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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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Display 5.0 inches
1920 x 1080 pixels

Camera 13 MP (Single camera)
4 MP front

Hardware Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, 3GB RAM

Storage 32GB, microSDXC

Battery 2150 mAh

OS Android 7.0 Nougat
HTC Sense UI

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Display 4.7 inches
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Camera 12 MP (Single camera)
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Storage 128GB, not expandable

Battery 1715 mAh

OS iOS 13.x

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86 Comments

91. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

It should be against the law for any journalist based site to have correct information and post wrong information on purpose. HTC had this design since the before the M7. A quick Google will show you this. All of which predate the iPhone 6. Apple copies and no one says nothing, but then if someone falsely claims someone copied Apple, oh boy here comes the ignorant stupid fans ready to pounce on the eveil copier OEM. Just like a typical ignorant sheep..

posted on Oct 26, 2015, 4:33 PM 0

82. eN16HTMAR3

Posts: 253; Member since: Oct 08, 2013

Great....Now I can have my cake and eat it too.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 1:58 PM 0

67. Andrewtst

Posts: 697; Member since: Jan 25, 2009

Yup Apple borrowing your idea from M7 but now you HTC is blindly copying everything from iPhone 6 include the ugliness part as well the crazy big bezel from top and bottom. You talk so much also useless as this phone confirm to be fail.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 11:06 AM 1

59. janno

Posts: 144; Member since: Aug 19, 2014

The more accurate statement would be: "Apple copied from HTC first...and then HTC copied Apple." The iPhone 6 was a "relative clone" of the HTC One M8, but the A9 is an almost carbon-copy clone of the iPhone 6/6S.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 9:37 AM 0

57. NexusX

Posts: 613; Member since: May 16, 2013

for those who thinks iphone copied the htc m8, 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. this is what happens when you put a woman in charge...

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 9:14 AM 0

69. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

first iphone all aluminium back is iphone 6. iphone 5S had part glass part aluminium. Iphone 5 and earlier where in glass back or plastic.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 11:08 AM 0

76. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Eh, this is what Apple deserves. They got 1 billion free dollars to add to their 25 billion for making the same claim HTC fans are making. Yes it's far fetched to say the iPhone 6 copied the M7 but it's also extremely far fetched to say Samsung copied Apple and that didn't stop the retarded American jury.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 12:13 PM 0

81. tedkord

Posts: 17532; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

No, the all metal back started with the iPhone 6,none before had it. As for your assertion that the iPhone 7 looks nothing like the M7, it looks much more like it than any Samsung phone has ever looked like an iPhone. So, you're either blind or intentionally obtuse.

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

56. talon95

Posts: 1013; Member since: Jul 31, 2012

I have an M8 and I like HTC, but from an engineering standpoint they certainly moved much closer to the iP6 design than iP5 was to the M7 design. Both in the geometry and design language I will have to agree that HTC is mimicking the iphone. If they can get away with it then maybe they will have a few more sales, but I certainly don't want a device that someone would confuse for a Apple product. This is certainly much closer than Samsung has ever been to a copy. Samsung tends to use design aspects that are beneficial or popular but always incorporate their own ideas and unique design similar to auto manufactures. HTC went too far for me, even if they can legally still defend the minor differences. I hope it works out for them.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 8:51 AM 1

68. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Difference between samsung and htc copying. One do it whitout permission. Other do it with permission as they share patent and design. Case closed.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 11:08 AM 0

75. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Nope, the difference is Samsung tries to beat everyone in all aspects with a reductionist approach. No idea how The Samsung lawyers screwed it up and somehow couldn't get across that studying your opponent isn't copying. Unlike the Patriots head coach, it's perfectly legal to analyze an opponent in the smart phone world.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 12:09 PM 0

80. tedkord

Posts: 17532; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

HTC and Apple agreement specifically forbids copying the look of a device. Apple went ahead and did it anyway by copying the look of the M7 with the iPhone 6. Without permission, as you stated. Exactly like they did with Samsung's FRAND patents (No, FRAND does not stand for FRee is Apple Needs it for Devices). Just like they did with the University of Wisconsin. All three cases closed.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 12:20 PM 1

53. roldefol

Posts: 4745; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

If you have to defend the fact that people view your design as a copycat, you have failed at design. This article wouldn't even exist if HTC had stuck with its own design language. "All-metal" and antenna bands are not a design language. Everyone is using those now.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 8:12 AM 0

79. tedkord

Posts: 17532; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Everyone is now. Everyone wasn't when HTC released the M7.Apple copied. The only ones defending are the Apple faithful claiming they didn't.

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

84. roldefol

Posts: 4745; Member since: Jan 28, 2011

I happened to really like the M7 and M8 design, and wish they had evolved from there. I wish they had kept signature One cues like BoomSound and streamlined it. That's not what the A9 is. You don't need to be an Apple fan to recognize a copy.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 4:47 PM 0

52. sissy246

Posts: 7129; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

At some point ALL phone companies copy each other. But stop acting like Apple never copies, they f***ing do.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 8:12 AM 1

50. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

All the world is copying Apple and Samsubg initiated this. I understand this since any company wants to be like Apple. When we want to cheat during an exam we ask the best student not the worst. Apple does and the others follow. Normal.

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

66. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Apple been copying everyone for years... you are truly an iDiot.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 11:06 AM 1

74. keekai05

Posts: 116; Member since: Mar 31, 2015

said someone whose been in every Apple related article spewing non-sense hate towards a company who don't even care about him. Troll harder.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 12:04 PM 0

77. tedkord

Posts: 17532; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Dumbest comment in the article. The iPhone 6 looks more like the HTC M7 than any Samsung phone has ever looked like an iPhone. It was a straight up copy, just a bit uglier.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 12:15 PM 1

49. Spedez

Posts: 542; Member since: Aug 29, 2014

HTC copied even the bezels.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 7:38 AM 1

47. tomn1ce

Posts: 248; Member since: Mar 12, 2012

Couldn't HTC make the top and bottom bezels any bigger?

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 7:10 AM 0

45. darkkjedii

Posts: 31809; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Not in sales.

posted on Oct 22, 2015, 6:48 AM 0

86. discharge unregistered

i agree there darkk htc sucks its been the same and i work at t mobile and htc is not a big seller samsung is the best seller than apple, as who copied i plea the 5th on that, ahh what the heck i think htc copied,HTC had the look BUT if the photo is real not photo shop done, looks like htc copied the 6 plus look, apple wins this!! HTC had the antenna look but not like the 6 plus