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iClone: HTC copied Apple, but Apple copied first

androidpit htc one a9 vs iPhone 6 5
© nextpit

If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas present, get the HTC One A9. It’s like buying that special someone a new iPhone, but it costs around half the price. Best of all, your mother, partner or best friend will never know the difference – these phones look practically identical.

androidpit htc one a9 vs iPhone 6 2
The iPhone 6 (left) next to the HTC One A9. / © ANDROIDPIT

Does this situation seem a bit odd? If you want to buy an iPhone, you know what you want. A new iPhone – simple. But if you’re looking for an Android phone, you’ve almost certainly decided that you don’t want an iPhone. You want a phone running Android.

So why would you then buy the One A9, a new phone from HTC running Android Marshmallow, that looks almost identical to an iPhone? Perhaps because it costs US$399, instead of around US$750 for an iPhone. However, that price is only a one-week promotion. The One A9 will bump up to US$499 very soon. So what I’m wondering is – who is HTC pitching this phone to? Who is the customer of the One A9?

It’s for people who are confused. Perhaps those who are sitting on the fence, who want what both Android and iOS have to offer. It’s for people who won’t admit that they don’t know what they’re looking for. Or perhaps it’s for people who fall for the illusion and can’t tell the difference between them.

androidpit htc one a9 vs iPhone 6 8
Seeing double? / © ANDROIDPIT

The HTC One A9’s design isn’t just similar to the iPhone – it’s an iPhone clone. HTC has shamelessly copied Apple and it’s quite obvious why. They did it to make everyone want one, so Santa won't have enough space in his sleigh to carry presents for all the good boys and girls. It's terrible, isn't it?

The HTC One A9’s design isn’t just similar to the iPhone – it’s an iPhone clone

But I also want to hand it to HTC. Although the One A9 shares a lot of design similarities with the iPhone 6, it shares even more with the HTC One M series. The Ones M7, M8 and M9 all look very similar and look great. Their plastic antennas sit snugly inside their brushed metal unibodies. The size, rounded edges and overall shapes are achievements of industrial design.

androidpit htc one a9 vs iPhone 6 4
(L to R) HTC One M9, One A9 and iPhone 6. Design languages that can talk to each other. / © ANDROIDPIT

And it’s obvious that Apple copied this for the iPhone 6. Apple, so often praised for its hardware design, took cues from a manufacturer running Android on its phones. This is something few, if any, other manufacturers could claim. It really is the perfect Christmas present.

But really, the One A9 just looks like a flat version of the One M9 (see above). It’s a beautiful design that has been carried over from the One M7, which was released in early 2013. So, in fact, HTC has just copied itself. A copy of a copy. And do you know what? That’s the worst part of all.

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Omar Hamwi

Omar Hamwi
Head of Content

Omar has been a dedicated Android user since 2011. He began his career as a print journalist before a move into digital editing. He is passionate about technology and, since relocating from Sydney to Berlin, now shares his passion as part of the AndroidPIT team. His mission now is to help readers of AndroidPIT find the best hardware and software.

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7 comments
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  • Lay Sales 1
    Lay Sales Feb 15, 2018 Link to comment

    and a shit I prefer HTC the design and the material are superior to that American shit, ... and then they speak just the Americans who here in Europe have copied and bought everything from the post-war until today.


  • 1
    Connor Smith Oct 31, 2015 Link to comment

    Error code 924 how to fix it?


  • wasimariflone 6
    wasimariflone Oct 31, 2015 Link to comment

    Desperate stuff from htc


  • Phone formally known as HTC 2
    Phone formally known as HTC Oct 30, 2015 Link to comment

    I mean people who bathe in Apple's juices


  • 31
    Deactivated Account Oct 30, 2015 Link to comment

    iclone with iPhone profit margin...

    Omar HamwiPaul Douglas


    • Omar Hamwi 17
      Omar Hamwi Oct 30, 2015 Link to comment

      I think you're onto something here...


    • Phone formally known as HTC 2
      Phone formally known as HTC Oct 30, 2015 Link to comment

      For the iDiots

      Deactivated Account

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