HTC One A9 might look like an iPhone, but it's all Android Marshmallow inside

The HTC One A9 ships in a variety of colours and features a premium curved design

HTC has unveiled its latest smartphone – the HTC One A9 – which boasts a five-inch full HD display and is powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

 

HTC this evening unveiled the HTC One A9.

The new HTC handset has a five-inch Full HD display covered in scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

Powered by a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, the latest from HTC should be faster enough to handle your day-to-day smartphone tasks.

 

The HTC One A9 is also running Android 6.0 Marshmallow – one of the first non-Nexus devices to do so.

HTC has been working closely with Google to ensure its HTC Sense skin was one of the first to be updated to Marshmallow.

The latest Google operating system brings a slew of new features and improvements to Android, including better battery life and enhanced privacy controls.

 

The HTC One A9 bears more than a passing resemblance to the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S

HTC includes 2GB with the device to ensure smooth performance, as well as 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded over microSD to 2TB.

The smartphone – which has been criticised for its similarities to the Apple iPhone – packs a fingerprint scanner for extra security.

Bluetooth 4.1 is also supported, alongside 2.4 and 5GHz wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and internal GPS.

Charging and syncing is handled by a trusty micro USB rather than the reversible USB Type C found on the new Nexus smartphones and OnePlus 2.

 

HTC has announced a variety of colours for the new smartphone

Technology Editor David Snelling went hands-on with the new HTC handset earlier this month:

"NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com has had an exclusive hands-on with the HTC One A9 and we’ve been left surprisingly impressed.

On the outside the A9 looks and feels just like an iPhone – but on the inside there’s no sign of Apple

David Snelling, Technology Editor

"Although it appears an odd decision for HTC to launch another flagship device alongside its current smartphones, the A9 offers something fresh to the range.

"On the outside the A9 looks and feels just like an iPhone with a soft, curved design and premium metal finish.

"However, on the inside there’s no sign of Apple.

"Running the latest version of Android Marshmallow gives this phone the edge over most of the Android competition and with HTC working closely with Google the user experience is fast and fluid.

HTC will ship the One A9 with the latest version of Android, dubbed Marshmallow

"The display is also good and with a host of extras such as fingerprint scanner and Hi-Res audio playback, there’s plenty to get excited about.

"We only had a short time with the A9 but our initial impressions are good.

"HTC say they are aiming this smartphone at a new younger audience and, if the price is right, it could go down a storm.

"An A9 will be arriving with us shortly and we’ll have a full review for you soon."