HTC may cut its 2018 smartphone lineup to just a few models

HTC will purportedly launch a smaller number of smartphones next year according to sources close to DigiTimes who claimed to have seen the manufacturer's 2018 roadmap. An update to the flagship HTC U11 Plus and only a handful of affordable mid-range options are expected. The change in pace is a direct consequence of Google's recent acquisition of HTC's smartphone arm as related staff and resources will continue to be funneled elsewhere.

Only One Flagship Model: The HTC U12

HTC will likely start off the new year with a flagship offering before launching lower-end mainstream alternatives throughout the rest of the year. The new high-end model could be the proper HTC U12 with updated features from the U11 Plus including a water-resistant chassis, 6-inch QHD+ display, Snapdragon 845 SoC, and dual rear cameras. Such a model could make an appearance at CES 2018 in Las Vegas or MWC 2018 in Barcelona alongside the likely reveal of the LG G7 and the unavoidable Samsung Galaxy S9.

The demise of HTC smartphones has been on the wall for years. With most of its engineers now under Google, it's possible that future Pixel smartphones will be developed in-house instead of needing to contract outside manufacturers as with existing models in the Pixel and Nexus families.

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