HTC is ready to release a new smartphone, but this time it isn’t a bargain model. Instead, the company is releasing a flagship phone that is tailored to future Metaverse use cases.
HTC Asia Pacific General Manager Charles Huang reportedly informed DigiTimes that the company will unveil a “metaverse phone” in April, according to a fresh story from Android Authority via DigiTimes. The phone is expected to be strong enough to run augmented reality and virtual reality apps.
While other companies, such as Google and Samsung, have attempted and failed to create an AR/VR mobile device in the past, HTC may be different. The Taiwanese firm is a major player in the PC virtual reality field, and it may be able to leverage its expertise by bringing it to mobile devices.
HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang recently discussed the company’s own version of the metaverse, dubbed ‘Viverse.’ The notion is similar to what other businesses such as Facebook are proposing – essentially a virtual world that allows you to attend meetings and participate in other activities from the comfort of your own home.
In October of last year, HTC also unveiled the $499 Vive Flow VR headset. The Vive flow, unlike many other headsets, lacks a controller and has a sunglasses-like look. The device contains two front-facing cameras to facilitate motion and hand tracking, as well as two 2.1-inch LCD displays with 16001600 pixels per eye resolution.
The new HTC smartphone may even open up new possibilities when combined with the Vive Flow, while the phone is also expected to include its own hardware to allow AR/VR fans to use it independently.
