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HTC executive: Apple copied HTC, not vice-versa

posted by Paul K. / Oct 22, 2015, 3:55 AM

All in good fun

This Tuesday, HTC announced its brand-new flagship smartphone – the One A9. Packed with a more modest hardware, the handset focuses on aesthetics and snappy software experience above hard-hitting specs or features. And let's just say that the new design looks very, very familiar – it has already drawn a lot of criticism that HTC has copied the iPhone 6, both from media and users.

Well, a report from Chinese media Want China Times says that president of HTC North Asia Jack Tong has refuted said accusations, pointing out that HTC was the first to do the all metal design with plastic strips on the back of the handset — with the HTC One M7. In his words, it is Apple that copied the idea with the infamous antenna stripes on the back of the iPhone 6. The HTC One A9 is, apparently, just an evolution of HTC's design language.

Fair enough, HTC. Though, we do remember that at the A9 was pointed as a good alternative to Apple's iPhones by another one of your executives.

The One A9 strikes a balance between premium design, specs, and price, with an octa-core Snapdragon 617 processor, a 13 MP rear camera, 2 GB or 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB / 32 GB of storage space, and microSD card support. All of this priced at $400 in the US might just get some buyers to veer towards HTC this holiday season.

Thanks for the tip, Luca

HTC One A9

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source: WantChinaTimes; gif source: Miroslav Vitula

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PhoneArena Rating:

7.8

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User Rating:

9.8

Based on 8 Reviews

Display 5.0" 1080 x 1920 pixels

Camera 13 MP / 4 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, Octa-core, 1500 MHz

Storage 32 GB + microSDXC

Battery 2150 mAh(16h 3G talk time)

View Full specs

PhoneArena Rating:

9.3

Read Full Review

User Rating:

9.4

Based on 31 Reviews

Display 4.7" 750 x 1334 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 5 MP front

Processor Apple A9 APL0898, Dual-core, 1840 MHz

Storage 128 GB

Battery 1715 mAh(14h 3G talk time)

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86 Comments

1. Sriniva1995

Posts: 44; Member since: Nov 06, 2013

It is true that apple has copied from HTC but who the f**k cares when your(apple) followers are blind....

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:05 AM 42

19. Zomer

Posts: 361; Member since: May 31, 2013

The iPhone 6 doesn't look anything like the One M7. The HTC One A9 does look like the iPhone 6/6S.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:43 AM 22

20. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

You are looking it wrong. http://images.bwbx.io/cms/2014-09-16/iphone2a-630.jpg

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:50 AM 28

36. Zomer

Posts: 361; Member since: May 31, 2013

Like I said it doesn't look anything like it.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 5:37 AM 17

39. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

lol k

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 5:57 AM 6

70. insyt

Posts: 52; Member since: Sep 16, 2015

You are right. It's an uglier version of the M7.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 11:11 AM 0

54. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

My dude, the only thing that is similiar is the antenna lines which actually have a function. Other than that, these phones look nothing alike. As for the M9, they literally look off the Apple logo and replaced it with HTC and centered the camera.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 8:31 AM 1

71. insyt

Posts: 52; Member since: Sep 16, 2015

What about the color scheme? Rounded edges?

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 11:13 AM 0

51. j2001m

Posts: 3061; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

I not a big fan of htc, but if you going to pay Apple for all there tech they your phones using as htc does, then you 100% need to do a full copy as your r and d cash is all going. To Apple as it does, I think it's like $25 per phone but I may be wrong as I can now not find that info, but I think it is what they was thinking they needed, but that may have been what they asked Samsung for, anyways, this is why it's a copy http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/10/3629516/why-apple-and-htc-settled-their-patent-litigation

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 7:55 AM 0

61. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Get glass as you are obviously blind.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 10:59 AM 0

83. michaelny2001

Posts: 328; Member since: Aug 01, 2012

when apple was making the iphone 4, HTC was making HTC One which looks super similar to what the the 6 and 6s looks like now. check it out. Go back to 2011

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:15 PM 1

90. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

NO ONE IS SAYING OT LOOKS THE SAME STUPID. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING STUPID IS THE ANTENNA GAPS FILLED WITH PLASTIC, WAS CLAIMED TO BE INVENTED BY APPLE, WHEN IN FACT IT WAS DONE BY HTC WITH THE M6/M7 with the M6 predating the iPhone 6 by a full 13 months.

posted on Oct 26, 2015, 4:29 PM 0

26. Jimrod

Posts: 1605; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

So you're (Sriniva1995) basically saying that HTC are being a bit thick by stopping being leaders and now following in terms of design? Apple copied them and now they're copying Apple, so rather than offering their own style that others follow they've become sheep. (disregarding how far you go back because all these companies have copied each other generation after generation, these designs all evolve from a basic form over the years...)

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 5:04 AM 0

85. Bubbybuster

Posts: 21; Member since: Oct 21, 2015

Spray me with your Android seed. I neeeeeeeed it

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 5:39 PM 1

2. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

How fame of one can supplant the originality of another.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:06 AM 20

6. XperiaFanZone

Posts: 2277; Member since: Sep 21, 2012

Nokia N1 is another example of it.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:21 AM 3

41. imnotascammer

Posts: 160; Member since: Aug 22, 2012

Couldnt said it any better.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 6:16 AM 0

3. HTC_ONE_MAX

Posts: 168; Member since: Feb 06, 2015

Only back is similar while front is so “Samsung”.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:14 AM 3

4. TyrionLannister unregistered

The front looks nothing like a Samsung phone. A9 is asymmetrical and doesn't have capacitive keys. I bet you haven't seen a Galaxy phone with top bezel not the same size as bottom. The front looks more like those butterfly phones with a button.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:17 AM 4

14. Acer_Predator unregistered

What ? Not really..

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:36 AM 0

25. Diezparda

Posts: 941; Member since: Oct 23, 2013

So samsung? Samsung always have a good screen to body ratio.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 5:02 AM 7

55. blueghost211

Posts: 57; Member since: Oct 19, 2015

I agree Kyoraku.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 8:32 AM 1

7. hound.master

Posts: 1044; Member since: Feb 27, 2015

Well technically iPhone 6 is a copy of HTC's all metal phones and if A9 is a copy of iPhone then it's still not a copy. It's like those sandwich icons with some idiots say is maded by Google and MS copy it!? But anyway iPhone 6 design was nothing to cheer about it was ugly as s**t got a lot of problems #bendgate and also weak side protection the screen can break if dropped on side from 30CM(a foot) say it from experience.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:21 AM 10

58. NexusX

Posts: 613; Member since: May 16, 2013

didn't iphone have a aluminum back since...forever? antenna lines are needed for signal receptions which is essential to having a metal built devices. there is zero resemblance between the HTC M8 and the iphone. you people must be delusional to think HTC did not copy apple. it's obvious HTC is desperate and they are trying to replicate Apple's success with this blatant ripoff. everyone knows asians love iphones and china is HTC's biggest market. uninformed chinese consumer would buy an iphone lookalike if it's cheaper.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 9:19 AM 0

62. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Iphone 5 and earlier ( after the 3GS ) is glass front and back. Iphone 5S is a mix of aluminium and glass for the back. Iphone 6 is all aluminium back like HTC. A9 is all aluminium back like Apple. lol they can copy each other they have a 10 years agreements.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 11:01 AM 0

78. NexusX

Posts: 613; Member since: May 16, 2013

so using aluminum is a patent infringement? what about using plastic? glass? leather? so nexus 4 copied the iphone 4? so every OEM that uses plastic copies samsung? hasn't apple always used aluminum for the macbooks and macs?

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 12:16 PM 0

8. HugoBarraCyanogenmod

Posts: 1412; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

I bet iPhone hater will gonna get one and troll in front of every iPhone user in how overpriced their devices are. Iphone without apple logo = $400 Iphone with apple logo = $700 Don't be an iDiot

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:22 AM 9

11. hafini_27

Posts: 949; Member since: Oct 31, 2013

Free marketing for HTC. This design is from HTC anyway.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:27 AM 8

13. carlemillward unregistered

Let be honest, HTC A9 copied more from the iPhone 6 than what iPhone 6 copied from HTC M7/M8. iPhone 6 copied one-toned metallic design as well as horizontal antennae. Whereas HTC One A9 copies curved edge shape, camera layout, metallic finish, ports. HTC One A9 looks more like an iPhone 6 than the HTC One series, I do not see continuation of design.