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HTC Aero rumored as new flagship for fall

A familiar source says HTC could introduce a new line of smartphone later this year.

Scott Webster
Scott Webster has spent the better part of his adult life playing with cell phones and gadgets. When not looking for the latest Android news and rumors, he relaxes with his wife and son. Scott also is the senior editor for AndroidGuys. E-mail Scott.
Scott Webster
2 min read

The One M9 and its predecessor, the M8. Can you tell them apart? Andrew Hoyle/CNET

HTC, after roughly two years of nearly identical smartphone designs, could be ready to start anew. More specifically, HTC may be set to launch a new line of devices.

According to once-prolific Twitter source Evan Blass (evleaks), HTC will introduce an "Aero" model in the fourth quarter of the year. Unfortunately, that is about the extent of the information for now. The are no hardware or software details to share just yet.

Cher Wang, HTC CEO and chairwoman, recently told employees and shareholders that a new "hero product" will launch in the smartphone segment this October. And, although she didn't drop any hints, it's possible she was referring to the Aero.

It's worth noting that Aero is simply a code name or placeholder for the device; the final product may feature something different whenever it's announced.

Pulling out my crystal ball I picture a phone that doesn't look anything like the One or Desire models we've seen over the last few generations. Given that HTC saw a change in guard for the VP of industrial design back in March, we should expect nothing less.

In terms of specifications the phone will likely boast a cutting-edge processor with 3GB-4GB of RAM. On the camera front we might hope for something that keeps pace with Sony and LG's efforts.

The rumored timing of the launch is also noteworthy as this is when Android M picks up a formal consumer-ready release. Could HTC launch a new flagship line with a brand new version of Android? Something tells me we won't have to wait long to find out.