HTC's Smartphone Division Limps On With Metaverse-focused Desire ...

Skip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.

The VergeThe Verge logo.
• Tech
• Reviews
• Science
• Entertainment
• AI
• Policy
• Hamburger Navigation Button

The homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.

• Login / Sign Up

closeCloseSearch

• TechExpand
  • Amazon
  • Apple
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Microsoft
  • Samsung
  • Business
  • See all tech
• ReviewsExpand
  • Smart Home Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Tablet Reviews
  • Headphone Reviews
  • See all reviews
• ScienceExpand
  • Space
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Health
  • See all science
• EntertainmentExpand
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Audio
  • See all entertainment
• AIExpand
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • See all AI
• PolicyExpand
  • Antitrust
  • Politics
  • Law
  • Security
  • See all policy
• GadgetsExpand
  • Laptops
  • Phones
  • TVs
  • Headphones
  • Speakers
  • Wearables
  • See all gadgets
• Verge ShoppingExpand
  • Buying Guides
  • Deals
  • Gift Guides
  • See all shopping
• GamingExpand
  • Xbox
  • PlayStation
  • Nintendo
  • See all gaming
• StreamingExpand
  • Disney
  • HBO
  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • Creators
  • See all streaming
• TransportationExpand
  • Electric Cars
  • Autonomous Cars
  • Ride-sharing
  • Scooters
  • See all transportation
• Features
• Verge VideoExpand
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
• PodcastsExpand
  • Decoder
  • The Vergecast
  • Version History
• NewslettersExpand
  • The Verge Daily
  • Installer
  • Verge Deals
  • Notepad
  • Optimizer
  • Regulator
  • The Stepback
• Archives
• Store
• Verge Product Updates

Subscribe

• Facebook
• Threads
• Instagram
• Youtube
• RSS

The VergeThe Verge logo.HTC’s smartphone division limps on with metaverse-focused Desire 22 ProComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...

• TechCloseTech

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Tech

• NewsCloseNews

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All News

• HTCCloseHTC

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All HTC

HTC’s smartphone division limps on with metaverse-focused Desire 22 Pro

Promised to be the ‘perfect companion’ to its Vive Flow VR headset

Promised to be the ‘perfect companion’ to its Vive Flow VR headset

by Jon PorterCloseJon PorterLast published Oct 8, 2024

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

FollowFollow

See All by Jon Porter

Jun 28, 2022, 8:35 AM UTC

• Link
• Share
• Gift

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Image: HTCJon PorterCloseJon Porter

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

FollowFollow

See All by Jon Porter

is a reporter with five years of experience covering consumer tech releases, EU tech policy, online platforms, and mechanical keyboards.

It hasn’t released a competitive flagship device in years, but HTC’s smartphone division isn’t throwing in the towel just yet. Today it announced the HTC Desire 22 Pro, a follow-up to last year’s HTC Desire 21 Pro, and the company’s big attempt at capitalizing on the so-called metaverse. In the UK, it’s listed at £399 and will ship on August 1st.

There are a couple of different aspects to the phone’s metaverse functionality. To start with, it’s designed to be the “perfect companion” to HTC’s recently announced Vive Flow VR headset and used to access Viverse, HTC’s take on the metaverse. The headset is designed to work with any Android phone, though, so it’s not entirely clear what the Desire 22 Pro offers that isn’t available elsewhere.

There’s also some NFT functionality here, with HTC’s Taiwanese site advertising that the phone includes a digital wallet to manage crypto assets, and comes with a free NFT. This appears to vary by market, however, since similar language is not present in the marketing materials on its UK site.

Elsewhere, the Desire 22 Pro’s specs are thoroughly midrange. It’s got a 6.6-inch 1080p display with a high 120Hz refresh rate, and a hole-punch notch in its top left containing a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Around back there are three rear cameras, a 64-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor.

Internally it’s powered by a Snapdragon 695 processor, with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a 4,520mAh battery. It supports wireless and reverse wireless charging, runs Android 12, and has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. The Desire 22 Pro comes in either black or gold.

The approach is very reminiscent of HTC’s previous blockchain-powered smartphone, the Exodus 1, which it released in 2018, and followed up with the more affordable Exodus 1S the following year. But neither phone appears to have reversed HTC’s smartphone fortunes. The company’s market share reportedly plummeted to less than half a percent in 2018, the same year it sold much of its smartphone talent to Google. Nowadays, HTC sells so few smartphones that it doesn’t register on public smartphone market share trackers.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

• Jon PorterCloseJon PorterLast published Oct 8, 2024

  Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All by Jon Porter

• HTCCloseHTC

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All HTC

• MobileCloseMobile

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Mobile

• NewsCloseNews

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All News

• TechCloseTech

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Tech

Most Popular

Most Popular

1. Jikipedia turns Epstein’s emails into an encyclopedia of his powerful friends
2. The DJI Romo robovac had security so poor, this man remotely accessed thousands of them
3. The Pocket Taco is the best way to turn your phone into a Game Boy
4. Anker’s USB-C cable that lets you charge two gadgets at once is 20 percent off
5. What’s behind the mass exodus at xAI?

The Verge Daily

A free daily digest of the news that matters most.

Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

More in Tech

Georgia Tech announced the finalists in its wild musical instrument competitionMy uncanny AI valentinesA powerful tool of resistance is already in your handsThe Pocket Taco is the best way to turn your phone into a Game BoyRing’s Flock breakup doesn’t fix its real problemHow to un-Big Tech your online lifeGeorgia Tech announced the finalists in its wild musical instrument competitionTerrence O'BrienFeb 14My uncanny AI valentinesVictoria SongFeb 14A powerful tool of resistance is already in your handsLauren FeinerFeb 14The Pocket Taco is the best way to turn your phone into a Game BoyAndrew LiszewskiFeb 14Ring’s Flock breakup doesn’t fix its real problemJennifer Pattison TuohyFeb 14How to un-Big Tech your online lifeDavid PierceFeb 14Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

Top Stories

1:00 PM UTCWhy are Epstein’s emails full of equals signs?Two hours agoI hate my AI pet with every fiber of my beingTwo hours agoApple’s first-gen AirTags are still worth buying now that they’re $16 apiece1:00 PM UTCAI can’t make good video game worlds yet, and it might never be able toFeb 14My uncanny AI valentinesFeb 14A powerful tool of resistance is already in your hands