HTC’s new One A9 runs Android Marshmallow, costs just $399

HTC's new flagships is a beauty. But it looks familiar. Photo: HTC

HTC’s new flagships is a beauty. But it looks familiar. Photo: HTC

HTC’s new “iPhone clone” has arrived. It’s called the One A9, and it signals a new approach to smartphones that combines decent midrange specifications with beautiful design that costs less than competing devices off-contract.

The One A9 is HTC’s first device to ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow pre-installed, and you can pre-order yours today for $399.99.

HTC has had a hard time competing with the likes of Apple and Samsung. Despite gorgeous hardware and great specifications in devices like the One M7 and One M8, it has been unable to outsell its rivals, and not it is in trouble. Back in August, the company was declared effectively worthless.

In an effort to change this, HTC is trying something new.

The One A9 comes in opal silver, carbon gray, garnet red, and topaz gold. Photo: HTC

The One A9 comes in opal silver, carbon gray, garnet red, and topaz gold. Photo: HTC

Unlike previous options in the One series, the One A9 swaps high-end specifications for more affordable internals, but keeps the attractive aluminum design. In recent letter to employees, HTC CEO Cher Wang said the device brings “a balance between beauty, performance and simplicity.”

The One A9 packs a 5-inch 1080p display, and is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 617 processor, Qualcomm’s latest midrange chipset. It also has a 13-megapixel camera on its back with an f/2.0 aperture and optical image stabilization, and a 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera on its front.

In the U.S., the One A9 will come with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage as standard. European customers will also get a more affordable option with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Both devices will have microSD card slots.

The One A9 looks even more like an iPhone in black. Photo: HTC

The One A9 looks even more like an iPhone in black. Photo: HTC

Arguably the biggest highlight of the One A9 — apart from its attractive design — is that it will be HTC’s first device with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. What’s more, this will come pre-installed, so you won’t have to wait months for your carrier to release the update.

You’ll be able to pre-order the One A9 from HTC’s online store later today if you live in the U.S. Prices start at $399.99, and the device will be available in opal silver and carbon gray, with garnet red and topaz gold options coming later on.

HTC is also offering a One A9 Unlocked Edition that ships with less pre-installed software, is SIM unlocked, and allows you to unlock the handset’s bootloader without voiding its warranty. HTC is also promising that this model will get Android updates within 15 days of Google’s Nexus updates.

The One A9 will also be available in international markets in the first week of November. All One A9 purchases come with six months of Google Play Music, and 12 months of HTC Uh-Oh protection.

The One A9 in garnet red. Photo: HTC

The One A9 in garnet red. Photo: HTC