- HTC has released its first phone of 2021, the Desire 21 Pro 5G.
- It offers 5G, a 90Hz display and a 5,000mAh battery, albeit with a Snapdragon 690 chip.
- It’s on sale for about $428 in Taiwan, but getting it elsewhere may be a challenge.
HTC’s mobile division is a shadow of its former self, and its lackluster U20 5G didn’t exactly help its chances of a turnaround. However, the company is still releasing phones in 2021 — and you might even like what it has to offer. Android Police reports that HTC has introduced the Desire 21 Pro 5G, a mid-range device that packs a fair amount of power for the money.
On top of faster cellular data, the Desire 21 Pro 5G centers on a 6.7-inch, 1080p display with a 90Hz refresh rate (HTC’s first 90Hz screen, believe it or not). Performance will be strictly middling between the Snapdragon 690 chip and 8GB of RAM, but you will get a giant 5,000mAh battery and 128GB of expandable storage.
You’ll also get a healthy selection of rear cameras that include a 48MP primary cam, an 8MP ultrawide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. A 16MP hole-punch camera provides selfies at the front. Software isn’t HTC’s strong suit, though, as the phone still ships with Android 10.
Read more: The best HTC phones you can buy
HTC is selling the Desire 21 Pro 5G in its homeland for 11,990 Taiwan dollars, or roughly $428. It might not offer as much raw value as a device like the Pixel 4a or OnePlus Nord, then, but the combination of features might give it an edge. The challenge may simply be to buy one. HTC hasn’t said if it will sell the new Desire outside of Taiwan, and we wouldn’t count on it when the company has relatively limited resources.