Following HTC’s initial hints about a new U-series smartphone, various live photos of the supposed U23 Pro 5G featuring Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 have appeared on the internet.
HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer, may no longer be at the forefront of the Android smartphone market as other companies have taken over. Nevertheless, they still release new phones, albeit at a prolonged rate. Last year’s Desire 22 Pro was marketed as the “first metaverse smartphone” but failed to make an impact.
Just before its first anniversary, HTC hinted at the release of another metaverse-focused phone. Recently leaked images provide more information about this upcoming mid-tier phone, reportedly called the HTC U23 Pro 5G, including details about its hardware specifications.
And from the leaks, HTC has not learned its lesson. See, part of the reason why HTC fell off its game was that it did not equip its devices with specs that could compete with the competition.
HTC U23 Pro 5G: Rumored specs of the new
Here is what we know so far about the upcoming HTC U23 Pro 5G.
HTC U23 Pro 5G: Design
The HTC U23 Pro 5G pictures come from the Chinese publication ptt.cc. These pictures suggest that the U23 Pro 5G will feature a plastic frame and back panel. This is a bit disappointing and shocking since, according to u/Aquis_GN, the U23 Pro is supposed to be an upper midrange phone.
The leaks also point out that the device will feature an AMOLED display. But there’s no word of whether the display will feature a fast refresh rate. An AMOLED display would be a considerable upgrade over last year’s Desire 22 Pro’s LCD display.
Performance and storage specs
Leaked images of the U23 Pro 5G being tested using the AIDA54 utility tool have revealed that it will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset. The U23 Pro will also have a minimum of 8GB RAM and 256GB storage capacity.
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The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is a mid-range 5G chip built on Samsung’s 4nm process. This SoC was announced last year alongside the 8 Gen 1 and is also found on the Xiaomi 13 Lite. This will be a huge jump in performance over the Desire 22 Pro’s Snapdragon 695 from last year.
Camera specs
The primary rear camera is expected to be a 108MP unit with OIS, but information on other sensors is not yet available.
Other specs
The model shown in the images has the model number 2QC9100. However, leaker Abhishek Yadav has found two more model numbers, 2QC9200 and 2QCB100 (according to GSMArena). Yadav also claims that the phone will come pre-installed with Android 13.
According to the leaked pictures, the U23 Pro 5G will feature a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top of the phone. The SIM slot will be situated next to the USB-C charging port. The phone is expected to have a 4,600mAh battery with support for wireless charging.
When will we see the HTC U23 Pro 5G?
The release date of the Desire 22 Pro was in June last year. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that HTC may plan to launch the U23 Pro 5G around the same time in 2023.
Conclusion
I’d like to see HTC come back to the flagship Android market, much like what we’re seeing with Motorola. But this might take some years. However, I hope the upcoming HTC U23 Pro 5G garners some hype in the markets it will launch in.
What are your thoughts on HTC’s rumored new phone? Do you think the company can make a comeback to the smartphone scene? Do let us know in the comments section.
