HTC was one of the first movers of the Dual camera technology on smartphones. The HTC EVO 3D was one of the first dual camera smartphones to launch back in the day, but since the poor implementation of 3D, the device never succeeded. However, right after the U11+ launch event, HTC President Chialin Chang speaking has confirmed that the company would re-enter the dual-camera smartphone space in 2018.
Right after HTC ditched the dual camera feature, brands like LG, Huawei, Xiaomi, even Apple entered the space and succeeded. Talking to the media, the company executives have further added that the company is figuring out how to make this feature stand out before they come out and launch the phone.
Chang didn’t mention any details about the upcoming dual camera phone, but he did say that much like this year, HTC will be launching just five-six models in total in 2018. The company has even mentioned that it will be tackling the fierce sub $300 segment at some time instead of just focusing on the premium tier. As for Google acquisition, Chang said that it is very much on track to be approved and closed by early 2018.
When Engadget has asked Chang about the canceled HTC made Google Pixel 2 XL phone that looks very much similar to the U11+ launched yesterday he said,
The question you asked is too tough, I don’t know how to answer you. I can’t comment on Google’s products. Due to our relationship with Google, there are obviously things that we know and don’t know about them, but either way, we can’t comment. I can only comment on our own U11+: we actually started planning it as such around the end of last year, like the way we sourced its key components and whether they made sense, it was planned that way at the time. We are also very happy that our U11+ used these parts.