The HTC U11 EYEs will have a single-lens camera setup, as suggested by a new leak depicting what’s said to be a protective case for the upcoming Android handset. The two images that can be seen above appeared online on Wednesday and show a relatively generic silicone case with several cutouts meant to accommodate an imaging sensor, fingerprint scanner, and a dual-LED (dual-tone) flash unit. A USB Type-C port will also be part of the package, situated between two bottom-facing speakers, as suggested by the same leak. The top of the case features an opening that could surround a 3.5mm headphone jack but with HTC being adamant to remove this conventional port from its devices throughout 2017, it’s unlikely to be making a return this winter.
The very existence of the HTC U11 EYEs has been debated for months, especially since rumors surrounding the handset started circulating the industry shortly after the Taiwanese phone maker launched the HTC U11 Life, a mid-ranger whose specs are understood to be close to what the upcoming device will be offering. Still, a number of credible industry sources later claimed the HTC U11 EYEs not only exists but is set to be unveiled by spring. The supposedly official name of the device may be related to the 2014 HTC Desire Eye which featured two physically identical cameras sitting on its opposite sides, though the performance of its front-facing sensor was below that of the main camera in practice. Whether HTC will be looking to refine that formula with the U11 EYEs remains to be seen, though the handset is likely to have at least one unique selling point that should allow it to differentiate from the recently released U11 Life, less the company is only planning to release it in a limited number of markets.
The Taipei-based original equipment manufacturer is understood to be seeing 2018 as a new beginning and a chance to have its mobile division bounce back from its recent issues. Though a lot of engineering talent left HTC for Google several months back, the $1.1 billion in cash paid by Alphabet’s subsidiary for that privilege should partially finance its 2018 Android handsets which won’t be as numerous compared to their last year’s counterparts, according to recent reports.