Updated on 08-25-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added in another leaked pic of what could be the HTC Aero, which looks like an iPhone 6 with HTC branding.
It might look just like an iPhone
HTC’s all-metal phones are widely considered to be as beautiful as Apple’s aluminum iPhones, but usually, there are a few stylistic differences to set them apart. However, two recently leaked pictures of what could be the HTC Aero or Hero phone looks almost exactly like the iPhone 6 with HTC branding on the back.
The first picture came from MobiPicker, a slightly less-than-reliable site, which may have misinterpreted the Weibo post from China in which the leaked picture appeared. According to G4Games, the poster made a mockup, so the image is not the real device.
G4Games then published another photo of what could be the HTC Aero/Hero, next to an iPhone 6. The real-world shot from Weibo looks much more reliable than the mockup from MobiPicker, but it has the exact same look as the mockup. Of course, there’s no determining whether the leaks are real or not.
The only other visible difference is the position of the camera, which is centered on the top back of the device alongside a flash. The curved edges, flat aluminum back, and even the lines for antenna reception look just like the ones you’d see on the iPhone 6. In contrast, the HTC One M9 has a curved back, shinier metal finish, and different lines. The camera sensor is also much smaller looking on the device pictured in these leaked photos.
Early leaks say it’ll be a mid-range phone
News of the phone first came from @Evleaks, who was tipped off that HTC was readying a phone he referred to as the Aero for release. It was suggested the device will eventually wear the One name, but may have mid-range specs. In the past, this could have meant we were about to see a Mini version of the One M9, but HTC has ruled out making such a phone.
Another indication that the HTC Aero may not be a flagship device is its supposed release in November, meaning it would come very soon after the One M9 was announced. The leak also indicates that Sprint will likely carry the phone.
Spec leak suggest flagship status
Despite the earlier leak saying the Hero/Aero will not top HTC’s range, a rumor originating from Vietnam suggests the opposite. According to the source, the Aero will have a 2560 x 1440 pixel screen, which is currently only seen on top-of-the-range hardware such as the LG G4. The One M9 has a 1080p display, but the limited release One M9+ does have a 1440p screen resolution.
The size of the display isn’t mentioned, but the rumor says the Gorilla Glass 4 glass panel covering it will be 2.5D, meaning it’ll have a slight curve at the edge, just like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Additionally, it’s also rumored the Aero’s camera will have an f/1.9 aperture, and be able to capture photos in RAW format. Again, a rarity on anything but high-end smartphones.
Mixed messages from leaks could mean we’re looking at two different phones — the Hero and the Aero — but may also suggest we’re being mislead, so treat all this as idle speculation for now.
We’ll keep you updated with all the latest rumors regarding HTC’s plans here.
Article first published on 06-30-2015
Updated on 08-24-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added in leaked pic of what could be the HTC Aero, which looks like an iPhone 6 with HTC branding.
Updated on 07-07-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in news of the Aero’s possible screen resolution and other specs.
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