That’s not an iPhone you’re looking at—it’s the newest Android phone from HTC, the One A9. The new phone is packed with powerful hardware including a fingerprint scanner and NFC technology that enables Android Pay. But perhaps the most exciting thing about the new smartphone is that it’s one of the first to be powered by Google’s newest operating system, Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Up until now, the only phones using Android 6.0 Marshmallow were the Nexus 5x and Nexus 6p. Both phones were built in collaboration with Google, and they run a “pure” version of Android that has no bloatware or custom applications. The One A9 runs on a slightly modified version of Android called Sense that comes with a custom camera app, messaging app, and other software built by HTC. Thankfully, HTC has made it easier than ever before to customize and even remove some of its pre-installed software.
As for the design, there are a few subtle differences that set the One A9 apart from all other phones on the market (which have slowly become more uniform). Engineers at HTC opted to make the device as symmetrical as possible, meaning that both the front and back are completely flat, not rounded like many other smartphones. When you hold the device in your hand, it still feels comfortable and premium.
