HTC exec claims that users prefer thinness over battery life, says company will discontinue devices with hardware keyboards

During a media session in Seattle yesterday, HTC VP of Product Strategy, Bjorn Kilburn, made a few very interesting announcements that could give insight into their next few years’ roadmap. In a study, he said, customers prefer device thinness to a larger battery. When testing out a version of the One X with a 3000mAh battery, he claimed that participants found it too thick and unwieldy to use enjoyably, so the phone was discontinued in favour of a more reasonable girth. Battery life still played a large part in one’s purchase of a new phone, but the immediate attraction to the design was more influential than the long-term consequences of a smaller battery cell.

HTC’s response to concerns about poor battery life in its One X series was safe: “We are committed to getting the best possible battery life from [our] devices. We have worked closely with Qualcomm to ensure that the One X and One S can go for a day or longer on a single charge.”

The company also revealed that it has no plans to follow up its popular Desire Z and Status handsets with any new hardware QWERTY models. It even looks like HTC is no longer going to make T-Mobile’s myTouch line of devices, which often included a hardware keyboard variant. This will come as a disappointment to those who love(d) their Desire Z, myself included, but it seems that the demand is no longer there.

What do you think of these claims? Do you disagree with Kilburn about the thin phone/battery life argument? Would you want a new HTC device with a hardware keyboard? Give us your thoughts.

Source: Electronista, @PaulOBrien (Twitter)