we’re looking at a device that’s reportedly packing a 720p resolution for its display, and under the hood there’s a 1.7GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. One of the best parts, though, is the belief, based on the leaked information regarding the device, the One X+ will launch with Android 4.1.1 out of the box.
Previously leaked information about the One+, point to a launch on T-Mobile USA’s network later this year. To be specific –as much as we can be when talking about leaked information--, it is believed that the next One Series device will launch for Magenta’s network at the tail-end of September.
If that pans out, it means that the One X+ will see the light of day, with some pretty captivating features, just four months after the official release of the One X. Is it enough to garner some buyer’s remorse from those who picked up the high-end One Series device at launch? Yes, I would imagine it would be, but there’s a big catch here.
And that’s the expected launch on T-Mobile’s network.
Earlier this week, Taylor Martin outlined why carrier exclusivities are a bad thing. And I actually agree with that. I believe that manufacturers should launch their high-end, and even their mid-range, handsets on as many carriers as possible. But, there’s a point where an exclusive launch can be a good thing, and I think this is one of those times.
Why? As I stated above, I do think that if the One X+ were to launch on AT&T’s network, there would be some room for One X owners to get a little miffed. Even if the stats of the newer device share plenty of similarities between it and its predecessor, NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processor clocked at 1.7GHz is worth the second look. But, if T-Mobile is indeed the only carrier here in the States that’s going to launch the new One X+, I see that as a good exclusive deal.
The One X is still one of the best, if not the best Android-based smartphone on AT&T’s network, and it looks like it will stay that way for at least a little bit longer. With that in mind, I don’t think that those who purchased the One X should be all that dismayed that the One X+ is coming down the line. You have your network, you have your phone, so unless you’re unhappy with the network I wouldn’t see a reason why you’d be angry that the One X+ is coming out only four months later.
It would be a completely different story if it were to launch on AT&T’s network. And, don’t get me wrong, I imagine that that is a possibility. We really don’t have any idea where the One X+ is going, officially. The rumors point us in one direction, but things could change and it could land somewhere else.
Where do you stand in this particular case? Do you think a carrier exclusive launch of the One X+ is a bad thing? Or does it make sense, especially when it comes to consumers? And, more importantly, would you be willing to switch carriers to get your hands on it? Let me know.
