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The all-new HTC 10 flagship smartphone from HTC is now available through Verizon, featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core 64-bit processor, vastly improved front and rear cameras, and upgraded audio capabilities for better music playback compared with the previous HTC One M9 handset. The handset will also be available through Sprint starting May 13.
The HTC 10 is being sold by Verizon for a limited time for $22.83 per month for 24 months on a no-money-down payment plan (total $548). The handset normally will sell for $27 per month on a 24-month payment plan (total $648). It can also be purchased for $199.99 with a two-year contract or for $648 with no payments.
The phone, which was announced by HTC in April, features a 5.2-inch, Quad HD (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) touch-screen display that is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass, 4GB of memory, 32GB of built-in storage, a microSD slot that accepts storage cards up to 2TB, a USB-C port and a fast-acting biometric fingerprint scanner for security. The HTC 10, which is available in silver from Verizon, has a metal unibody design and runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. It is a world phone that will operate in more than 200 countries around the world.
The new HTC 10 on Verizon can take advantage of the carrier’s HD Voice services, which allow callers to make and receive calls that are “as clear as talking with someone face-to-face when you call other compatible HD-enabled smartphones,” according to Verizon. The HD Voice services also offer WiFi Calling and let users talk on the phone even while they are using apps or conducting Web searches.
Sprint will sell the HTC 10 for zero down and $26 per month for 24 months (total $624) when it goes on sales on May 13.
Highlighting the new handset is a high-performance, 12-megapixel UltraPixel 2 rear-facing camera that includes laser auto-focus, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), an F/1.8 lens aperture, a 26mm focal length, dual tone LED flash and a wide range of creativity features. New to the HTC’s camera is a Pro Mode that offers manual control and 12-bit RAW format support and 4K video recording capabilities.
The HTC 10’s front-facing camera is a 5-megapixel device with auto-focus, OIS, an F/1.8 lens aperture, a 23mm focal length, auto selfie and voice selfie features, and Full HD 1080p video recording. Both of the handset’s cameras are designed to provide improved low-light, high-resolution photos for users in a wide variety of conditions.
Also included are re-engineered HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi edition speakers with separated tweeters and woofers and a dedicated amplifier on each speaker; high-quality 24-bit, hi-res audio recording capabilities; and an all-new Personal Audio Profile system that creates a unique profile that is tuned to a user’s individual hearing needs.
Powering the handset is a 3,000mAh battery that comes with a new Quick Charge 3.0 feature that can provide a 50 percent charge in just 30 minutes. Also included is Boost+, which makes the phone faster while consuming less power, according to HTC. Boost+ optimizes the phone’s memory, provides a game battery booster for game play, and automatically detects and shuts down apps that use excessive power to improve battery life by up to 30 percent.
An App Lock feature adds a layer of security by enabling users to lock any app as desired, while a new App Manager can give instant fixes for misbehaving apps. The 4G LTE smartphone, which is 5.7 inches long, 2.83 inches wide and 0.11 inches thick and weighs 5.67 ounces, also includes Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi and near-field communications (NFC) connectivity.
An unlocked version of the HTC 10 is also being offered directly through HTC for $699. The unlocked version is compatible for use on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks, according to HTC.