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Wishful thinking? HTC extends the iPhone-for-One A9 trade-in offer

posted by Paul K. / Dec 03, 2015, 9:50 AM

Wishful thinking? HTC extends the iPhone-for-One A9 trade-in offer

You may remember that among the Black Friday deals that rolled out this past week, there was one peculiar one by HTC. The company basically offered customers to turn in their old iPhone 6 / 6 Plus / 6s / 6s Plus unit and get a $499.99 rebate – the exact price of a brand-new HTC One A9 smartphone. The offer also applies to Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, as well as LG's G3 and G4, though these phones would only net you $200 for the Sammys and $100 for the LGs. Ouch, HTC, way to throw an insult.

In any case, the offer was supposed to end on the 2nd of December – that's yesterday. Well, if you happen to be feeling like you missed out on a great opportunity to throw a 64 GB iPhone 6s Plus for HTC's Snapdragon 617-equipped flagship, know now that HTC has decided to extend the offer to 26th January, 2016.

Thinking no one would bite? Well, it's possible you may be wrong. HTC reports that the Black Friday deals it had on the Nexus 9, HTC One M9, and the trade-in promotion for the A9 helped it increase year-over-year sales by 731%. Now, which one of these promotions was most sought-after by customers is not specified, but, apparently, there are enough individuals with older iPhones who wish to get a taste of Android. And the One A9 looks like a nice bridging device – the form factor is not shockingly different, and the interface is not jam-packed with an insane amount of features, knobs, and toggles.

HTC One A9 Review

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source: HTC via Ubergizmo

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PhoneArena Rating:

7.8

Read Full Review

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)

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47 Comments

1. nebula

Posts: 1009; Member since: Feb 20, 2015

Well put Wishful. I doubt any sane person would trade in their 6. Unless it's broken to be honest.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 9:55 AM 15

8. Zomer

Posts: 361; Member since: May 31, 2013

I wouldn't even trade in a iPhone 3GS.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:21 AM 11

17. SamsungPhanboy

Posts: 765; Member since: Mar 31, 2015

Then you are a moron.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 12:48 PM 13

29. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

TBH, if I had a 3GS, I wouldnt either at least not for this HTC A9.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 4:15 PM 0

45. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Silly promotion. You are indirectly telling your customer that HTC rather have your iPhone because its more valuable than their own A9. Samsung loaning of Note 5 to iPhone user is a middle finger to their own branding, HTC just has to beat it. HTC is done.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:14 PM 0

47. Goldeneye

Posts: 419; Member since: Jan 22, 2011

I wonder how much Apple would offer for the A9 in a similar situation. Like $50? If that. Lol..

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 10:45 AM 0

2. mistercarter

Posts: 360; Member since: Sep 01, 2011

LMAO i wonder if there's somebody dumb enough to trade an iPhone (of any kind) for such a crappy HTC

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 9:56 AM 9

4. AlikMalix unregistered

See this is the reason I got to defend myself on PA. People tie me with commentators like you - HTC are nice phones with probably the cleanest skinned version of Android. I love my iPhone, but I don't hate something that's equally good on the flip side of the pond.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 10:36 AM 10

5. letosaw

Posts: 135; Member since: Aug 05, 2014

You are right, but even I ( a htc fanboy ) can't imagine who will switch from their 6s/s plus to htc A9. This is just plain dumb move:/

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 10:49 AM 15

10. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

+1 totally agree. I feel ashamed sometimes by the stupid stuff hardcore fans say on this site.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:26 AM 3

11. SYSTEM_LORD

Posts: 1168; Member since: Oct 05, 2015

I would never buy an Apple product - period. But even more unlikely than me buying one, would be me trading a current gen iPhone in for this glorified midrange phone. When I saw choppy performance and poor battery life in hands-on and reviews, I lost all hope that this phone could be something other than a copycat.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:35 AM 2

22. LionStone

Posts: 1048; Member since: Dec 10, 2010

Well I'm actually using one and this thing flies! I've used both and the iPhone doesn't even compare, you guys are just talking out your "you know what's"... It lasts all day 15-18 hrs, 4-5 hrs screen on time, go to xda and see for yourself.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 1:36 PM 0

30. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

HTC didnt copy the iPhone design, it was the other way around. Get your facts straight.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 4:16 PM 0

46. ninja_master

Posts: 306; Member since: Feb 27, 2015

Htc copied the ipod touch 5 design.

posted on Dec 04, 2015, 1:11 AM 0

24. mistercarter

Posts: 360; Member since: Sep 01, 2011

truth is it's not even close to "equally good"... the A9 could be compared with an iPhone 5, not anything newer than that

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 1:57 PM 3

28. AlikMalix unregistered

Yes it's may not be equally good, but you said "such a crappy HTC". This is the same crap that I hate when people say about iPhone "completely useless, garbage, no better than 2012 android, or just a toy". When I can do things more powerful without issues on iPhone than I would (or even capable) on best of android!!! Try making a movie wile editing 4K videos and slow motion 240fps videos Ina collection. The difference with graphical editing softwere using on iOS and sgs6 is noticeable to a point where it's a little frustrating in gs6. But gs6 is better at a few things than iOS - so each is better for certain tasks and worse for others. Doesn't make any flagship that's at least 3 years old "crap".

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 4:03 PM 0

3. zeeBomb

Posts: 2318; Member since: Aug 14, 2014

Wishful thinking? Hopeful longevity.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 9:58 AM 3

6. Furbal unregistered

If htc had a 805/808 in this and got rid of that damn htc logo (or use off screen buttons) this would be a winner. Im with you on Sense Alik, easily the best android skin

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:07 AM 1

7. ArmAndHammer2015

Posts: 20; Member since: Nov 25, 2014

I liked this phone a whole lot more when it was $400. One could sell their iPhone 6s/6s Plus, get more than $500, and be able to buy this phone with money to spare. Don't get me wrong, I still like HTC and the A9, but this promotion just seems like a bad deal to 6s/6s Plus consumers.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:08 AM 0

9. jove39

Posts: 2148; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Lol...HTC has failed at multiple levels.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:24 AM 1

12. darkkjedii

Posts: 31529; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

HTC is gonna fail miserably at that program. Apple may not make the flat out best phone, but when you combine it with the ecosystem, and services, it's pretty much top notch.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:44 AM 6

13. Lycan155

Posts: 254; Member since: Nov 24, 2013

Agreed

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 11:46 AM 1

19. bubblechaos

Posts: 114; Member since: May 04, 2015

Someone with a reasonable comment!

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 1:28 PM 1

27. darkkjedii

Posts: 31529; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Thanx yo.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 3:50 PM 0

31. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

@$$-KI$$iN' fanboi...lol. Not saying he is wrong, but that doesn't make you any less an @$$-K|$$er. lol. I agree with the fact that since Apple no longer has to depend on services from another company and made their own, there are some advantages. However the biggest disadvantage is, once you rely on their services and spend so much money on them, you are forced to stay. The biggest advantages of 3rd party's like Google is, you can move them to any all all platforms and you can continue to spend as much money as you want and you will always have your stuff. More flexibility means broader usage, wider adoption equals more $$$$$$$. When you have more people who depend on you, that means you dont have to resort to gimmicky/anti-trust level tactics to keep customers which is why Google though evil, is a lesser evil than Apple, and why Microsoft who once was more evil than both is less evil than both Apple and google.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 4:25 PM 0

23. LionStone

Posts: 1048; Member since: Dec 10, 2010

The program was already a success, that's why they are extending the promotion. People are tired of their "basic" smartphones (iphones) and want something fresh like the A9, pretty simple really.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 1:40 PM 0

25. darkkjedii

Posts: 31529; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Yeah, OK lol. Apple's quaking in its boots too. I'll ask you like I ask everyone else, find copy and paste the link to show, how it hurt Apple, and how many phones HTC sold with the promotion.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 2:45 PM 0

32. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

he never said Apple was quaking in their boots he is just saying that this deal is likely having some success so thus they are extending it.

posted on Dec 03, 2015, 4:27 PM 0

34. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

So just because you aren't going to win, doesn't mean you shouldn't compete? So then based on your stupid logic, what are sports for? After all teams know that they will play teams they aren't going to beat, so does that mean they shouldn't try? So if you aren't even going to try, why even be in the sport? Do you understand that? HTC isn't trying to win, they are right now just trying to survive. When you are about to die are you going to sit there and just die, or are you going to put of a fight and die trying? Knowing you, you will probably curl up like a little girl and just die. Such a man you are. Every game isn't about winning, its about competing and being in a place where even if you dont beat everyone, you beat someone or you simply have a better record than you had before. Which is what HTC is aiming for.