Rumor: HTC may exit the smartphone business by spring 2017

By Jon Martindale November 21, 2016

HTC Bolt review — Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

HTC’s mobile business has been struggling for some time, despite the fact that we are big fans of its most recent flagship device. That struggle may soon come to an end, though, as there are rumors swirling that it will leave the smartphone business entirely as soon as spring 2017.

This latest rumor comes out of Chinese website MyDrivers (via MobiPicker), and suggests that due to ongoing losses in its smartphone business, HTC is looking to shutter it and sell it to someone else instead. While there is little to suggest it has found a buyer, the fact that HTC produced Google’s well-received Pixel devices suggests that the search engine giant could snap up the mobile manufacturing branch.

HTC has denied the rumor, but the fact that the firm seems to have scaled back its mobile releases while splitting off the virtual reality division into its own company, suggests that it may at least be compartmentalizing its business to allow a corporate refocus.

We won’t have too long to wait to find out. If HTC does plan to sell off or shut down its smartphone business in spring 2017, we will likely start to see it making moves in the coming months as it edges towards that possible goal. Industry analysts will be watching closely to see what it does moving forward.

Although HTC leaving the industry wouldn’t create a huge vacuum in the mobile space — it is leaving because of poor sales after all — it does open up the flagship smartphone market a little, potentially increasing the impact of new devices like the aforementioned Google handsets.

If the company does decide that its mobile division is a lost cause, it will be interesting to see who steps up to fill HTC’s shoes.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Computing Coordinator

Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…

Mobile

The best fitness workout accessories for your smartphone

Athletic accessories feat image.

Athletes and civilians alike discovered early how mobile devices could serve as an essential tool for tracking and training. Smartphones assist in countless ways, from playing music to finding the best resources and locations to keep your workout interesting. But they don't always do this alone, and a huge industry has emerged around fitness accessories designed to work alongside your phone to help you achieve optimal results, but also to link, sync, and track data, and get feedback on your performance. Of the many smartphone compatible health and fitness accessories out there, we've pulled together a list of some of the highest-quality devices to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Apple Watch

If you're looking for the best fitness accessory for your iPhone, look no further than the Apple Watch 6 (or Series 5, or SE). As a fitness companion, it has no equal, and even older models of the watch provide all the necessary tools and resources to keep you fit. Health related features include ECG, fall detection, activity tracking, and heart rate alerts. Of course, it also lets you make or take calls, send messages, navigate through your playlists, and stream Apple Music directly from your wrist. The Apple Watch is a great activity tracker with activity rings and data that are easy to interpret and can motivate anyone working to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Mobile

How to tell if your smartphone battery needs to be replaced

iPhone battery settings

Nothing lasts forever -- especially not smartphone batteries. Those tiny lithium-ion powerhouses that run your iPhone or Android phone are all consumables, which means they have a limited life span. The longer you hang on to your device, the more your battery will degrade, and eventually, it will have to be replaced.

Smartphone batteries don't usually just conk out. There are telltale hints over time, mostly relating to your phone's performance. You may notice that the device is slow to respond to taps and prompts or that apps take longer to launch or respond to commands. Or, perhaps your phone drains more rapidly than in the past, is slower to power up, never powers up to 100%, shuts down unexpectedly under normal conditions, or will not run unless it is plugged into the charger. Other more ominous signs include the phone heating up while charging or feeling thicker (perhaps the result of a ruptured battery), or perhaps there are no signs of life no matter what you do. Any of these circumstances can signal a failing, dead, or even hazardous battery.

Mobile

The best fast chargers for your smartphone in 2022

Best fast phone chargers

Fast charging is ideal when you need to power up your iPhone or Android smartphone, and these days, with modern fast chargers, there's no need to wait around. But what exactly is a fast charger? Most major flagship phones on the market offer fast charging, which boosts the wattage of your smartphone's battery. A standard USB port sends 5W to a connected device, so fast chargers raise the amount. Modern devices typically offer 15W power bricks while some manufacturers have 50W, 80W, and 100W chargers. The fast chargers on our list include a range of compact options to cover almost any need, including international travel.
Nekteck 60W USB-C Wall Charger

The NekTeck, with advanced GaN Technology, dramatically improves charging efficiency to over 90% to fully charge a 13-inch Macbook Pro in 1.8 hours, an iPhone 11 in 1.75 hours, and a Google Pixel 3 in two hours via its Power Delivery 3.0 standard. GaN technology (Navitas Gallium Nitride) also improves charging efficiency while reducing the charger’s size to 50% smaller than the standard 60w charger, making it ideal for travel. The NekTeck is compatible with most USB-C devices, like phones, tablets, and laptops. It supports fast charging for iPhones with the original Apple USB-C to Lightning cable. This charger is USB-IF, FCC, and ETL certified with built-in safeguards to protect against over-charging, over-voltage, over-current, and over-heating.