Newsletter
Despite the recent struggles, which don’t seem to end anytime soon, HTC isn’t quitting the smartphone market just yet. According to a DigiTimes report, the Taiwanese company is planning to launch more phones this year. The report doesn’t go into much detail about the new devices. However, it claims that HTC is prepping to launch the new phones starting in the second quarter of 2021.
Some of the upcoming HTC phones, or at least one of them, will come with 5G-capabilities, the report cites industry sources as saying. The Taiwanese company is apparently looking to work with local telecom operators in Europe and the Middle East to try and boost its smartphone sales in the regions.
Apart from new 5G smartphones, HTC is also reportedly developing new AR/VR hardware products as well as related solutions for 2021. The company is looking to expand its portfolios of commercial AR/VR solutions. The steep rise in remote communications, work, and study activities over the past year or so has created opportunities for tech hardware makers to design tailored devices. HTC, of course, doesn’t want to miss out on this and is prepping new AR/VR devices and solutions for the second quarter this year.
HTC is reportedly developing more 5G phones for 2021
Once fitting to be called a smartphone giant, HTC has its glory days way in its past. The Taiwanese company is now a shadow of itself. It hasn’t posted any profits from the smartphone business for some time now. However, it is not backing down just yet. The company is alive and kicking, all geared up to compete in the smartphone market for at least another year.
HTC has launched two smartphones in 2021 so far. The 5G-capable Desire 21 Pro came first in January, followed by a more humble Wildfire E3 last month. Now, as per the new report, the company is preparing to introduce more 5G phones this year.
To better compete against its Chinese rivals, HTC recently slashed the prices of its first 5G phone, the HTC U20 5G. Launched in June 2020 for a starting price of NT$18,900 (~$664), the phone is no retailing for around NT$14,000 (~$482).
These kinds of strategic decisions did help the company narrow its losses in the fourth quarter of 2020. However, that’s barely positive news given that its smartphone business has yet to return to profitability. It now remains to be seen whether HTC manages to fight its way out of this grave situation or crumbles under the pressure and quits the smartphone market like LG.