HTC Set to Release Three New Smartphones to Combat Apple, Samsung Competition

HTC has unveiled three new high-end smartphone devices designed to break the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S2's stranglehold on the market

The Sensation XE

The Sensation XE is the most recent high-end handset to be confirmed by HTC. The device is the spawn of a recent partnership between the smartphone maker and rapper Dr Dre's Beats audio tech company.

With a focus on its functionality as a music player, the XE is set to come loaded with custom software made to optimise the device's audio quality and a set of special earphones designed for use with a mobile device.

The special Beats earphones will reportedly include a built-in microphone designed to let users answer and make calls with the earphones and a dedicated cable remote that will let them control the device.

Additionally, the XE will run using Google's Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and house an impressive 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 8-megapixel camera.

The device is set for release in late September, 2011.

Two Windows Phone Mango Smartphones

Before the Sensation XE was announced HTC had also revealed plans to launch two new smartphones running Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Phone Mango operating system.

The first of the new handsets announced in early September was HTC's TITAN handset.

According to the company's statement, the TITAN will live up to its name, housing the largest LCD screen ever seen on an HTC smartphone, being around 4.7 inches large.

The TITAN will also reportedly be contained in a 9.9mm thick aluminum case, housing an eight megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera. In its statement HTC confirmed the handset will be capable of recording high-definition 720p video.

HTC didn't reveal any details pertaining to the TITAN's processor power, memory or price.

HTC chose to reveal even fewer details about its second Mango device, the Radar.

The company instead chose to focus on the device's new "People Hub." The hub reportedly allows Radar users to stay in touch "using SMS, Facebook chat and Windows Live® Messenger in one conversation, without having to switch applications or disrupt the conversation flow."

The only technical details known about the device are that it will house a 3.8 inch screen and be contained in an aluminium unibody and be capable of recording high-definition 720p video.

Both the devices are currently being advertised within the UK with an "expected in October" release date.

The Competition

With release dates expected in late September and October all three of the devices will face strong competition.

As well as confirmed smartphones like Sony Ericsson's Xperia Ray and the non-Android powered BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9860, the devices release corresponds with the widely speculated Apple iPhone 5's release.

While the iPhone 5 is currently still a fictional creation of the media -- with Apple yet to confirm the device's existence -- numerous analysts have already predicted a dip in smartphone sales in October, citing eager fans willingness to wait as a key reason for the slump.