HTC’s iPhone-y successor reportedly on its way, the One A9s

In the Fall last year, HTC dropped what was supposed to be a new Hero phone, meant to subside the failure from the One M9 flagship earlier in the year. We don't know how successful the One A9 ended up being; most remember its exterior design bashed due to being all too like the current iPhone. It was then that HTC had to stand its ground and say that the metal with plastic antenna line design was theirs in the first place. Whether true or not, the controversy didn't make for the smoothest launch and reception.

See also: HTC (re)confirms Android 7.0 Nougat is coming to HTC 10, One M9 and One A935

That said, we didn't know if a successor to the quietly brilliant One A9 would see the light of day. Fortunately for the fans, its existence has been caught, by no other than the renowned leakster Evan Blass (via VentureBeat). We're given a clear promo image of the to-be HTC One A9s, and it looks very familiar.

The new phone is said to debut at the upcoming IFA 2016 electronics trade show (held every year in Berlin – stay tuned for our coverage starting this week). The promo shot shows a common color distribution – silver, gold, white, and black – and same exterior layout as before. A small change is that the camera module and LED flash have shifted to a more iPhone-like placement. Coupled with the "s" refresh nomenclature, we're not sure if HTC is oblivious to Apple's ways or if the manufacturer is taking a satirical outlook on the matter.

Another subtle change is the removal of branding on the front of the phone; following the footsteps of the HTC 10. We weren't given a run-down of the specs list, only that the primary camera's capture resolution is still pegged at 13 MP. Additionally, on the front, the 4 MP UltraPixel sensor from before is bumped to five megapixels (it's unclear if it's still UltraPixels).

While HTC scaled back the launch of the original One A9 with a web-only announcement last October, the One A9s is now said to be revealed on the first day of IFA 2016, Sept. 1st. So the full scoop is just around the corner. What you think about the refreshed One A9s just by the look of it? Are you glad to see a successor or should have the A9 stayed in HTC's regrettable past?

Next: HTC One A9 15-day update pledge ditched before the first upgrade

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