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HTC launches sexy metal One E9 Plus

After plenty of rumours, leaks and gossip, the HTC One E9 Plus phablet is official – and better than we hoped. The Taiwanese manufacturer added the device to its Chinese-language website over the weekend, revealing that the phablet sports a full metal body and some impressive specs.

The One E9 Plus was quietly listed on HTC’s Chinese site without any fanfare at all, which – if completely intentional – seems a wee bit odd, as the phablet seems well entitled to at least a few celebratory sparklers.

For a start, the new One E9 Plus doesn’t skimp when it comes to looks. Its chassis is actually constructed of metal like the premium One M9 flagship, and not the more budget-friendly plastic that we were expecting to trim costs. That’s great news, as design is easily one of HTC’s strong suits and an area we’d hate to see hit by compromise.

With a 2GHz octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB of on-board storage and support for micro SD cards, the phablet is pretty well catered for in the brains department and should appeal to media fans too, as it’s fronted by a glorious 5.5-inch 2K UHD display.

HTC’s site actually lists both 2K and Full HD for the screen resolution, confusingly. However, we reckon HTC’s just getting discombobulated and mixing up the E9 Plus with the as-yet unannounced One E9, which should rock a smaller 5-inch 1080p display.

As well as confusing us with contradictory screen specs, HTC’s webpage shows the One E9 Plus packing a 20-megapixel primary camera in the body of the site and a 13-megapixel in the specifications. Once again, the 13-meg camera is something we’re expecting from the One E9, when it’s eventually announced.

Mistakes aside, the device should launch with a 20-megapxiel primary snapper and Ultrapixel secondary camera, as well as that stunning and spacious 534 pixels-per-inch screen. You can also expect a 2,800mAh battery, front-facing BoomSound stereo speakers and more connectivity options than you can shake a stick at, if you were so inclined.

There’s no word yet on pricing for HTC’s phablet, or indeed availability here in the UK, but we really hope that it does indeed launch in our fair land and with a respectable price point. However, the fact that it’s not a step down from the One M9 in terms of specs – and rocking that sleek metal frame – means it’ll probably sport a £500 price tag if and when it does emerge.

Read next: One E9 Plus and One E9 in a nutshell

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