Reports and leaks from a few convincing sources seem to be solving the conundrum around the release of Verizon HTC One. BNP Paribas Security analyst Lauren Chen forecasts a late June release. Two other sources – @evleaks and @LLabTooFeR – also expect a June end release. Call it guessing or projection, but all three sources are said to be credible.
Back in April, when HTC One launched on other carriers – AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile – AllThingsD said that a Verizon version will come two months later, and the latest reports seem to match with that prediction. Nevertheless, rumors have been abounding, especially after May’s CTIA event in Las Vegas, where Verizon did not make the much-anticipated announcement of the device.
With its full-metal design and high-end specifications, HTC One is competing against the equally proficient Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5. Its features include a 4.7-inch 1080pdisplay, Ultrapixel camera, 32GB/64GB storage, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with HTC’s Sense 5 UI, which adds some amazing features like the HTC Zoe and HTC BlinkFeed. Hence, it is not surprising to see consumers expecting a version of the device on Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. carrier.
Pondering over the aspects that are determining Verizon HTC One’s release, analysts say that Verizon is waiting for HTC to update to Android 4.2 because the Android 4.2 is coming anytime, and it would be awkward to release a phone with outdated software.
Verizon HTC One buyers will benefit from the carrier’s robust 4G LTE network, which is the largest till date. Cost details have yet to be revealed, but pricing will likely be in line with the Verizon version of Samsung Galaxy S4, which comes for $199.99.
Other Verizon HTC models expected in this quarter are HTC M4, HTC Butterfly 2 and HTC T6. The HTC One Nexus is coming to Google Play Store in late June.