The new HTC Desire 10 lineup has already been launched, and it will begin shipping in early November. Unfortunately, U.S. consumers will not be able to get their hands on either of the announced mid-range devices, as HTC says they will not be coming to the United States at all.
The line, which includes the Desire 10 Lifestyle and Desire 10 Pro, has generated significant buzz since their unveiling several days ago because of its price. Initial hands-on experience has revealed that it is a great bang for the buck, sporting high-end hardware specifications, pleasing design language but with a remarkably low price point.
Consider, for example, how the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle will retail for only $325 while HTC's flagship HTC 10 is being sold for $699. Pricing for the Pro variant has not been disclosed so far. However, despite the expectation that it will come at a steeper price point, the price tag could still be lower than HTC's flagship.
HTC has not been clear about its decision. Reports only cite an official position that touts a global focus in selling the device. Aside from the United States, Canada is also excluded in the rollout. Of course, HTC did not say that its decision is written in stone. This means both or either of the Lifestyle and Pro versions could still be available. This has been demonstrated, for example, in similar case involving HTC Desire 530, which was eventually released stateside.
Out of the two devices, the Pro version appears to be the more interesting. It has a better camera, which is capable of taking 20 megapixel shots. It also has a fingerprint scanner and a MediaTek Helio P10 CPU. There are reportedly two versions to the Pro: 3 GB and 4 GB models. A non-removable 3,000 mAh battery will also guarantee longer usage.
The Lifestyle version comes with a middling Snapdragon 400 chipset. Two variants are also available based on the 2 GB and 3 GB RAM specification. The device will also have 1,280 x 720p resolution. On paper, that figure seem deficient, especially given the fact that it has a 5.5-inch display. While the Pro has the same display size, it has a full HD screen, capable of 1,920 x 1,080p resolutions.
The Lifestyle also has 2,700 mAh battery, which should do just fine given the phone's low display resolution.
One particular aspect that the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle excels in is its excellent audio quality. The technology in the device is said to match the one found in HTC 10.
