HTC to launch own-branded tablet next year, won't be ultra-cheap

posted by Florin T. / Nov 04, 2014, 11:42 PM

HTC to launch own-branded tablet next year, won't be ultra-cheap

By manufacturing the Nexus 9 (pictured above) for Google, HTC has returned to making tablets after more than three years. The company’s previous tablet, the HTC Flyer from early 2011, wasn’t exactly a success. However, now that almost everyone seems to be praising the Nexus 9, HTC is reportedly getting ready to release an own-branded tablet once again.

According to Focus Taiwan, HTC CFO Chang Chia-lin recently confirmed that the company is planning to introduce its own new tablet sometime next year. The HTC exec also said that the company is open towards considering other co-branding opportunities after the Nexus 9.

While it’s not clear what kind of tablet the HTC-branded one will be, we know what it won’t be. HTC North Asia President Jack Tong told Focus Taiwan that the market for ultra-cheap slates (under $160) is not profitable - thus, HTC has no plans of releasing such devices. Jack Tong further mentioned that the importance of 7-inch tablets is now blurred by the popularity of extra-large smartphones.

All in all, we should expect HTC’s own-branded tablet to be a high-end or mid-range one with a screen larger than 7 inches. Of course, since nothing’s confirmed at this point, anything can happen. We’ll be here to let you know more details as soon as they arrive.

source: Focus Taiwan

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23 Comments

1. ojdidit84

Posts: 462; Member since: Jul 16, 2011

Did they not learn from the mistakes that they made with the HTC Flyer? They'd better not price it like they did with that one. It doesn't need to be ultra cheap but they'd also better not price it $200 above what the competition is offering.

posted on Nov 04, 2014, 11:47 PM 1

2. TRUVILLE

Posts: 146; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

If it don't say nexus on it I'm not buying a skin droid device never again.

posted on Nov 04, 2014, 11:52 PM 2

4. LionStone

Posts: 1048; Member since: Dec 10, 2010

How 'bout a skinned Android device?

posted on Nov 04, 2014, 11:58 PM 0

3. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Without Google overseeing it, there are going to quality control issues all over the place. Not just the hollow chasis, light bleed, and flush buttons of the Nexus 9. With HTC in total control I expect dead pixels, dust under the screen, rattling button, poor finishing marks, gaps, and not to mention a ton of software issues. Maybe even a mediatek processor for good, or in this case, bad measure.

posted on Nov 04, 2014, 11:58 PM 2

5. LionStone

Poor finish and gaps, software issues? You must be thinking about Samsung.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 12:00 AM 3

7. Taters

Nope. Samsung quality control is spot on from my experience.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 12:16 AM 2

8. bayhuy

Posts: 320; Member since: Jun 23, 2011

So you never had HTC One M8...build quality is second to none...Sense is even better than stock Android...

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 12:54 AM 4

10. Mxyzptlk unregistered

That doesn't make Sense

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 2:23 AM 0

12. Taters

I have owned one. It had a rattling volume rocker and the chamfered edges scuffed in a case. Never happened on my iPhone 5s or my Galaxy Alpha. Yes I hear reports about the edges scuffing on the iPhone 5 and Note 4 but only when they are naked. With suck TC it happens in a freaking case. Only suck TC can achieve that. Sorry. That should tell you how how good their qc is. It's garbage.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 9:47 AM 1

14. CoryMeetsWorld

Posts: 170; Member since: Oct 17, 2014

You are an idiot liar and a fanboy.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 12:34 PM 2

19. Taters

Oh how I wish I was wrong but alas, HTC really is that bad and that's why they aren't successful.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 6:43 PM 1

9. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Thank you that was a good laugh. Samsung's QC is so good that the military contracted with them to buy their phones in bulk for the S-Plode feature.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 2:21 AM 1

15. CoryMeetsWorld

You have got that backwards. Samsung doesn't even have quality control. Everything they release is poorly built. HTC's build quality and quality control is second to none.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 12:35 PM 2

20. Taters

Lol please! Those durability tests are real and right there for you to see.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 6:44 PM 1

11. amats69

Posts: 1527; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

LOL hey mr Quality tell that to the exploding samsung phones. lol

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 3:28 AM 2

13. Taters

Someone is still but hurt and can't admit that HTC sucks and Samsung tests the crap out of everything. Their are plenty of videos around that shows Samsung factories that test the crap out of everything. HTC probably doesn't even have one and their clearance is probably by cm rather than the mm clearance of Samsung. Copper foil spreader everywhere as the heat sink. Rofl. I rest my case.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 12:32 PM 1

16. CoryMeetsWorld

Samsung sucks. And in fact HTC tests their devices more. You are just a paid troll. How much is Sammy paying you? Pudding brain.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 12:37 PM 1

21. Taters

Let's see these facts because every single HTC device I have purchased has had some kind of glaring issue. Nothing I have purchased from Samsung has giving me any problems whatsoever.

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 6:45 PM 1

17. amats69

oh cmon Taters.. we all know here..YOU LOVE Samsung and You Hate other OEM esp. HTC.. even if every OEM release a "PERFECT" phone you still say negative things to it because it is not a Samsung product..you have to double time dude...samsungs sales is going down..double the hate for a double payment! o cmon man..get a descent job! LOL

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 1:25 PM 0

22. Taters

Before the Alpha, I haven't purchased a Samsung product in two years. You can try and paint the picture that I am some kind of tool like you but that's just not the case. Yes, Samsung has earned more goodwill with me as a customer because of their quality control but hey, I wouldn't fabricate anything. It's 100% true that HTC has poor QC and it's a shame delusional fans like you try and cover these issues up from unsuspecting buyers. Moron...

posted on Nov 05, 2014, 6:49 PM 1

23. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

"You can try and paint the picture that I am some kind of tool like you but that's just not the case." You gave it a good effort, but the army of shills never tires, never changes, never gives up. In my experience, Samsung has much better QC than HTC. Later batches of the One M8 are pretty good, but it took HTC six months to work out the QC issues.