MWC: HTC One M9 unveiled with Android Lollipop, octa-core chip and 20.7MP camera

Latest smartphone designed to compete with Apple, Sony and Samsung

BARCELONA: HTC has unveiled the One M9 smartphone which features an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chip and a 20.7MP rear-facing camera.

The One M9 improves on its One M8 predecessor with a two-tone unibody case and 'mechanical' physical keys which apparently give a sense of the crafted design.

HTC has included an octa-core Snapdragon 810 chip which Qualcomm said will equip the smartphone with improved performance, lower power consumption and support for Cat 6 LTE speeds.

The 810 is also 64-bit, making it optimised for the One M9's Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.

Google's software comes in an updated version of HTC's Sense 7.0 custom skin which includes a new feature called HTC Themes.

As the name suggests, this allows the handset to be personalised with pre-loaded or custom-made Themes.

It also includes Sense Home, a feature that adjusts icons on the home screen depending on location. For example, when a One M9 owner arrives home the infrared remote control app is placed front and centre on the screen.

Graham Wheeler, director of product management at HTC, said: "This for us is key for making sure that when you use a phone it is designed for you.

"User interfaces are often very different to a user's lock screen, for example, and we wanted to make sure you get a flowing colour palette and iconography."

The One M9, much like its predecessor, has a strong focus on photography. The 20MP rear-facing sensor comes with dual-LED flash and a wide angle lens for "360 degree images", while HTC has shoved a 4MP Ultrapixel camera on the front.

"We have never been afraid to take bold moves when it comes to photography," said Wheeler.

"A lot of people now feel like the main camera is on the front of the phone - it's why we created the HTC Desire Eye - and it's important to look at mobile photography in that new way."

Beyond that, the One M9 doesn't offer too many improvements in the specs department. There's a 5in Full HD Super LCD 3 display, 3GB RAM, 32GB built-in storage (with room to expand by an additional 128GB) and a 2,840mAh battery.

The device will be available in the UK from 31 March in gold on silver, gloss gun metal grey on gun metal grey, and gloss gold on gold.

No SIM free pricing details have been announced, but EE has said that the HTC One M9 will be able to pick up for £49.99 on a £41.99 a month, 24 month plan which comes with 1000 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of mobile data a month.