According to experts that sell cell phones, these days, the line that separates mid-range phones from high-end is pointedly blurry. And as mobile phone hardware gets more commoditized, smartphone manufacturers are confronted with an arduous choice: join the sub-flagship bandwagon ($400 price tag) or go all-out and play with the big leagues ($600+ price tag).

Featuring its newest advanced One smartphone, HTC plays in between. In the US, early buyers can purchase the new HTC One A9 for only $400. This off-contract special will only run until November 7 though, after which the retail price goes up to $500.

The HTC One A9 is characterized as an iPhone 6s look-a-like. However, it’s not an HTC flagship phone, which is the reason a plethora of brand’s iconic features is missing. For many, this is not a bad thing as One A9, more than anything else, is a fashion device. It is a unit that is cheaper than a flagship phone, but offers fairly good specs and appealing features.

A Closer Look

The physical look of One A9 is minimalist. It is curved, outwardly delicate, and has an almost flat back. It is finished in a brushed, patterned lightweight aluminum.

One of the smartphone’s best features is its fingerprint scanner operational for lock screen security and a multitude of Android 6.0 specs. It is not as swift as Apple’s TouchID, however it is just as precise.

The idea of the brand to have an iPhone-like feel and look had led One A9 with a less HTC iconic features. One glaring feature missing is the Boomsound speakers omnipresent in HTC smartphones. These speakers have been swapped out with a tiny mono speaker at the base of the One A9. This change results in a slim device similar to Apple’s flagship phone.

Interface

More than ever, the interface of the HTC One A9 is drastically closer to the UI of a stock Android phone. Most of the HTC-centered applications were removed in favor of several Google options. The new smartphone is short of its own brand stamp, however it’s designed to be streamlined in terms of software. The brand elevates the best parts of the newest OS of Android. It’s clear-cut, neat, and simple to operate, with only a hint of the brand’s touch.

Connectivity

With regards to connectivity, the One A9 offers everything you can count on coming from a major Android gadget. It provides a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi and 4G LTE support connection. And thanks to Qualcomm’s modern tech update, the new HTC phone supports service provider aggregation out of the box.

Camera

One of the weak spots of HTC is its camera quality. The HTC One A9 delivers a modification of camera technique for the brand. Rather than putting a typical high-megapixel sensor in, the One A9 relies on a 13-megapixel sensor with optical image stabilization and a f/2.0 lens. The combination is still unable to produce great photos, but it’s guaranteed to deliver good shots. In general, the A9 offers both internal and external features that are powerful enough to deliver what a sub-flagship smartphone must do.