Cheap octa-core HTC smartphones (using MediaTek processors) coming soon?

With its original 2013 One failing to be as successful as it may have deserved, HTC now seems forced to deliver an all-round excellent new flagship smartphone. But the company may also try to enter the market of high-specced cheap handsets.

According to GizChina, a Chinese industry analyst recently said that HTC would release handsets using MediaTek’s latest eight-core processors (probably the MT6592 and MT6592M models). For those who don’t know, MediaTek’s 8-core CPUs are low-cost solutions that allow manufacturers like Huawei, TCT (Alcatel) and others to ask around $300 (or less) for seemingly powerful Android smartphones - like the Honor / Glory 3X or the OneTouch Idol X+.

There is no word on when the Chinese analyst expects HTC to unveil octa-core MediaTek smartphones, but it’s understandable that it should happen this year. Of course, we must keep in mind that this is just a rumor, and for now we can’t verify the info. Still, it makes sense for HTC to try something new, doesn’t it? Selling affordable devices in high volumes, even at low profit margins, can’t do wrong.

Until we hear more on this possible HTC-MediaTek affair, we must remind you that HTC’s next flagship handset is expected to be called HTC One+, and could be officially introduced in the next few months. This will definitely use a Qualcomm processor, most likely a Snapdragon 805.

sources: Weibo (registration required), GizChina