HTC One M10 ‘Perfume’ rumored to come with Snapdragon 820 and MediaTek variants, launch after MWC

According to relatively well-known HTC leaker, @LlabTooFeR on Twitter, the Taiwanese manufacture won’t use MWC as its platform to launch its next flagship device this year. The usually reliable leaker corroborates a previous rumor, suggesting that the it’s more likely the phone will get its own separate event after MWC. An earlier rumor had suggested we won’t see it announced until March, with a retail launch due in April…

LlabTooFeR believes the HTC ‘Perfume’ (code-name for HTC One M10) will launch with Android 6.0.1 and Sense 8.0 out of the box when it hits store shelves in a few months’ time. What’s more, he believes there will be two variants for different markets. It’s claimed that Europe and the US will get a Snapdragon 820-powered model, while South-East Asia and China will get a MediaTek-equipped model.

HTC Perfume can be released on dedicated event. Unlike the previous info, it will run Android 6.0.1 and Sense 8.0_GP on the launch…

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) January 21, 2016

Having endured a tough year in 2015, all eyes are on HTC to blow us away in 2016. Since the very first HTC One (M7), each following generation has been something of an anti-climax.

Despite the impeccable build quality, awesome BoomSound and fast performance, the overall experience hasn’t been one that’s wowed tech reviewers or consumers. Particularly during last year, several handsets were launched by lesser-known manufactures which matched the HTC One M9 in specs and build materials, but cost a lot less.

Launching outside of MWC could be a smart move by HTC. Similar to Samsung last year with the Note 5 (which skipped IFA), HTC could ensure it doesn’t have to fight for our attention.

I'm expecting 2 versions of the device: Qualcomm 820 (for EU and US markets) and MTK based (Mainly for China and South-East Asia)…

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) January 21, 2016

To have a chance at winning the battle for our hard-earned cash though, it will need to release a phone with features and specifications that match the best phones on the market. For once, it needs to have a market-leading camera, as well as a QHD resolution screen (preferably AMOLED).

With rumors stirring that HTC might spin-off its VR business in order to protect it from potential smartphone losses, it seems obvious the company is no longer confident in its ability to compete. For our sake, I hope it puts at least one more great phone out there, even if it’s just a reminder of what it can do, and has done in the past.