Updated on 05-14-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that HTC’s M7 tablet could launch as early as June.
Rumors of two very different tablets
Late last year, a number of HTC executives, including CFO Chang Chia-lin and North Asia president Jack Tong, stated that HTC will launch its own, self-branded tablet in 2015. The announcement came shortly after the launch of the Nexus 9, which was extremely well received among customers and reviewers alike.
Later on, noted leaker Upleaks stated on Twitter that an HTC tablet called the M7 could launch in June, but added that it “seems to be a low-end tablet.” It’s unclear if the tablet mentioned by Upleaks is the same as the one we’ve heard about in previous leaks, though that tablet was rumored to have undoubtedly high-end specs.
Possible specs detail a high-end tablet
HTC’s first own-branded tablet in several years will reportedly sport an 8.9-inch screen with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,530 pixels, hints GizmoChina. The tablet may be powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core Allwinner H8 CPU along with 2GB of RAM, and feature a PowerVR SGX544 GPU for graphics. Like most tablets, it will likely come in 16 and 32GB storage options, though it’s unknown whether it will have a MicroSD card slot for expansion or not. A surprisingly high-resolution 16-megapixel camera on the back and an 8-megapixel shooter on the front, for selfies and video calls.
Although next to nothing is known about its design, a report from China hints at a 7.88mm thin body with BoomSound speakers on the front of the device. One questionable leaked picture shows a tablet that basically looks like a large One M9 in tablet form. Additionally, a big 6700mAh battery may be packed inside. The tablet should run Android 5.0 Lollipop, of course, but it will almost certainly have a version of the Sense UI laid on top for good measure.
Release date could come in June
The tablet is said to be coming as early as June for a reasonable price, which should see it compare favorably against the Nexus 9, iPad Air 2, and other high-end tablets. However, for now it’s unclear when HTC will announce the device and where it will be available for purchase.
