HTC’s next smartphone to have fingerprint scanner like iPhone’s

It didn’t take long for Apple’s fingerprint scanner to get a follower: HTC reportedly will announce a device with a similar feature next week.

The Wall Street Journal reports that on Oct. 15, the Taiwanese phone maker will unveil the HTC One Max, a larger version of its flagship smartphone that will include a fingerprint scanner much like the one Apple unveiled with the iPhone 5s last week.

The new iPhone’s fingerprint scanner, called the Touch ID, lets users unlock their device by simply having their fingertips scanned. They can also use the feature to quickly verify purchases.

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It’s unclear what the fingerprint scanner on the HTC One Max will be used for.

Analysts have predicted that many of Apple’s rivals will adopt the fingerprint-scanning feature into their own gadgets.

The HTC One Max is expected to look similar to the HTC One, but the One Max reportedly will have a 5.9-inch screen, more than an inch larger than the HTC One.

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