Android One, Google’s struggling advocacy to bring slick and pure Android to the masses, isn’t dead after all. The search and software giant has simply been biding its time, refining Android while secretly recruiting hardware partners that have worldwide appeal, as we all found out recently. Xiaomi’s Mi A1 was announced first. A Moto-branded Android One phone could be next.

Now we’re hearing that HTC has joined the fold and is developing a smartphone for the Android One program. According to Twitterverse leakster @LlabTooFeR, the HTC Ocean Life is going to be released with the OEM’s Sense user interface based on Android 8.0 Oreo, but will drop most first-party apps in favor of their Google counterpart.

HTC Ocean_Life will be released under Android One program. It will lose most of the HTC apps and run stock Android O with Sense 9.0_A1.

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) September 13, 2017

HTC’s EdgeSense and USonic features, plus the Zoe and HTC Camera apps, will reportedly remain with the hardware. An alleged image of the phone hints at a U11 lookalike, only with thicker bezels from top to bottom.

READ ALSO: HTC U11 review: Watch out for the comeback kid

Evan Blass, a tipster who has been constantly pouring in leaks using his Twitter handle — with startling accuracy — has confirmed the rumor, suggesting there is more to this than casual hearsay.

SEE ALSO: #RevuLive: Doogee Mix and HTC U11, U Ultra, U Play, Desire 10 Pro

Neither Blass nor @LlabTooFeR mentioned the specifications of the HTC Ocean Life in their tweets, but based on previous reports, it might come with a 5.2-inch LCD display at full resolution; a Snapdragon 630 processor (faster and more efficient than what the Xiaomi Mi A1 offers); 16-megapixel cameras on the front and back (just like the HTC U Play); and a 2,600mAh battery.

We like what we’ve been hearing about Android One lately. Here’s hoping the rumors hold up.

Via GSMArena

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