HTC One (M9) Price Revealed? Marketing Slip May Have Leaked New Flagship's Retail Value

How much will you be paying for the HTC One (M9) smartphone when it releases in mid-March? HTC hasn’t said officially, but it may have inadvertently divulged the price in some marketing literature.

The company is now promoting its new flagship in a giveaway. The contest rules put the HTC One (M9)’s approximate retail value at $599. Those interested need only sign up with their full name and email if they want a chance to win. Smartphones in the HTC One line have typically been priced between $599 and $649 off contract and at $199.99 with a two-year contract in the U.S.

HTC One models have in the past been priced at the lower end of the premium spectrum and it appears the company is sticking to that plan with the (M9). By contrast, reports suggest the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone may start at $770, while the Galaxy S6 Edge might start at $940. Similarly, Apple’s iPhone 6 starts at $649 and the iPhone 6 Plus starts at $749.

While many newer flagship devices have seen either major design upgrades or hardware advances -- which companies use to justify higher prices -- the HTC One (M9) sees most of its upgrades in software. Its HTC Sense 7 user interface includes updates to its gallery, which lets users search social media for images of a person. It also allows them to set up custom themes based on photographs and it shows users apps that may be useful for their current location.

Hardware features on the HTC One (M9) are pretty standard and less than spectacular. The device includes a 5-inch Full HD (1920x1080 resolution) display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip, 3GB of RAM memory and 32GB of internal storage, as well as a 2840 mAh battery. HTC claims the battery provides as much as 21.7 hours of talk time and as much as 402 hours of standby time on a 3G network.

The back of the HTC One (M9) has a hairline finish, and the sides have a polished-mirror effect. The device will ship in silver, gun-metal gray, pink and gold options.