HTC posts first quarterly revenue growth in three years

[jamezr]

C'mon HTC we are pulling for you......
Now just get the camera right on the M9!

It looks like HTC's woes are at an end, as the Taiwanese manufacturer has posted its first quarterly revenue growth since the third quarter of 2011. Much of HTC's turnaround is attributed to the brand's strong showing in the mid-tier segment in emerging markets like China and India, where the Desire series is gaining considerable traction. In Q4 2014, HTC's sales amounted to NT$47.9 billion ($1.5 billion), up from the NT$42.9 billion ($1.34 billion) figure the vendor posted in Q4 2013.

Net income for HTC during the quarter was at NT$470 million ($14.70 million), and the vendor even managed an operating profit of around NT$180 million ($5.6 million), contrary to analysts' estimates that predicted a loss of NT$30.4 million ($0.9 million). By offering a range of well-crafted devices in the mid-tier segment, HTC was able to carve out a niche for itself in China, which is dominated by Xiaomi in the entry-level segment and the iPhone 6 in the high-end category.

While the latest numbers are promising, HTC is not out of the woods yet — last quarter's numbers were not enough to prevent HTC from posting a full-year revenue decline for the third year in a row. With mid-range devices like the Desire 826 targeted at Asian markets, it looks like 2015 may just be the year HTC completes its turnaround.

http://www.androidcentral.com/htc-posts-first-quarterly-revenue-growth-three-years

 

[maflynn]

Good news, I've always liked what they had to offer, Going after the mid-tier seems to be helping them.

 

[gotluck]

Good!

 

[Transmission.ap]

Wow, not even a million dollars of net profit? And look how low the revenue is. How many high end phones (m8) are they selling, 5?

They became irrelevant, despite having the best Android skin. Now that Google isn't tied with Moto and Samsung is going down, while LG is slowly going up (tiny steps) maybe it is the time to have HTC's back with 1 or 2 years of Nexus branding/marketing?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I have owned quite a few HTC's and overall have had a really positive experience. It would be fantastic to see them regain a place at the top of the Android market. It was looking worrying during the middle of last year and lets hope their 2015 releases bring something exciting!

 

[mattopotamus]

Wow, not even a million dollars of net profit? And look how low the revenue is. How many high end phones (m8) are they selling, 5?

They became irrelevant, despite having the best Android skin. Now that Google isn't tied with Moto and Samsung is going down, while LG is slowly going up (tiny steps) maybe it is the time to have HTC's back with 1 or 2 years of Nexus branding/marketing?

When you are in the red, any profit is good.

 

[MRU]

Just goes to show how long it takes to turn things around, and they still have a long way to go. But as others have said - sort out the camera on the M9 and they could truly be onto a big winner this year.

 

[Dontazemebro]

I was a fan of theirs when they pioneered Android and shortly thereafter, but they lost me about a year and a half ago. The problem with HTC is they'll get in bed with anyone to turn a buck. They've changed their mantra over the years so many times, there's no telling what the future HTC will look like.

 

[ucfgrad93]

C'mon HTC we are pulling for you......
Now just get the camera right on the M9!

Glad to see this. I agree, they need to get the camera right on the M9.

 

[nfl46]

Alright now, HTC! Great job! We are all waiting on that better camera in the M9!

HTC M9 + Android Wear smartwatch will be announced...most likely.

 

[Poisonivy326]

I would like the HTC more if HTC enthusiasts weren't the Android version of Apple fanboys. Go to any Android forum and you'll find HTC One users bragging about the premium build and how cheap all other OEM's are. Mean while under the hood of the brushed aluminum is an incredibly outdated camera and just average performance.

 

[jamezr]

I would like the HTC more if HTC enthusiasts weren't the Android version of Apple fanboys. Go to any Android forum and you'll find HTC One users bragging about the premium build and how cheap all other OEM's are. Mean while under the hood of the brushed aluminum is an incredibly outdated camera and just average performance.

You have a great point there. I have run into a couple over at XDA forums. They can be just as bad as the Apple fanboys.

 

[Dontazemebro]

You have a great point there. I have run into a couple over at XDA forums. They can be just as bad as the Apple fanboys.

You should see over at phandroid. The Apple diehards here are choir boys in comparison.

 

[bubulol]

I would like the HTC more if HTC enthusiasts weren't the Android version of Apple fanboys. Go to any Android forum and you'll find HTC One users bragging about the premium build and how cheap all other OEM's are. Mean while under the hood of the brushed aluminum is an incredibly outdated camera and just average performance.

material debate
Both, Apple and HTC are wrong
My favorite design from HTC was these new declination of Desire (826 looks amazing)
I also very like 5C, colored and looks cool
I actually think alumium isnt look great because it must have those ugly black/white line for antenna reception
Plastic isnt cheap, material doesnt need to be ''noble'' as many would claim
Anyway, HTC products look cool and have pretty nice design overall
Hope in future they ll produce compact version from their flagship

 

[Stuntman06]

The Desire Z was my first Android phone. I wanted to get another HTC when I upgraded (One X), but that phone was not available on my carrier and the One S did not have enough storage. I ended up getting the Galaxy S3 instead.

I felt their inability to get their high end phone on my carrier really hurt them. HTC was the biggest Android phone manufacturer in Canada before Samsung took over a few years ago. Their marketing used to be everywhere and the commercials were actually pretty good. Then it stopped. Later it was replaced by those stupid Robert Downey Jr. commercials.

 

[jamezr]

You should see over at phandroid. The Apple diehards here are choir boys in comparison.

Yeah I have seen some Android fans that are just as bad as the Apple ones here. But at least here the Mods are better. Some sites it is a free for all.

 

[Savor]

I would like the HTC more if HTC enthusiasts weren't the Android version of Apple fanboys. Go to any Android forum and you'll find HTC One users bragging about the premium build and how cheap all other OEM's are. Mean while under the hood of the brushed aluminum is an incredibly outdated camera and just average performance.

I am surprised by that since I didn't know that many rabid HTC fans existed. But fanboys exist everywhere on the net. I think many Apple fanboys became Android converts because of HTC. The One series have been a gateway drug to Android for Apple fanatics.

As for HTC starting to rebound, happy for them. HTC and their products and customer service aren't perfect. But they make nice phones and Sense has become one of the nicest Android skins out there. It still is a long way back seeing Sony was on the up at the end of 2013 and in just one year was in trouble again. Competition is tough. But the pioneers of smartphones and Android OEM's will always have a special place in my heart the way Palm did with webOS because Nexus One and HTC One (M7) are two of top 5 fav phones ever.

 

[Poisonivy326]

I am surprised by that since I didn't know that many rabid HTC fans existed. But fanboys exist everywhere on the net. I think many Apple fanboys became Android converts because of HTC. The One series have been a gateway drug to Android for Apple fanatics.

As for HTC starting to rebound, happy for them. HTC and their products and customer service aren't perfect. But they make nice phones and Sense has become one of the nicest Android skins out there. It still is a long way back seeing Sony was on the up at the end of 2013 and in just one year was in trouble again. Competition is tough. But the pioneers of smartphones and Android OEM's will always have a special place in my heart the way Palm did with webOS because Nexus One and HTC One (M7) are two of top 5 fav phones ever.

Yeah ... Android forums are a diverse lot. You get a mix from very geeky developers to iPhone converts to trolls. But HTC has a rabid following, and based mostly on the "premium" build of the phones and the "aesthetics" (for some reason, the curved back is an Android-forum fetish, as are non-existent bezels).

It can be a surreal feeling though to wander into an Android forum and find someone shrieking at 'cheap plastic ripoff Sammy' but realize that the person is rocking an equally plastic LG G3 lol.

 

[dec.]

I thought that HTC is market leader? Android and such...

 

[Savor]

Ex-iPhone users + Samsung haters produces rabid HTC fanboys.


There are THREE areas HTC needs to focus on in order for their revenue to continue to grow...

Camera - Still not on Nokia, Apple, Samsung, and Sony's level. I think HTC is only on par with Motorola and the latter used a Sony sensor in the Nexus 6 which still wasn't on par with the Note 4 in a shootout. HTC needs to chart top here.

Battery - Yeah, the M8 improved over the M7 but it still wasn't chart-topping along the lines of the older iPhones, Samsung Galaxy Note series, most phablets, and current Sony Xperia Z series. HTC needs to consistently chart top this area since longest battery life was never their forte.

Price - Xiaomi sold 61M last year. Asus Zenfone 2 could be the best phone money can buy in 2015. HTC has no equal peers for Xiaomi and Asus in the lower end.

Hardware has matured. A quad core MediaTek or Snapdragon 400 can easily do things smoothly for everyday tasks except a little SLOWER.

Software has matured in most platforms.

I agree with what David Pierce from The Verge. In order to be a great smartphone, they have to be exceed in camera and battery life. I am not much of a social network junkie like before, but I am starting to realize camera is starting to become important to me in case of emergency. Not fuzzy purple nonsense I get from the M7.

I LOVE GREAT DESIGN as much as anyone here. But looks can only take us so far. Just yesterday, my M7 is my phone to text and call and the Xiaomi is my web browser. The og One couldn't connect to Wi-Fi at one particular mall while the Xiaomi EASILY did. When I went to a different mall across the street, it did connect but browsing was slow. The Xiaomi can still be fluid whether the network is congested or has slower speeds. The HTC acts like I am browsing on Wi-Fi "b" or "g" and not on "n" or "ac". And SOT was only 3 hrs until the HTC dipped below 30% while the Xiaomi could easily double that doing the same tasks. Yeah, I know one is nearly 2-yrs old vs 6 months, but a degraded battery is starting to get real atrocious on the M7. My iPhone 4 was still giving me over 8 hr SOT after THREE years. This is why i think I love my Xiaomi Mi 3 more than HTC One. The areas where it is inferior to the One like sound (can't hear notification) and warmer screen doesn't bother me as much as camera, battery life, and slower Wi-Fi connection. I already dropped it once on a hard floor with some minor scruff marks on the corners. But the Xiaomi continues to do a good job while the HTC is like the beautiful bimbo. And the truth is MIUI is NOT as stable as Sense but Xiaomi doesn't disappoint me based on hardware performance.

I think Sony can exceed in both camera and battery life, but not in price. Samsung as well. That is why they are up there as being the most popular Android OEM and HTC is not even in the Top 10 globally. Alot of Samsung's criticism is cosmetic which is easily fixed. HTC really needs to zero in on some areas and really chart-top for people to take notice. Design, screen quality, and sound quality is where I like HTC. I also like their Sense skin. But they also need to work on some more areas than goes beyond skin deep.

Beauty fades. Performance lasts.

 

[Technarchy]

Good for HTC. My first Android phone was the HTC Hero in Sprint. Pretty awesome for its time.

And then there was the Evo. Total game changer for android and iPhone competition.

Sadly they squandered their opportunity by recycling the Evo design way too long and failing to innovate even a silver. Sense got bloated and slow. Support was pathetic. This all cost HTC.

Hopefully they learned something and keep moving forward.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Good for HTC. My first Android phone was the HTC Hero in Sprint. Pretty awesome for its time.



And then there was the Evo. Total game changer for android and iPhone competition.



Sadly they squandered their opportunity by recycling the Evo design way too long and failing to innovate even a silver. Sense got bloated and slow. Support was pathetic. This all cost HTC.



Hopefully they learned something and keep moving forward.

I had the Hero too and it's still one of my favourite phones to date. Mine was bronze a limited edition version. Once people stopped taking the mick and calling it a doorstop, they realised it was vastly better than their Nokia touch screens. I converted most of my friends to HTC and Android back then off the back of that phone. I had the tattoo before that with the changeable facias. That wasn't so hot and used to freeze a lot but that was the very early days of Android.

 

[AppleRobert]

Moving away from flagship recently, I picked up the Desire 816 from Amazon on the cheap. Me likes, no need for me for the M7 or M8 any longer with my recent path change.

 

[2298754]

Does this mean HTC will finally be relevant again?

 

[JaySoul]

Anyone seen the EV Leaks tweet about the new HTC's?