Earlier we mentioned that HTC was planning to announce a new smartphone, and leaks revealed that it would be built around virtual reality and the recently unveiled HTC Vive Flow VR headset. Today, the Taiwanese smartphone maker unveiled the new HTC Desire 22 Pro, a mid-range device with a primary focus on virtual reality.
The HTC Desire 22 Pro has a 6.6-inch, 1080 x 2412, IPS LCD display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It has a punch cutout at the top left for the 32MP camera and is powered by a Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. It has 8 GB of storage and 128 GB of expandable storage.
There are three cameras on the back, including a 64MP f/1.8 primary sensor, a 13MP f/2.4 ultrawide and a 5MP f/2.4 depth camera. There is also a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and the phone is IP67 certified against water and dust. It runs Android 12 out of the box.
HTC Desire 22 Pro has a battery of 4,520 mAh and supports 18W wired charging; wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are also available. The phone is available in two colors, Wave Gold and Starry Night Black. The device retails for TWD 11,990 (~$404) in Taiwan and £399, €459 in Europe. It will go on sale in Taiwan on July 1, and Europeans can pre-order it today. The phone will be available from August 1.
HTC goes all-in on VR
The highlight of the show is the fact that the phone can be paired with a VIVE Flow VR headset, immersing users in virtual reality. Metaverse has been the main topic of conversation in recent months, and HTC appears to be going all in on the technology and shifting focus from its unprofitable smartphone business.
Unsurprisingly, the HTC Desire 22 Pro also comes preinstalled with the Viverse Wallet, which allows users to manage their digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and NFTs. If you’re into VR and crypto, this phone is probably aimed at you, but we have some concerns about the power of this device, which brings us to the next point.
Why develop a mid-ranger smartphone that focuses on VR content?
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset is based on the 6nm technology and it is a capable SoC, but it is not as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the recently announced Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset. It doesn’t make sense why HTC would outfit a VR-oriented device with a mid-range chip unless it wanted to create an affordable approach for users to get into the VR world.
Still, most people buy flagship devices or mid-rangers to save money. While the HTC Desire 22 Pro is an excellent mid-range for the money, it’s unlikely to convince people to accept the Metaverse promise. HTC lost its status in Europe, and while there are still many people who love the company, most retailers don’t sell HTC devices in their stores, and many have even forgotten about it.
The idea of a VR-focused smartphone is not unheard of, and some companies have tried to convince people that it will be the next big thing, but they all failed. Smartphones are powerful, but they are far from capable of playing AAA desktop titles. VR headsets require sturdy computer components and high-quality graphics cards to power two high-resolution displays with minimal latency. Samsung, Facebook (Meta) and Google tried to make special VR headsets something on mobile, but were soon discontinued after only a few years.
HTC may want to re-enter the market and stay relevant in 2022, but announcing a smartphone focused solely on VR makes little sense in the current state of affairs. I’m not sold on the idea of playing VR games on my phone, and I refuse to believe that a smartphone with a $499 VR headset can change my mind. In my opinion, if you already have a decent gaming setup, you might as well spend the $999 on a full-fledged HTC Vive or Steam Valve Index setup with motion sensors and controllers.