HTC One M9 Release Date Is March 1: Specs, Price, Options Roundup [PHOTOS, PREVIEW]

The highly anticipated HTC One M9 is slated to arrive Sunday, March 1, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The major international mobile device expo is slated to serve as the platform for high-profile debuts and launches including the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Sony Xperia Z4. HTC hopes to deliver a true standout amid the strong competition.

HTC One M9 specs and details have already leaked ahead of the smartphone's official unveiling. According to the Mobile Geeks website, the One M9 specifications are as follows:

• Screen: 5-inch 1920 x 1080 display
• Processor: 2GHz Snapdragon 810
• Memory: 3GB RAM
• Storage: 32GB plus microSD card slot
• Camera: 20MP rear; Ultrapixel front
• OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7

As it's been with the predecessors, the new HTC One M9 will feature the signature unibody aluminum construction and front-facing BoomSound design. However, it is interesting to note that HTC will be moving its Ultrapixel sensor from the rear camera to the front. A 20MP rear facing camera will now act as the new rear facing camera.

According to Mobile Geeks, the HTC One M9 is expected to retail for €749, or approximately $850 USD.

Last but not least, speculators also believe HTC is developing a dedicated smartwatch to complement the new HTC One M9. Similar to other wearables, the smartwatch is expected to run Android Wear. Not only will the potential smartwatch will feature fitness tracking capabilities, but reports also claim that the watch will also feature software capable of both iPhone and Android device compatibility.

The HTC smartwatch, codenamed Petra, is rumored to launch alongside the HTC One M9 next week and should be officially available for sale before the end of March.