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Sarah Tew/CNET
Mobile handset maker HTC had a rough May, the company reported to investors on Tuesday.
During the month, HTC’s revenue fell 4.6 percent compared to April and 27.4 percent compared to May 2013, reaching just NT$21.1 billion ($701.9 million). During the same period last year, HTC generated NT$29 billion.
The decline in sales is a major disappointment for HTC, which had hoped the One M8 flagship handset the company announced earlier this year could change its luck. The HTC One M8 has been nearly universally lauded by reviewers, with some calling it the best Android-based handset on the market.
CNET Reviews took the HTC One M8 for a spin in March and awarded it four-and-a-half stars out of five. CNET senior editor Brian Bennett said that the device’s “elegant style, raw power, and sophisticated features make the HTC One M8 an excellent smartphone choice for anyone but the most exacting photographer.”
Still, HTC can’t live on the back of a single device. The company’s brand has lost appeal in Western countries, and it’s facing increasing pressure from Samsung and others in key markets like China. HTC was also hit hard last year by inventory issues that halted the HTC One’s momentum in major markets — an issue the company has said, won’t happen again this year. There’s also the question of how HTC will compete with Samsung’s Galaxy S5, which continues to be a focus for the company’s marketing efforts.
HTC didn’t provide any other financial figures in its monthly update, so there’s no telling whether it’s turning a profit or not. The company has, however, noted that its revenue so far this year is down 16.5 percent compared to the prior year.
CNET has contacted HTC for comment. We will update this story when we have more information.
