MWC 2014 – “Premium Midrange” HTC Desire 816 and Desire 610 Announced

HTC Desire 816

HTC has new entries into the midrange market with their Desire 816 and Desire 610 handsets announced at Monday’s press event during Mobile World Congress. Their first handsets of 2014, HTC discussed a common theme of giving users best-in-class premium features and performance that would be expected from higher priced, flagship level, devices.

The HTC Desire 816 boasts a 5.5″ HD display, HTC BoomSound with the dual front speakers we love, and will be available in several colors. The Desire 816 is powered by a 1.6GHz quadcore Snapdragon 400, 1.5GB of RAM and pack a 2600mAh battery. What makes it unique in the mid-range catagory is that is HTC did not skimp in some of the typical areas and is offering a premium build quality and features. For example, the main camera is a full 13MP BSI sensor and front facing camera a 5MP with the wide angle lens we first saw on the HTC One.

“The HTC Desire 816 marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the mid-tier,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. “Incomparably beautiful to look at and hold with the technology and software to match, the HTC Desire 816 challenges everything that people expect from lower cost smartphones. It is bringing genuine choice to the category by delivering stunning design and high-end performance at unbelievable value.”

Also included expandable storage via microSD, which will help with only 8GB on-board memory. Of note, HTC made the jump to a nanoSIM, something we are not used to seeing in an Android device outside of the U.S. until the recent Moto X. The Desire 816 will launch in China in March, followed up with additional markets in April.

HTC Desire 610

HTC’s second entry is the HTC Desire 610, billed as a “compact entertainment hub.” It features a 4.7″ qHD display, the latest version of Sense and BlinkFeed along with HTC BoomSound and front stereo speakers. The quadcore Snapdragon 400 is used again, but clocked to 1.2GHz, there is 1GB of RAM, 8GB on-board storage and an expandable microSD card slot. The main camera is an 8MP BSI sensor with the front camera at 1.3MP, and both are capable of 720p video. Keeping everything going is a 2060mAh embedded battery.

“Consumer choice should be about selecting the best-in-class features without having to compromise on quality,” said Philip Blair, President, HTC EMEA. “The HTC Desire 610 offers an outstanding combination of performance and entertainment at a price that makes it possible for everyone to enjoy an exceptional smartphone experience.”

Similar to the 816, a nanoSIM is again used. The HTC Desire 610 is slated for launch this May for Europe in a range of colors.

The Desire 816 and Desire 610 look to be very solid entries into the mid-market and should hit all the right points with consumers. While the new HTC One is set to be announced March 25, this was a good start for HTC in 2014.

Source: HTC (1), HTC (2)

Image Credits: HTC

Kevin Krueger

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

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