HTC is working on an affordable smartphone that will introduce the coveted 18:9 aspect ratio to the budget market, according to a new report.
Esteemed tipster Evan Blass took to Twitter on February 4 to reveal that the firm is developing a mid-range smartphone – dubbed the HTC Breeze – that’s equipped with a 5.5-inch ultra-tall screen (18:9), a MediaTek CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 13MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP selfie shooter and a 2,730mAh cell.
HTC's got an upcoming 5.5" phone, Breeze (second time as HTC codename), that's mostly notable for pushing full screen, 18:9 aspect ratio down to entry level. Therefore specs are nothing special (Mediatek SoC, 2/16GB, 13/5MP, 2730mAh, etc), and it should be priced to reflect that.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 4, 2018
There’s no word on when HTC will take the wraps off the handset, but with it tipped to hold a gathering at Mobile World Congress at the end of the month, there’s a chance we could find out more about unit then. Nothing’s set in stone, though – so best not get too excited (if budget smartphones are your thing, that is).
Related: MWC 2018
Blass’ tweet is more than a snippet of information about a new device, however. It’s also confirmation that Google’s $1.1 billion acquisition of HTC’s R&D division hasn’t affected the firm’s roadmap, meaning we can expect to see a number of new smartphones – including a new flagship – from the manufacturer in 2018.
What do you think HTC is preparing to showcase at Mobile World Congress? Let us know over on Facebook or Twitter @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.