Now that the new HTC One A9 is out, people are saying that it looks a lot like an iPhone 6. When we first got our hands on the device, we noticed right away that it’s an iPhone 6S clone. It’s not a total replica but the design is very familiar to the mobile industry. We know this isn’t the only iPhone look-alike out there but this one from HTC is being scrutinized harder.

Apple has not made any comment on this issue and no lawsuit has been filed yet but HTC is  quick to deny the public’s accusations that they copied from Apple. HTC North Asia’s President Jack Tong denied the other day that the One A9 is a copy of the iPhone because HTC features an all-metal design.

There are dozens of similar reviews all over the web but Tong reacted to The Verge’s review of the One A9. The HTC One A9 was described as “the most blatant and highest-profile iPhone ripoff since Samsung’s original Galaxy S”. (Harsh but somewhat true.)

The HTC executive noted that they already made a similar phone a couple of years ago”. Tong said, “We’re not copying. We made a uni-body metal-clad phone in 2013. It’s Apple that copies us in terms of the antenna design on the back”–referring to the HTC One M7“The A9 is made thinner and more lightweight than our previous metal-clad phones. This is a change and evolution, and we’re not copying,” said Tong further.

We’re not explaining how we think it looks like an iPhone but we know there’s some “copying” that happened along the way. Someone copied someone. We just don’t know who did first. You be the judge.

Before the HTC One A9 was released, we already judged that it looked like an iPhone 6. But even then, we noticed how HTC seems to be getting more serious with releasing high-end, premium smartphones. During the same event, HTC North Asia’s Jack Tong also said that the company’s “design language will enter a different and fashionable phase”. HTC already started with the One A9. Tong shared that the latest model is different from the previous phones like the One M9, One M8, and One M7. The new design is expected to be seen in the future Desire and premium M phones. Hopefully, more people will look at HTC’s direction and buy their smartphones this time.

HTC’s performance isn’t exactly stellar but the Taiwanese company remains positive. It’s doing all the measures to increase sales by taking advantage advertisements, developing more apps, and cutting some jobs. Focusing on the premium phone market could probably help but more mobile users now are choosing more mid-range phones simply because of their value for money. People prefer phones that have high-specs and yet still affordable.

We don’t know the price of  the HTC One A9 in the US yet but it’s listed on Orange online shop at €599.90 ($666)–too pricey. HTC must go easy on the pricing this time and learn from Sony who cut the prices of the new Xperia models within less than a week in Europe.

 

VIA: Want China Times

SOURCE: Focus Taiwan

6 COMMENTS

    • It will be at the same time that HTC declares bankruptcy and is selling their office furniture for pennies on the dollar. Two funerals is cheaper to hold than one.

  1. I owned a M7 and everyone thought it was such a nice quality phone like Apple phones. I am sorry but Apple copied HTC first on this particular design. You can blatently see it in the M7 and mini models. Its only because its Apple…

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