Watch the unveiling of the HTC One A9 right here

By Robert Nazarian October 20, 2015

HTC Be Brilliant

If you’re looking to watch HTC unveil the One A9 today, we’re happy to say that you have come to the right place. The Be Brilliant event kicks off at 12:00 pm ET (9:00 am PT / 5:00 pm UK) today, and you can watch the live feed right here.

Based on a slew of leaks, we’re expecting the One A9 (which has been code-named Aero) to look very much like the iPhone 6S with mid-range specs. It could sport a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080), an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 13-megapixel rear camera. We’ll know soon.

Related: HTC One A9/Aero rumors and news leaks

Although it’s a mid-range device, the One A9 could be one of the first non-Nexus phones to debut with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It could also sport even faster charging via Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0.

The HTC One A9 is expected to be the star of the show, but it is certainly possible that HTC might have a few other surprises up its corporate sleeve. Could the much anticipated Vive virtual reality headset make an appearance?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Robert Nazarian

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…

Mobile

OnePlus 9RT buying guide: Release date, price, specs — everything we know

OnePlus 9RT leaked in silver color option showing the camera module of the smartphone.

While the OnePlus T-series won't get a device this year, OnePlus has launched the OnePlus 9RT -- the successor to the OnePlus 9R it revealed earlier this year. Notably, the U.S. market won't get these devices, with only the OnePlus 9 Pro being available to U.S. users, while other markets have access to the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus Nord 2. The hybrid T and R series device is the first OnePlus smartphone to have the RT suffix, and it'll be exclusive to India and China. Here's everything you need to know about the newly launched OnePlus 9RT.
OnePlus 9RT name and release date
OnePlus confirmed that there won't be a OnePlus 9T or a OnePlus 9T Pro this year. The announcement came as a surprise since the company has launched a T-series smartphone every year since the OnePlus 3T. Last year, the company decided not to launch a OnePlus 8T Pro and stuck with just the OnePlus 8T. However, this year, there won't be either a T or a T Pro model. Instead, we are getting a new OnePlus 9RT, which is a combination of two series from the company. It has now been launched in China and will be available for purchase starting October 19.
OnePlus 9RT design

The OnePlus 9R was introduced with a slight change in the camera setup from the 8T. While the OnePlus 9R features a quad rear camera setup, the OnePlus 9RT sports three cameras on the back. The design includes the Alert slider and no headphone jack, while other button placements are likely to remain the same.

Mobile

If you’ve got a OnePlus 9 phone, you can try the open beta of OxygenOS 12 now

OnePlus 9 Pro shown from the back.

You can now try a beta version of OnePlus’ Android 12-based OygenOS operating system, provided you own a OnePlus 9 or OnePlus 9 Pro. The latest OxygenOS 12 software contains various new features and design updates, plus it integrates Oppo’s ColorOS codebase, as revealed earlier this year after OnePlus and Oppo announced a closer working partnership.

The user interface has been given a visual overhaul. The design has been created around the use of light and shadow, which apparently increases ease of use and readability. More specifically, OnePlus says simplified icons and typography, along with more subtle gradients and the use of shadows, will help the software be more relatable and inclusive. It goes as far as calling OxygenOS 12 will a “safe and chill place.”

Mobile

XPan Mode on the OnePlus 9 Pro isn’t the best use of Hasselblad’s expertise

oneplus 9 pro hasselblad camera deep dive

OnePlus and Hasselblad’s partnership centers around software at the moment, with the famous camera manufacturer tweaking the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera app, rather than working on the hardware. An update on its way to these two phones at the moment adds a new Hasselblad camera mode called XPan, based on a famous camera made by the company, and we’ve tried it out.

While I appreciate what the pair are doing, there is a big difference between panoramic photos taken with a specialist camera, and the same thing replicated using software on a mainstream smartphone. Unfortunately, XPan Mode strays into gimmicky territory, and it makes me a little concerned about the future of the partnership.
What is XPan?
Unless you’re a very keen photographer or a Hasselblad devotee, you’ve probably never heard of XPan, so what is it? XPan is quite geeky, so bear with me. First launched in 1998 in partnership with Fuji, the XPan camera could take photos in the normal 24 x 36 mm format, plus a 24 x 65mm format, all on the same film. This resulted in it being able to take startling panoramic photos with a very distinctive look, and in a slightly simpler way than before.