HTC is due to launch a smartwatch, known as the HTC One Wear, with Android Wear. Here we explain everything there is to know about the HTC One Wear, including UK release date, price and specs. Also see: Best smartwatches 2014.
HTC One Wear UK release date
TK Tech News last year claimed the HTC One Wear would launch in late August/early September. Obviously it didn't, and the site then claimedthat the device was delayed stating that 'no one has got it right yet. Indeed, it's now rumoured that rather than a smartwatch, the One Wear will be a health- and fitness activity tracker.
Next it was rumoured that HTC would unveil its One Wear at CES 2015, which ran in the first week in January in Las Vegas. Again, it did not.
Now rumours suggest it will arrive at the next big tech event: Mobile World Congress 2015. MWC begins on 2 March 2015. According to Bloomberg, the smartwatch willwork with Under Armour’s fitness service, with a partnership between the two companies already announced.
The HTC One Wear smartwatch will launch alongside the company's next flagship smartphone, the HTC One M9. There have also been rumours of an HTC Hima Ace Plus.
HTC One Wear: Design
HTC has changed its mind so much over what it wants to do with its smartwatch and how it can be successful where rivals have not mean that many of the earlier rumours surrounding HTC's design may now be in the recycling bin. We've listed them below in any case.
TK Tech News claims to have seen the HTC One Wear in action in Taiwan, and says it has a similar design to the Motorola Moto 360, with a rounded clock face. Also see the argument for smartwatches and the argument against smartwatches.
Evleaks showed an artist's reproduction of the HTC One Wear (shown above). This is neither an actual photo or a faithful reproduction, according to HTC, but the company has confirmed that it is indeed working on a smartwatch.
In common with its smartphone line-up, which includes plastic devices such as the HTC One E8 and metal HTC One M8, TK Tech News says the HTC One Wear will be available in polycarbonate and metal versions.Also see thefuture of wearable techand thefuture of smartwatch apps.
We think this means the HTC One Wear will feature a combination of metal and plastics, perhaps with a metal clock face and a plastic strap. Indeed, TK Tech News shared the below image via its Instagram feed that clearly shows both metal and plastic. Of course, this is just a prototype device and the image shows only part of the HTC One Wear.
TK Tech News also posted an image taken from the HTC One Wear's box (main image), and a grab of some of its app icons - in Chinese, but these can be translated to File Manager, Music and Remote Camera.
The HTC One Wear will run Android Wear, Google's Android OS for smartwatches. Also see: What is Android Wear?
HTC One Wear price UK
No pricing has been confirmed for the HTC One Wear, which isn't surprising, given that the device itself hasn't been confirmed by HTC.
However, now owned by Lenovo rather than Google, there is no reason to suggest Motorola's forthcoming Moto 360 (against which the HTC One Wear is pitted) should offer better value than rival smartwatches. With the LG G Watchcosting £159, and Motorola's Moto 360 £199, we reckon the HTC One Wear will be available somewhere in between - perhaps £179.
Smartwatches are great and all, but how long will it take advertisers to ruin wearable tech?
Follow Marie Brewis onTwitter.
